Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho wants to take a stab at the presidency in 2022 election on ODM presidential ticket.
However, even before Joho can fly ODM presidential flag, he must first defeat other candidates who are equally eying the party’s ticket.
Joho is expected to face off with ODM party leader Raila Odinga in the primaries, even though the former premier hasn’t publicly declared his presidential ambitions for 2022.
Another candidate eyeing ODM presidential ticket is Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya – who is also the deputy party leader together with Joho.
Oparanya and Joho are both second-term governors who can’t contest again for their current seats because of constitutional two term limit.
Both Oparanya and Joho are facing an insurmountable challenge of defeating Raila who enjoys unparalleled support from party members.
Even so, Joho believes he stands a chance of defeating Raila in a fair ODM party primaries.
Joho poked holes in ODM’s decision to extended the deadline for the presentation of presidential applications by aspirants to March 31st.
The Mombasa governor had already dispatched his team to Nairobi to submit his application papers only to be told of the shift of the deadline.
The ODM National Election Board (NEB) chair Catherine Mumma had indicated the extension of the deadline was meant to ensure more applicants had applied.
However some people believe the extension was to give Raila time to focus on BBI popularization campaigns.
Joho said he is keen to democratically compete for ODM presidential ticket after a deep consultation with his supporters.
He disclosed that he started his campaign for the country’s top seat before the 2017 general election after he clinched the governorship for the second time.
Boniface Mwangi laughs off Hassan Joho becoming the next President of Kenya
The Mombasa governor believes he stands a chance of clinching the ODM ticket because he is currently consolidating his Coast base and will soon traverse the country to seek wider support.
Joho however insists that he enjoys cordial relationships with the former Prime Minister. He explained that his recent comment that Raila should also support him in his quest for president did not mean he was seeking an endorsement from the ODM party leader.
Joho says his statement only served as a reminder that politics was about mutual interest and that he had a democratic right to also vie for the presidency.
Joho insists that he is making serious preparations for the presidential election and that he will be a serious contender.
