Former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho has declared that he will run for presidency in the 2027 general elections.
The ODM deputy leader refuted claims that he was eying a local seat in Mombasa, saying that he was done with local politics and was now focused on the country’s top seat.
“There were people telling me that in the next general election I should vie for a local seat, I want to tell them I am done with Mombasa politics I am now focusing with national politics,”.
“Who told you that if you are born in Mombasa you cannot become president of the republic of Kenya? I want to make it clear that I will be in the presidential race come 2027,” Joho said.
Joho was speaking in Mombasa after joining his ODM party leader Raila Odinga to witness the launch of the Sh15 million Governor’s Scholarship program by governor Abdulswamad Nassir.
He said that he will vie on an ODM ticket, challenging his party leader and fellow deputy party leader who are said to have also declared interest in flying the ODM flag in the 2027 presidential elections.
“We will square it out and find out who will get the party ticket,” said Joho.
The former governor who served his two full terms said that he entered politics at a young age and has been very loyal to Raila and the ODM party.
He said that, there was nothing wrong with him asking Raila to also endorse him to be the party’s flag bearer in the presidential elections.
“Is there anything wrong with me asking our party leader to raise my hand and say Hassan Joho Tosha?” the former governor posed.
Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir said that Joho was still young and has a bright future ahead of him.
“You (Joho) are still young and have space to participate in national politics. You have the support of the party and baba (Raila) and you are destined for greater things,” said Nassir.
Odinga on his part stated that there is no position or seat reserved for him in ODM saying that the party is democratic and members have the say on who is to be the party leader and presidential candidate.
The party he said was currently conducting a nationwide membership drive and is set to hold grassroots elections in April to elect leaders from the ward level up to the national level.
“No one should think that I am automatically the party leader and the presidential candidate. ODM is a democratic party where members decide their leaders,”
“No position is reserved for Raila, I am not indispensable,” said Odinga.
Odinga said that his two deputy party leaders, Joho and former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya are all entitled to seek to be the party leader and even seek the party ticket for the 2027 presidential race.
“I am ready to support the person will pick, if it Joho or Oparanya. I even told the Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka that if the Azimio coalition picks him, I will support him, that is democracy,”
“We have built a strong democratic party with strong independent institutions and structures. I am confident that if I leave the party, I have capable people to take over,” Odinga said.
