ODM Party leader Raila Odinga with Mombasa Govvernor Hassan Joho when they joined the Seventh Day Adventist Community for fellowship at the Nairobi Primary School at Statehouse Road. Photo: Hassan Joho/ facebook.com
ODM Party leader Raila Odinga has defended embattled Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho whose academic qualifications have continued to elicit mixed reactions among Kenyans.Speaking at a political rally in Kibera on Sunday, Raila accused the government of frustrating the Governor by pilling baseless accusations against him."They first said he is a drug dealer. Then they said he has fake certificates. Now they say he doesn't pay taxes. You wonder what rubbish is this," he said.Defending Joho's certificates, Raila said the Governor's university credentials were duly awarded by the institution's Senate on merit.Promising Joho the party support during this trying moment of his political career, the former Prime Minister said he party will stand by its members."We want to tell them that ODM will defend its members day and night against all our enemies,” he added, amid cheers from the crowd.Joho's troubles with the State ballooned last week after the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) claimed that his KCSE certificate was fake, claims which he has since dismissed.