Joho urges irate G7 Coast leaders to join ODM

 SHARE BOOKMARKPRINTRATING

Kisauni MP Ali Hassan Joho. Photo/FILE 

By MWAKERA MWAJEFA
Posted  Saturday, November 10  2012 at  14:22

IN SUMMARY

• Mr Joho has urged disgruntled G7 leaders in Coast region to join ODM

SHARE THIS STORY

Disgruntled G7 Alliance leaders in Coast region have been urged to join the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Transport Assistant Minister Hassan Joho on Saturday said Environment Minister Chirau Mwakwere and Medical Services Assistant Minister Kazungu Kambi should join ODM since it's the most popular party in the region. Read (Cracks in G7 as allies in Coast reject Balala)

On Friday, Kaloleni MP Kazungu Kambi said Mijikenda leaders were ready to quit G7 after the inclusion of Mvita MP Najib Balala as the key politician in the coastal region.

“We as Mijikenda leaders cannot and will not accept Mr Balala to be the Coast leader in the G7 political pact. We will not play second fiddle, not anymore,” he said at a press conference on Friday.

The row over Mr Balala threatens to tear apart the G7 power deal as a group calling itself G7 Alliance Women in Mombasa told off the Mvita MP and Republican Congress Party chairman from imposing himself as the leader of coast people.

Ms Rose Nganga, the group’s chair, asked Mr Mwakwere and Mr Kambi not to decamp from United Republican Party (URP) saying Mr Balala was not welcomed because he had nothing to offer in the leadership role.

“Mwakwere and Kambi should remain put and not allow an opportunist like Balala to elbow them out of their roles as coastal kingpins,” she said.

ICC trials

Mr Joho also cautioned against the use of International Criminal Court (ICC) cases as an issue during the forthcoming General Election.

“We should rise above petty politics and conduct ourselves to the levels of what we saw in the United States with Obama and Romney battling out on national issues," he said.

Mr Joho also backed Industrialization Minister Henry Kosgey to be Prime Minister Raila Odinga's running mate because he has all the required qualifications.

“Our national chairman has the character of a running mate. I am ready to vote for his candidature within the party hierarchy,” he said.