By Peter Ochieng
Former Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho has been endorsed to contest for the presidential seat in 2027.
He was endorsed by some elected leaders in the Coast region, aligned to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Speaking during a food distribution exercise for Muslims in Malindi, Kilifi County, the leaders challenged Joho to soldier on with his agenda of becoming Kenya’s 6th president.
The leaders included Malindi Women Representative Amina Mnyazi, Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, Kwale Senator Boy Juma Boy, Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki, Kilifi Woman Representative Getrude Mbeyu, Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed, MPs Mishi Mboko (Likoni), Rashid Benzimba (Kisauni), Harrison Kombe (Magarini) and Machele Mohamed (Mvita).
“Its only Joho who can defeat President Ruto, he does not fear anything and is the only one who previously took the former President Uhuru Kenyatta head-on in Mombasa,” said Mbeyu.
Joho is among senior political figures in the Coast region, having served as governor for two straight terms, from 2013 to 2022.
The former County Chief is among those angling to succeed ODM leader Raila Odinga. Odinga is vying for the position of Chairman, African Union Commission (AUC).
With the AUC elections set for early 2025, Odinga may be forced to take a backseat from the local political scene, if he succeeds in replacing Moussa Faki Mahamat from Chad, whose second and last term is moving towards the end.
“Of all those who want to succeed Raila, no one matches Joho, no one. So, all of us as brothers let’s unite and ensure we support Joho,” Joho said.
“There are fundamental factors that we have over the period been able to learn from our party leader and our father Raila Odinga. We have already inherited courage, democracy, values of putting Kenyans first and fighting for citizens. Since I ventured into politics, I have been under one person, Raila Amollo Odinga. Since I started my politics in 2004, I’ve never left (Raila). So, I know the values Raila holds. I heard someone say I came recently. I am a founder member of ODM.”
Former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Leader of Minority in the National Assembly James Opiyo Wandayi, are among others seeking to fill Raila’s ‘huge shoes.’