By Milton Were | Kenya-Today.com Investigations
A fierce corporate turf war has erupted at the Port of Mombasa — and at the center of it is billionaire businessman Mohamed Jaffer, the longtime logistics kingpin accused of orchestrating a vile smear campaign to destroy his emerging rival, Abubakar Ali Joho, also known as Abu.
Abubakar, the owner of Autoport Freight Terminus and Portside Freight Terminal, has filed explosive claims in court, pointing fingers at Jaffer — the man behind Bulkstream Ltd (formerly Grainbulk Handlers Limited) — accusing him of using dirty tricks and cyber propaganda to safeguard a logistics monopoly he has held for over three decades.
“This is not business competition. It’s character assassination,” Abubakar said during a tense courtroom session in Mombasa.
From Monopoly to Malice
Abubakar’s entry into the port logistics sector shattered Jaffer’s long-standing grip. According to court documents, this move sparked a series of personal and coordinated online attacks designed to intimidate and discredit him and his family.
One of the most disturbing claims was a defamatory letter that circulated on social media, allegedly linking Abubakar to drug trafficking, land fraud, and a massive Sh40 billion embezzlement scheme supposedly executed in collusion with his brother — former Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho.
But the attacks didn’t stop at business allegations. The letter also insulted Abubakar’s mother, making false and humiliating claims about her private life and even questioned his legitimacy by labeling him a child born out of wedlock.
“You can’t abuse my family and expect me to stay silent,” he told the court, clearly emotional.
A Calculated Character Hit Job
Abubakar told Mombasa Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo that the defamatory campaign escalated during the politically charged Gen Z protests in 2024, leaving him fearing for his safety.
“Kenya was burning at the time… I couldn’t stay silent and risk being attacked,” he said, explaining why he reported the matter to Central Police Station on July 23, 2024.
He was later advised to file a complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), after which it allegedly emerged that the defamatory letter originated from the office of Mr. Jaffer’s long-serving secretary — Matilda Maodo Kinzani.
Kinzani is now at the center of the criminal case. She faces four charges under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act for knowingly spreading false information intended to destroy Abubakar’s reputation.
Shocking Social Media Campaign
According to the prosecution, Ms. Kinzani used WhatsApp and social media platforms to make wild claims, including:
Abubakar’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking;
Theft of containers from the Port of Mombasa;
Illegal acquisition of Kenya Railways land;
Selling rice laced with narcotics;
And a false claim that Abubakar and his brother defrauded Mombasa County of over Sh40 billion.
In court, Abubakar said the lies even reached his children, who confronted him in distress, asking if they were “feeding from drug money.” The moment left him shattered.
“That hurt me deeply,” he said. “You can’t drag my name through social media just because of business rivalry.”
All Roads Lead to Jaffer?
Abubakar was unequivocal in his testimony: the source of the attacks was his main rival, Mohamed Jaffer. He claimed the defamatory material and subsequent online abuse were not random — but deliberate acts designed to destroy his credibility and push him out of the logistics game.
“He has had a monopoly for 30 years. Now that I’ve entered the port, that’s where our problems began. He’s the monopoly — I am not,” said Abu.
He added that Jaffer’s dominance became toxic when it extended beyond business competition into personal defamation campaigns involving innocent family members.
Despite acknowledging that he does not know Kinzani personally, he confirmed she had been a long-time secretary to Jaffer — the only common thread tying her to the smear campaign.
Justice Over Revenge
Abubakar emphasized that he is not seeking revenge — only justice. He told the court that if it is proven the letter did not originate from Kinzani, he would be willing to “hug her” in court.
“I respect her family. I never had a problem with them until now,” he said.
Abubakar explained that he has been the target of malicious allegations for years but had never acted legally due to lack of evidence — until now.
Kinzani, who has denied all accusations, is out on Sh300,000 cash bail.
The Bigger Picture: Mombasa’s Logistics Underworld
This case is more than just a personal feud — it reveals the cutthroat nature of Mombasa’s logistics sector, where big names use power and influence to suppress emerging players.
The question now remains: How far are legacy tycoons like Mohamed Jaffer willing to go to protect their turf? And how many other rising entrepreneurs have been buried under similar smear campaigns?
For now, all eyes are on the courts as Abubakar fights to clear his name and reclaim his place in the port business — not just as a competitor, but as a victim of a corporate mafia that thrives on fear, lies, and intimidation.
