Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho stated that he was pursuing the top seat in 2022 and his Party leader Raila Odinga had not asked him to drop his ambitions.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Joho stated that if Odinga openly declares his intentions to seek the top seat then they will sit down as a party and deliberate on the way forward.
Governor Joho remarked: “My party leader has always been Raila Amollo Odinga and I’m sure that will continue until the day I retire from politics because of what he stands for."
The Mombasa County boss added: "And so my party leader has not told me not to run for presidency… he hasn’t.”
Joho maintained he would be seeking the country’s top seat on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket due to his current position as the party’s deputy leader.
“I have served as an MP, I have served in the Ministry of Transport, and I have served as governor for ten years… I want the presidency,” the Mombasa County boss declared.
“Our country gives anyone a chance to try, we will talk to Kenyans and sell our agenda. It doesn’t have to be that you come from a larger tribe or a certain religion so that you become president,” he added.
He further extended his support for the Building Bridges initiative by President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga while downplaying previous differences between himself and the Head of State saying they were caused merely by disagreement in ideologies.
“Why would I fight someone who is on his last term while I am also on my last term as governor?” Governor Joho asked.
Joho further revealed that he was engaging, COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli among other leaders in his Presidential bid.
"I'm not looking for regional leadership at the Coast, I want to speak to the nation. I must reach out to Kenyans elsewhere. We've gone to reach out to people with influence in the community like Francis Atwoli whom we want to engage," Joho stated.
