The Star editorial cartoon of Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and President Uhuru Kenyatta. Photo: The Star/the-star.co.ke
Mombasa governor Hassan Ali Joho is not new to rubbing shoulders with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.
On Monday morning the flamboyant self-proclaimed "Sultan" of Mombasa county politics got himself trending on social media after a brawl with the police at Nyali bridge.
Joho is currently trending on twitter under the hashtag #JohovsUhuru, a poll is even been conducted to know who is the greatest between the two.
In the early morning confrontation with the police, Joho was reportedly blocked from attending President Uhuru Kenyatta's function at Mtongwe Ferry.
It is not the first time that Joho has taken the Head of State by the horns, early in January the governor confronted Uhuru in public gathering when Uhuru was launching a footbridge in Mombasa county.
"I am grateful for the president's visit, however, I know the history of this project well, it started in the year 2010 together with other projects called the Kenya Municipal Programs, I want to challenge Jubilee government to show us their own programmes in this four years," Joho said this while sharing a podium with Uhuru.
In February, Joho had a confrontation with Jubilee Party leaders Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto when the two leaders embarked on their quest to rid out drug abuse in Mombasa.
"I want to address both the president and his deputy, they are not honest in the war against drug abuse, trafficking If they mean business let them clean their houses first and stop this side shows," he said.
Joho and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi even had their security withdrawn and he threatened that he could work without government security.
Not to forget, the Malindi by-election where Joho and other Coast county leaders had a war of word with current Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu, and even his casual relationship with Coast regional Cordinaator Nelson Marwa.
The friction between the ODM Deputy Party leader and the country top leadership has left many political pundits with the question whether the persistent push and pull between the two is working in Joho's favour in term of his political profile.
In politics, the more visible you are to the public the more famous you become, 10 years ago Joho was just a mere Kisauni Member of Parliament but his rubbing shoulders with Uhuru is arguably making him Coast political kingpin and power broker.
At some point, while he was in America for a visit, Mombasa politician Mohammed Hatimy, said in a press briefing that Mombasa was not trending because Joho was not around.
Lest you forget, Joho was a nobody in politics 10-15 years ago but has even declared that he will vie for the presidency in 2022.
The man from Kisauni is in a way acquiring sympathy votes from the public with many seeing him as a hero because of the mere fact that he can face the top political class bold and unafraid.
The big question is should Jubilee just ignore Joho or should they take him on every time he confronts them?