Hassan Joho recalls being accused of flirting with women after criticising social media misuse

Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has opened up about facing bizarre accusations of using social media to pursue women, following his recent criticism of how online platforms are being misused.

Speaking during an interview with Oga Obinna on Saturday, July 19, 2025, Joho noted that his call for positive and responsible use of social media had been misinterpreted and blown out of proportion by some individuals.

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He recalled how one person directly confronted him with claims that he used online platforms for personal exploits, a suggestion he firmly dismissed as baseless and misguided.

“So if you come to me and tell me that I am using social media to hit on women, what do you want me to do? Should I hit on you? Yes, I use it, so you also use it. It surprises me that now you have a smartphone and data, and suddenly you know everything,” Joho said, expressing his surprise over the unfounded accusations.

The former Mombasa governor went on to clarify that his stance on social media was not about discrediting the platforms but rather about encouraging constructive use.

“Positive use of social media is what I encourage. It has nothing to do with criticism. Use it to hold leaders accountable. But someone came to me and said I had insulted social media users and even made a video saying I am using social media to hit on women,” he said, adding that the allegations were a distortion of his remarks.

Joho emphasised that social media is a double-edged sword, capable of both building and destroying lives depending on how it is used.

“I told them social media can be used for good or for bad. Social media can bring people together, and it can divide them. It can burn, and it can be banned. So we have to be careful,” he noted.

He also pointed out the unrealistic expectations people sometimes have about public figures, highlighting that no individual can be expected to know everything across all sectors.

“I see people who assume they know everything. The truth is, my first undergraduate degree is in HR. You cannot come to me and ask me about agriculture and expect me to know. But when it comes to mining and the blue economy, I know. It is not possible to know everything. Is it not better to focus on one area?” he asked.

Joho maintained that his earlier remarks were not intended to insult anyone but to caution against the misconception that a country can progress purely through online activism.

“I said it, and I was not insulting anyone. A country cannot be built on social media,” he firmly concluded.