Pwani University lecturer Halim Shauri has said Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s presidential bid is likely to be hampered by his ability to galvanize support from outside the Coast region.
The lecturer said Joho is working around the clock to ensure that he is the coastal Kingpin but it will not be easy to get support from other counties, in a bid to become the president of the nation come 2022.
“Joho has used his position as Mombasa governor and deputy ODM party leader to fight for the interest of his party. His ability to lead the party to victory in the Malindi by-election, his agility and courage to face the Jubilee administration and his vision to be President in 2022 have demonstrated that he is a national leader,” said Shauri.
Shauri also noted that Joho’s influence became evident when he mobilised voters in different counties to support Cord.
He said Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya recently decamped to Jubilee after realising ODM is likely to deny him an opportunity to defend his seat in the next general election.
“Mvurya was groomed by Joho to become governor and vice chairman of the Council of Governors and chairman of the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani. But as Joho rose, he acted in a manner that saw Mvurya quit for fear he would not get a nomination in ODM,” said Shauri.