Joho’s political ambition unsettles the mountain

Mining CS Hassan Joho with Cabinet colleague Salim Mvurya, President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at the Mkomani Showground in Mombasa on February 6, 2026 /BRIAN OTIENO

Mining and Blue Economy CS Hassan Joho has heightened his political activities, indicating a scheme to position himself as a 2032 presidential candidate.

The former Mombasa governor has been hosting leaders from the Coast for strategic meetings, after which the leaders have always come out singing his praises.

He has held at least three such meetings in Malindi, Kikambala and Mombasa in the last two months.

Political observers say he may be keen on becoming President William Ruto's running mate in the 2027 election to give him a good foothold to run after Ruto completes his term in 2032.

On Friday last week, a truck was seen making rounds in Mombasa with images of President Ruto and Joho with the wording “Hassan Joho Tutam, Deputy President 2027”.

The messaging was seen as a clear campaign strategy to put pressure on President Ruto to pick the former governor as his running mate in 2027.

On Sunday, during an ODM rally at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa, Joho claimed he shelved his 2027 presidential ambition to allow President Ruto to go for his second and final term.

To shore up his claim, Joho on Monday said he was ODM deputy party leader under Raila Odinga for 10 years. He said that was enough indication that he can be the party leader, adding that no one in the party hierarchy has sacrificed more for the party than him.

“I have undergone tribulations because I have associated myself with ODM. So no one can dare question the sacrifices we have made for this party. The politics of tomorrow are usually planned today. When you look at me, don’t I look like someone who can be President of Kenya?” he said.

Joho was, however, quick to add that he respects Oburu Oginga as the ODM party leader.

“Kwani mimi sitaki? Natosha na nataka. Lakini chama kilinifundisha thamani na heshima kwamba tukishaamua kwamba kiongozi wetu ni Oburu Oginga, basi ni Oburu (Don’t I want? I can and I want. But the party taught me the value of respect, that if we have decided our leader is Oburu Oginga, then Oburu it is),” Joho said.

He said he was already laying the ground for a future p[residential bid.

“I am putting together my plans so that in the future, Kenya will know there can be a President Ali Hassan Joho elected through the ODM party.”

Joho served alongside Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya as ODM deputy party leaders. But their appointment to the Cabinet in August 2024 means they were ineligible to replace Raila as the ODM Party Leader.

Oburu was quickly installed as party leader as soon as Raila died in October last year.

Insiders say Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, who is gaining respect and power within ODM ranks, was among the key leaders who proposed Oburu to take over as the ODM party leader.

Since then, Nassir has frequently hosted Oburu for party activities at the Coast.

However, Nassir is also keen not to antagonise Joho, who is seen as a key figure in the Coastal politics owing to the fan base, support and following he enjoys, and the financial muscle that he and his larger family have.

On Saturday, in Kwale, Nassir said Joho is worth being a deputy president in 2027.

“Na kwani Hassan Ali Joho hafai kua deputy president wa Kenya? Kwani mtoto wa Likoni hafai kua deputy president wa Kenya? (Isn’t Hassan Ali Joho capable of being deputy president? Isn’t someone from Likoni capable of being deputy president?),” he posed.

However, Joho’s activities could cause friction within the broad-based government, with his foot soldiers already making noise about him being President William Ruto’s running mate in 2027.

This could jolt incumbent deputy president Kithure Kindiki and his camp.

Leaders from Mt Kenya region have already warned ODM against angling for the deputy president position.

Led by Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku, the leaders have told ODM to keep off the deputy president seat, saying it is politically and historically anchored in Mt Kenya region, and is not open for negotiation.

Ruku has said that although the government is operating under a broad-based framework aimed at promoting unity and national development, the deputy president seat is not part of any political arrangement.

“Let me announce here at the centre of the mountain that Professor Kithure Kindiki is the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya and he will be the deputy in 2027 to 2032,” Ruku said at a church in Central on Sunday.

He said: “Those looking for seats, let them do so, but they should not look for the President’s and the Deputy President’s seats.”

He said the region is ready to face anyone in any political contest.

ODM’s Kileleshwa MCA Robart Alai has however warned his party against demanding for the deputy president seat, saying it is a trap that has no value or real power.

“Chasing that seat is a strategic suicide that will castrate our party, dilute our bargaining power, and turn us from kingmakers into glorified cheerleaders for someone else's agenda,” he posted on his Facebook account on Monday.

He said the DP seat is a consolation prize, not power, likening the position to a spare tyre in Kenya’s political scene.

“You only matter when the President has a puncture. Otherwise, you’re sitting pretty in the passenger seat, clapping and waving while the driver decides everything,” Alai said.

He said history shows that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was ‘powerful’ until he was not.

He said a DP from ODM under President Ruto would have zero independent authority.

“No control over the budget, no command over security organs, no real say in appointments. Just ceremonies, foreign trips, and the constant fear of impeachment if you grow too popular or step out of line,” the blogger said.

He said ODM did not fight all along to be a deputy to someone else’s vision.

He said the DP does not control the Cabinet, budgets, ministries and can neither appoint or dismiss Principal Secretaries, nor command the legislative agenda.

“By going for DP, we are telling Ruto and UDA: ‘This is our ceiling. This is what satisfies us. Game over,” Alai said.

He said ODM should instead demand substantive positions that actually move the country, including the National Treasury, which controls money.

He also named Interior, Energy, Foreign Affairs, Health and Education ministries among the key dockets the party should bargain for.

“We should not settle for a title that comes with a flag and a motorcade but zero muscle. You negotiate from a position of strength by not taking the shiny object," Alai said.

He said once ODM is given the deputy president slot, they will no longer be in a position to demand more.

“Once you take the DP position, your other demands become greed. You already have the second-highest office, what more do you want?’ they’ll ask. And the public will buy it because titles impress the uninformed.”