Nothing new about Jubilee merger, says Governor Joho

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has dismissed the merging of parties which were under the Jubilee coalition saying that Jubilee has just changed the name of the party.

“They should not lie to us that they have merged. Everyone can see they are the same people that we know,” said Mr Joho, who is the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) deputy party leader.

“Who is the new guy for them to say they have brought on board new people?” asked Mr Joho.

Bringing other parties on board meant nothing, he said, as the other parties “did not provide any leader in the last elections”.

“They have gone for parties that do not have followers and did not even get an MCA or MPs, and they are the same parties they are purporting to have merged with, but what we are saying is that as ODM we are well-prepared and we are ready to face them,” said Mr Joho.

The governor was speaking at Vikwatani in Kisauni Constituency, where he was accompanied by Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba.

TO VIE FOR PRESIDENCY IN 2022

Meanwhile, Mr Joho has reiterated his dream to go for the presidential seat in 2022, while Mr Bedzimba said he would vie for the governorship in the same year.

We now want to ensure that the governor maintains his seat in 2017 and [then we] take him to State House so that I can take over the Mombasa governor’s seat come 2022,” said Mr Bedzimba.

At the same time, Mr Joho urged the residents not to be ‘manipulated’ by the Jubilee Party.

“We hear that the Jubilee leaders are coming here for the said development, but what they are doing is just to woo you.

“Do not allow [them] because ODM is here to serve you better,” said the governor.

He added: “We do not want you to be flattered by projects that are being done for political gains, we want to tell them that coast people are now enlightened.”

President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to visit the Coast this month to launch development projects that he initiated during his last visit to the region.