Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has declared his intention to retire alongside the former prime minister Raila Odinga, barring any persuasion from the Azimio leader himself to reconsider this stance.
As a founding member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Joho’s loyalty remains firmly rooted in Raila Odinga’s ideology. His political journey commenced in 2007 when he assumed the role of Kisauni Member of Parliament, subsequently ascending to the governorship in the 2013 and 2017 general elections. This alignment with Odinga’s vision has informed his decision to remain steadfast in their shared political path. Furthermore, Joho highlights the profound impact of Raila Odinga’s vision on Kenya’s infrastructure development.
He notes that former President Uhuru Kenyatta drew upon Odinga’s blueprint during his tenure as Roads minister. Remarkably, some of the roads currently under construction by President William Ruto’s administration were originally proposed by Odinga back in 2002. While expressing readiness to retire alongside Raila Odinga, Joho remains optimistic about the Orange Democratic Movement’s prospects in the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, Hassan Joho has emerged as a staunch defender of ODM National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed amidst allegations of his purported role in Raila Odinga’s defeat. Joho has vehemently refuted claims that Junet Mohamed was solely responsible for Odinga’s loss. Instead, he commends Junet’s tireless efforts throughout the campaign trail. According to Joho, Junet was the only individual within the team who remained steadfast in securing victory for Odinga, often working relentlessly until the former prime minister retired for the night.
He accuses certain individuals within the party of harboring hidden agendas, driven by a desire to discredit Junet and sow discord within the ODM ranks. Joho’s remarks come in response to a book authored by former Odinga’s top agent Saitabao Kanchory who claimed that the former prime minister relied excessively on Junet Mohamed’s counsel, disregarding the advice of others.
In the aftermath of the election, Junet Mohamed seemingly withdrew from the political limelight and avoided many party activities.
