• Mutua said the former governor showed why he is a composed and brilliant man.
• He went on to say that Joho, during the vetting, had good knowledge of facts.
Image: FILE
Azimio leader Raila Odinga's aide Makau Mutua now says that former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho proved to the country that he is a self-made man.
While reacting to his performance during vetting by the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, Mutua said the former governor showed why he is a composed and brilliant man.
He went on to say that Joho, during the vetting, had good knowledge of facts.
Mutua insisted that Joho is a great example of passion and perseverance, as well as academic resilience.
"My dear friend, the incomparable Hassan Ali Joho, showed us today why he’s the quintessential self-made man — erudite, composed, brilliant. In command of facts. A shining example of grit, determination, and academic resilience. Let’s go Waziri. Respect," he said.
During the vetting, the Mining Cabinet Secretary nominee admitted that he scored a D- in his KCSE education even as he explained that he has since "turned it around" and attained two degrees.
The former Mombasa governor told of his career path saying he is presently on the path to attaining a Master’s Degree at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Joho said because of his poor background, he started working before going back to school.
The Mining CS nominee said he started with a bridging course in 2006 as he embarked on a journey to acquire his first degree.
“I did a bridging course to enable me to join university. I did a diploma in 2007 which enabled me to join Kampala University and eventually graduated in 2013,” he said.
Joho mentioned that he drew his inspiration from a renowned scholar, Prof Ali Mazrui who did not have an easy beginning but still made it in life.
“It's common for people to have doubts about those from the Coast region, but we are just as qualified as any other Kenyan. Some of us come from a poor background. I did not grow up in an environment that allowed me to prosper in terms of education,” he said.
“I drew my inspiration from Prof Ali Mazrui…he did not succeed in his Cambridge examination to be admitted to the university for the first degree. I want Kenyans to know that historical struggles are real. Someone should never imagine that if they come from a place of comfort, there will be a levelled playground for everyone," he said.