Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho should focus on his re-election in preparation for the 2022 presidential elections, Moi University political scientist Gideon Mamboleo has proposed.
Joho who is expected to hold a major rally in Eldoret on Sunday has been recently involved in top activities within the ODM which have led to calls from a section of supporters to have him picked as Raila Odinga’s running mate in the 2017 polls.
And Mamboleo in an exclusive interview with this writer on Thursday said appointing Joho as a running mate was not ideal since it could cause another row within the opposition.
“Joho is a politician with zeal and enthusiasm and no one can ignore him in Kenya’s political arena. He has risen from a councillor to a governor and his star seems to be rising daily. He can be a good running mate,” Mamboleo said.
He added: “the worry is that we have people like Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula who are Rail's co-principals in Cord and it would be demeaning them if they aren’t picked for the post. The action may also trigger another storm hence affecting Raila’s 2017 presidential plans.”
He, however, maintained that Joho would be a good option to run against DP William Ruto in the 2022 polls after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s term ends should he be re-elected.
“In 2022 Joho can give Ruto sleepless nights. He has a backing from a senior politician and assuming he inherits Raila’s strongholds, then his presidency is no longer a fiction,” he said.