The Joho House has caused a stir, with speculations about its association with Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho.
On September 1, social media users claimed that the house would serve as the headquarters of Joho's presidential team stationed in Lavington, Nairobi.
However, an independent check by Kenyans.co.ke traced the building to its owner in Switzerland.
The Joho House is the headquarters of Joho Baukeramik + Bader AG, which is a building materials supplier in Bremgarten, Switzerland.
While it is true that the Mombasa governor has set his sights on the presidency in 2022, claims that the house is his presidential strategic base are false.
Many believed the reports because Joho has demonstrated financial muscle to acquire such an exquisite building, with his other houses also showing his love for all-white exteriors. The building also has the name Joho, painted on the side which fuelled more debate.
In a past interview with Citizen TV news anchor Lilian Muli, Governor Joho revealed that his journey to riches started at the age of 20 when he made his first million.
“My first transaction that changed my life was when I was just 20 years old. I remember I got a clearing and forwarding job and I got a Ksh6.6 million cheque. That is the first money that I saw and I was like ‘this is it’,” Joho recounted.
With his second term as the county boss coming to an end, Joho has been positioning himself to be part of the new formations taking shape.
Just like President Uhuru Kenyatta who will have to choose whom to endorse between his deputy William Ruto or handshake partner Raila Odinga, the Mombasa governor is set to retire in 2022 and the two biggest contenders are his close associates.
There is Suleiman Shahbal who was his 2017 rival-turned-acquaintance and his lifelong friend Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir who is the Mvita MP.
To throw a spanner to the works, Joho's deputy William Kingi has also expressed interest in the post.
