Joho uses Raila 'birthday' to boost political capital

ODM Governors, Senators and MPs dance during the celebration to mark the birthday of the late Party leader, Raila Odinga. [Omondi Onyango,Standard] "It was all about Hassan Joho's 2027 political survival." This is how a senior politician who attended Wednesday's late Raila Odinga's 81st birthday celebrations in Mombasa described it. The MP, a close ally of Joho, said the real agenda of the celebration, attended by over 2000 delegates in Mombasa, was to rally the coast region behind Joho's ambitions in 2027 and 2032. In the last three general elections, Joho, Cabinet Secretary of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, has presented himself as a presidential candidate in waiting. Critics say he uses his claim to the presidency to raise his political capital. His allies say the former Mombasa governor was qualified after painstakingly upgrading his academic standards. Joho has publicly stated that he scored a D- (minus) in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination in 1993. The CS now hold two degrees and is pursuing a master's degree. And Raila's 81st birthday celebrations, dubbed 'Coast Salute', held at Sun N' Sand beach resort in Kilifi county, were dominated by messages for Joho to go for the deputy presidency in 2027. In what appeared to be choreographed, speaker after speaker said if Joho was selected as the DP in 2027, it would galvanise support across the country for his 2032 presidential bid. "The meeting is all about Joho's political survival. He is seeking political relevance from his Coast home base," said the source. Joho said President William Ruto will go for two terms as he (Joho) forms partnerships with various regions, including the voter-rich Rift Valley, ahead of 2032, when he will run for presidency. He assured the delegates that he is a product of politics and he has the ambition for the top seat in the land. "Ruto will go for two terms while I seek partnerships even in the Rift Valley in preparations for my presidential bid in 2032. Politics is about partnerships. It is all about arithmetic," he said. Joho had declared his presidential ambition when Raila was alive but went silent after ODM lost the 2022 general election. Joho's meeting came two weeks after a section of the Mijikenda under the banner of the Umwenga Wehu Welfare Association, or M9, gathered at the Vishakani home of independence politician Ronald Ngala in Kaloleni, Kilifi county, and unveiled former Cabinet Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere as the Mijikenda spokesman. During the meeting held on December 26 last year, Mwakwere was mandated to unite the community ahead of the 2027 general election and beyond. Senate speaker and PAA founder Mr Amason Kingi and Youth, Creative Economy and Sports CS Salim Mvurya have since held their unity meetings in Kilifi County and Kwale County, respectively. On Wednesday, former Gender CS and Kenya Roads Board chairperson Ms Aisha Jumwa, who is a PAA member, told Joho to go for the deputy president's slot in 2027 in preparation for the presidential contest in 2032. "You should go for the deputy president's slot in 2027 and position yourself for the presidency," Jumwa urged. Likoni MP Ms Mishi Mboko echoed the remarks, arguing that Joho was in a better position to grow politically under the Ruto administration, and hence, he should go for the deputy presidency in 2027. She said Raila had a handshake with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, but ODM did not get Cabinet positions alike in Ruto's broad-based government. "ODM was in a handshake with Uhuru Kenyatta, but there were benefits. Uhuru did not give us CS and PS positions. He also failed to deliver the presidency to Raila despite being in power," Mboko argued. Mombasa women's representative Ms Zamzam Mohamed urged Joho to seek partnership with other regions to strengthen his presidential bid. "You should seek the support of other regions for your 2032 presidential bid," she said. Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga said Joho contributed a lot to the growth of ODM in the Coast region and asked him not to leave in the face of turbulence after Raila's death. "You cannot build your house and abandon it during turbulence. Joho remains intact and preserves Raila's legacy," he said. Taita Taveta senator Mr. Jones Mwaruma and Kaloleni MP Paul Katana urged Joho to hold rallies in all six coastal counties to solidify the regional bloc. "Winners are not quitters. Do not fear the noises. You should solidify the Coast bloc and go to the negotiation table as equal partners," Mwaruma said. Kilifi senator Stewart Madzayo also voiced support for Mr Joho's 2032 presidential bid, saying he had the credentials. PAA deputy party leader Mr Hassan Albeity said his party backed Ruto's two terms and was behind Joho's presidential bid. Wiper-nominated MP Mr Abu Ahmed urged Coast leaders to unite behind Mr Joho for the Coast region to be respected. "If we do not unite, we will not go anywhere," he said.

Joho uses Raila 'birthday' to boost political capital

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