Former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho has revealed his plans of retiring from active politics at the same time with his ODM party leader Raila Odinga.

Speaking during an event in Nyanza over the weekend, Joho stated that there was no need for him to remain in politics at a time when Raila was focusing on quitting local politics as he campaigns for African Union chairperson role.

Joho added that the former Prime Minister encouraged him to join politics and that he wanted to retire with him.

The former governor said that the only way he couldn’t retire with Raila was if the Azimio leader persuaded him otherwise.

“I am a founding member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and I want to tell you, in my political life unless Raila says otherwise, I entered politics with Raila and I will exit with Raila,” said Joho.

Joho, who is also the ODM deputy Party leader, stated that this was informed by his support for Raila’s worldview.

He additionally noted that former President Uhuru Kenyatta used Raila’s blueprint from his time as Roads Minister to enhance the country’s infrastructure.
According to Joho, several roads being built by President William Ruto’s administration had been recommended by Raila in 2002.

While the former Mombasa governor expressed his readiness to step down from politics alongside Raila, he remained optimistic that ODM will establish a successor government in 2027.

However, Joho did not say if retiring from politics would be the end of his presidential ambitions.

His remarks emerged at a time when most leaders in ODM were targeting to take over the role of party leader from Raila.

He first joined national politics in 2007 as a Kisauni Member of Parliament, before being elected governor in the 2013 and 2017 elections.