The competition for the Deputy Party Leader position in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has heated up following Hassan Joho’s appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Mining.
Coastal legislators are calling for a leader from their region to assume the position and have announced plans to vet potential candidates before presenting a nominee to the party leadership.
There is growing speculation that ODM leader Raila Odinga might have already identified Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir as Joho’s likely successor, though no official endorsement has been made.
Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi noted, “The appointment has not yet determined Joho’s successor, but we are in discussions to find the most suitable candidate. This role requires a capable leader who can effectively represent our people.”
Odinga recently met with both Mombasa Governor Nassir and Kisii Governor Simba Arati, with reports suggesting that either could be considered to replace Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, who has been appointed to the Cooperative docket.
The appointment of four senior ODM members to President William Ruto’s new broad-based government has spurred intense lobbying within the party for leadership and parliamentary positions.
This restructuring follows protests by Generation Z youth that disrupted economic activities and led to a Cabinet reshuffle.
The new appointees include ODM Party Chairman John Mbadi as Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury; Opiyo Wandayi for Energy and Petroleum; Ali Hassan Joho for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs; and Wycliffe Oparanya for the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development.
EALA MP Suleiman Shabal, a potential candidate for Deputy Party Leader, expressed concern that the role might be assigned to someone from outside the coastal region, despite the region’s longstanding support for Odinga.
“It’s only fair that one of the deputy party leaders comes from the coast. We have several deserving candidates, and we will make a unanimous decision,” Shabal stated.
Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi urged Odinga to allow coastal leaders to vet the candidates for the position.
“Hassan Joho’s successor must be someone powerful and capable. We are asking Odinga to let us choose the best candidate from our region,” Mnyazi emphasized.
Joho, a former Mombasa Governor and influential ODM member, has been pivotal in rallying support for Odinga in the coastal region.
His move to the Cabinet creates a significant leadership gap in the party that coastal leaders are eager to address.
WHO Warns Of Rapid Spread Of Dangerous New Mpox Strain Along Eastern DRC Border
