Presidency is for Raila, You Can Vie for Parliamentary Seat - ODM MP Tells Joho

A crisis is looming at the Orange Party over who’ll be its presidential candidate in the 2022 General Election.

So far, ODM Deputy Leaders; Governor Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) have expressed interest in the seat.

Joho has been very vocal about his bid and is on record asking ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga to back him.

However, a section of legislators drawn from across Nairobi County on Sunday rubbished Joho’s bid, claiming that Raila is ODM’s automatic candidate for 2022.

Led by ODM Nairobi branch chairman and Makadara MP George Aladwa, the leaders asked Joho and Oparanya to shelve their bids and back Raila.

According to Aladwa, the two leaders can vie for other posts like; MP, Senators among others.

“We are telling those who are moving around asking for a presidential ticket in ODM, the ticket for a presidential candidate is one, and it will go to Raila Odinga.

“Those serving their last terms as governor should finish and look for other seats. There are many seats; MPs, ministers but they should forget about the presidential ticket,” he said at an event in Kibra on Sunday.

Other leaders who were at the event include; Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, MPs; Antony Oluoch (Mathare), Babu Owino (Embakasi East) and former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo

Early this year, Joho and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed had a heated exchange after the latter appeared to question the governor’s presidential bid.

Meanwhile, Joho’s bid enjoys the support of a section of Coastal leaders who feel it is time for one of their own to be Kenya’s president.