Governor Joho: I want to be President

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has revealed that he will vie for the presidency of Kenya.

Joho, who spoke to Citizen TV’s Nimrod Taabu on Thursday, stated that 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,” said Governor Joho.

“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.”

The Mombasa County boss further stated that ODM leader Raila Odinga has not asked him to abandon his presidential ambitions in his (Raila’s) favour.

He added that if Mr. Odinga also openly declares his intentions to seek the top seat then they will sit down as a party and deliberate on the way forward.

“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. And so my party leader has not told me not to run for presidency… he hasn’t,” stated Joho.

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?” Posed Governor Joho.