Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho is considered a close ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga and his statements cannot be taken lightly in most cases.
Speaking to K24 on Tuesday, October 26, the ODM deputy party leader gave the clearest indication Raila might only serve for one term as president should he be elected to office in the 2022 General Election.
Joho, who had earlier indicated he would challenge Raila for the ODM presidential nomination ticket, said he shelved the plan after being told it would be easier for him to become the sixth president in 2027.
“I want (Baba) Raila Odinga to win in the 2022 General Election so that by 2027 he can let me go,” Joho said suggesting that Raila, 76, will be a one-term president.
Joho who shelved his 2022 presidential ambitions in favour of his party leader further warned the people of the coastal region not to work with Deputy President William Ruto as it will reduce chances of having one of their own in State House sooner
“If the other one (Deputy President William Ruto) wins, we (people from Coast of Kenya) will never see the presidency again,” the outspoken Joho said.
Raila who will be taking a fifth stab at the presidency has been accused of not honouring his pre-election manifesto with his affiliates.
For instance, the moribund National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition partners accused Raila of not honouring their 2017 pre-election pact where it was agreed that Raila will contest for the 2017 presidency and support someone else come 2022.
It is due to this factor among others including political parties’ funds that led to the dissolution of NASA, the once most powerful political coalition in Kenyan history.
While other former NASA principals Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) and Isaac Ruto (Chama Cha Mashinani) had maintained that it was Raila’s turn to back one of them, it later emerged that the former Premier was supposed to back one of their own only if he won.
“I personally witnessed an agreement between Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka detailing that he (Raila) would support SK (Kalonzo Musyoka) in 2022 if NASA won in 2017,” said Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana in June.
