Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Raila Odinga on Sunday, March 31, cautioned Coast leaders after they endorsed former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho to be the next party leader.
Speaking in Malindi, Kilifi County, Raila warned that regional endorsements were endangering the party.
He warned that if different leaders continued endorsing candidates based on their region, the party would crack and eventually disintegrate.
“We need everyone in our team because that is the only way we can be strong. We do not want these campaigns that can break the party,” he cautioned.
“It is good that Coast has given their views stating that they want Hassan Joho but do not say that because he comes from the area.”
Raila challenged leaders drawn from Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa Counties to give justifications on why they thought Joho was fit to take the party mantle.
The party leader remarked that when the time came for him to step down, ODM would sit down and choose a suitable candidate.
Raila further stated that every leader would be given a fair chance to argue his case since ODM was the most democratic party in East and Central Africa.
The ODM party leader was accompanied by governors Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa) and Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi).
Other leaders included Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, Hamida Kibwana (nominated senator), Mombasa Woman Representative ZamZam Chimba Mohamed, and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi.
Raila Odinga will step down as ODM party leader should he win the African Union Commission chairmanship in February 2025.
Other leaders who have shown interest in replacing Raila as party leader include ODM Chairman John Mbadi and National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.
