Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho surprised Citizen TV presenter Rashid Abdalla during a live interview after revealing that he knew his family long before Rashid became a familiar face on television.
Joho made the revelation during an interview on Citizen TV on Monday, September 7, 2026. The CS told Rashid that he still has an old photograph of him from his childhood.
The former Mombasa governor also revealed that he knew Rashid’s mother, who worked at the Mombasa Port.
Joho said he used to visit Rashid’s mother at her workplace and was close to her. He then told the journalist to ask his mother about the friendship.
The revelation appeared to catch Rashid by surprise, especially because Joho was sharing the details during a live television interview.
Joho went on to praise Rashid for his ambition and the effort he had put into building his career in the media industry.
According to Joho, Rashid could have ended up living a completely different life had he not pursued his ambitions.
He said Rashid had managed to become a household name because of his determination and predicted that the journalist could one day own a major media or production company.
The exchange quickly found its way onto social media after a short clip from the interview was shared online.
Kenyans had different reactions to the conversation. Some interpreted Joho’s remarks as a friendly reminder that he had known Rashid and his family for many years.
Others, however, felt there was more to the remarks, especially the way Joho spoke about knowing Rashid’s background.
One social media user suggested that Joho was indirectly telling Rashid to be careful, while another joked that the remarks were a clever way of avoiding difficult questions during the interview.
Some viewers disagreed with that interpretation and said the two men appeared to share a genuine connection dating back to their childhood years.
The conversation has continued to attract attention online, with many people focusing on Joho’s revelation that he has a childhood photograph of the popular TV presenter.
What started as a regular interview therefore turned into an unexpected trip down memory lane, leaving Rashid and viewers curious about Joho’s long-standing connection with his family.