Joho’s wife files for divorce
Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho’s highly secretive marriage is on the rocks after his wife, Madina Giovanni Fazzini, filed for divorce at the Kadhi’s court.
In her court papers, Fazzini avers that their 11-year-old marriage had broken down irretrievably with no chance of revival given that both parties had moved on with their lives.
“There is no hope or possibility of reconciliation or compromise of whatsoever nature between me and the governor,” says Fazzini.
In a suit filed at the Kadhi’s court on January 26, 2022, Fazzini avers that she had lived with the governor from the onset of their marriage in 2011 until 2013 when they moved to separate quarters.
She further states that in June 2013, the flamboyant governor moved out of their matrimonial home.
She, however, continued living in the family home until September 2020 when she decided to relocate to Malindi, Kilifi County, where she currently stays.
“It is obvious that there is no hope or possibility of reconciliation or compromise of whatsoever nature or kind between myself and the respondent,” she states.
In her supporting affidavit, the mother of two says she got married to the second-term governor in February 2011 and they were blessed with the children who are now aged nine and eight.
Fazzini says that after their marriage hit the rocks she continued living in the family home with her children until last year, but now believes the marriage cannot be sustained either legally or socially.
She denies being coerced by any quarters to seek the dissolution of the marriage, saying she made the decision on her own volition.
The court has granted the governor 15 days to enter appearance and file his response to the suit.
Throughout his public life, Joho has kept his family details discreet and has previously stated that he prefers keeping his wife away from the public limelight.
Equally, Fazzini has kept a low public profile that even the County First Ladies Association, a caucus of governors’ wives, does not have her picture on its website. Fazzini is born of an Italian father and a Somali mother.
She is said to have graduated with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree from a university on the Kenyan Coast.
Divorce proceedings
“The petitioner is clear and unequivocal that the marriage has broken down irretrievably with no chance of revival given that both parties have moved on with their respective lives,” Fazzini stated without elaborating.
“There is no hope or possibility of reconciliation or compromise of whatsoever nature or kind between the petitioner and the respondent,” she went on.
“The petitioner has not in any manner been an accessory to, or connived and/or condoned the Respondent’s actions, or in any way colluded with the respondent in bringing the instant proceedings,” she concluded.
But even as rumours about the impending divorce proceedings swept across Mombasa county and its environs, Joho was over 500km away, accompanying Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga on a campaign tour in Kajiado county.
