As the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) faces internal turbulence and several politicians chart a future without Raila Odinga , a new power centre appears to be taking shape at the Coast.
The Joho brothers — Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, businessman Abubakar “Abu” Joho, and Nyali parliamentary hopeful Said “Saido” Joho — are emerging as a coordinated political force ahead of the 2027 elections.
CS Joho is fighting to retain influence under his own brand following the death of ODM leader Raila Odinga, while his elder brother Abu has moved from the political shadows to the frontlines, organising rallies and assembling a network of aspirants across Coast counties.
Meanwhile, Said has expressed interest in the Nyali MP seat, widely regarded as one of Mombasa’s most consequential constituencies. Another sibling, Mohamed Amir Joho, has previously contested the Mombasa senatorial seat.
The family’s growing visibility has reignited debate about succession politics at the Coast, the future of ODM and whether the Johos are positioning themselves as the region’s next political dynasty.
As many ODM leaders recalibrate their politics without Raila’s influence, the Joho brothers have stood out in recent months as a team seeking to consolidate their regional dominance.
CS Joho, already a political brand in his own right, is working hard to sustain his national clout without the Raila backing that previously underpinned his influence. His assertiveness became evident during ODM’s 20th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa last November and later intensified at Raila’s posthumous birthday event in Kilifi, organised through the Hassan Joho Foundation earlier this month.
In his remarks, Mr Joho backed calls by Coast leaders for him to assume a more central role in ODM leadership, urging politicians in other parties to formally join ODM if they intend to follow him. “We are ODM and ODM is us. Those saying they will follow me if I take over the party should begin planning how to do so,” he said.
On the other hand, Abu — previously a behind-the-scenes player — has become more visible at political events, often accompanied by a slate of aspirants preparing for the 2027 polls. His engagements have largely targeted the youth, including a recent digital literacy graduation ceremony in Likoni and a voter registration sensitisation walk from Nyali to Mama Ngina Waterfront in December, which also highlighted drug abuse awareness.
Mombasa businessman Abubakar Ali Joho.
Photo credit: Mkamburi Mwawasi | Nation Media Group
“My agenda is simple: register your votes in the Coast. Register your mother, father, brother, sister and neighbour so that we can have a strong regional voice through our leaders,” Abu told supporters. During his tours, Abu is frequently flanked by Mombasa ODM legislators, County Assembly Speaker Aharub Khatri — whose name has featured in governorship politics — and several Members of the County Assembly.
CS Joho rose from Kisauni MP in 2007 to become Mombasa’s first governor. During his tenure, he often clashed with the national government under retired president Uhuru Kenyatta while remaining a staunch Raila loyalist and key ODM mobiliser at the Coast.
However, his 2024 political pivot was dramatic. By joining President William Ruto’s broad-based government as Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Mr Joho moved from opposition politics to the centre of power. He has since become a vocal defender of President Ruto’s bid for a second term.
While several of President William Ruto’s Coast allies — including Youth and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi — actively campaigned for him in 2022, political analyst Maimuna Mwidau says they have been eclipsed by Mr Hassan Joho.
“They hold important positions, but they lack the political mobilisation and grassroots support that Mr Joho commands,” Ms Mwidau said.
She argues that Mr Joho’s role in the current administration is distinctive. Unlike his peers, he sits in the UDA-led national government as a representative of the ODM wing, bringing with him a large, ready-made political base. This has significantly reshaped the Coast’s bargaining power ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“He is also important because he commands strong support from a region that UDA is keen to penetrate,” Ms Mwidau explained.
For President Ruto, Mr Joho is seen as a critical political bridge. Having failed to secure substantial Coast support in 2022, UDA regards him as a potential “delivery agent” who could help deliver the region in the President’s bid for a second term.
A key lever in Mr Joho’s influence is his control over the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG). Last week, Coast MPs camped in Mombasa for a series of closed-door meetings with the CS. Though framed as development consultations, insiders and subsequent press briefings pointed to a clear political agenda — particularly regarding the region’s future within ODM and negotiations with President Ruto ahead of 2027.
A close ally of the CS told Nation that Mr Joho has kept all options open. Publicly known options include a push by local leaders for him to secure a senior position in ODM, positioning him for coalition talks with UDA ahead of 2027, or leading a Coast-based political party that could strengthen his negotiating power and improve his chances of securing a top national post should Dr Ruto win re-election.
According to the source, a third, undisclosed option would see Mr Joho join UDA — but only on condition that he becomes a deputy party leader.
“That option could trigger changes in UDA’s leadership because both the secretary-general and the second deputy party leader currently come from the Coast,” the source said.
UDA’s secretary-general is former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar, while Lamu Governor Issa Timamy serves as second deputy party leader following the integration of his Amani National Congress (ANC) into UDA in January 2025.
Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho
Photo credit: File| Nation Media Group
Commenting on efforts to have Mr Hassan Joho represent the Coast in ODM–UDA coalition talks, East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) MP Suleiman Shahbal warned that sidelining the former Mombasa governor would weaken ODM in the region. “If he leaves ODM, Coast politicians will follow him. What will be left? Any attempt to alienate him will seriously backfire,” Mr Shahbal cautioned, citing Mr Joho’s long-standing loyalty to the party.
While Mr Joho has remained the public face of the family’s political influence, his elder brother Abu has largely operated behind the scenes as the architect of their multibillion-shilling logistics business, anchored on Autoports Freight Terminals. He only began appearing more frequently at public events and youth mobilisation forums late last year.
Recently, Mr Abu has been seen at State House with President William Ruto and has increased his visibility on the ground, distributing food through the Joho Foundation and facilitating job opportunities for young people.
“I am not a politician. I am here to help my brother,” he told residents in Lamu.
Insiders say he now rallies the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG) to speak with one voice, while his younger brother navigates national politics in Nairobi.
The Joho brothers appear to have concluded that influence in national politics depends on commanding the Coast’s estimated 2.5 million votes. Their strategy has brought together leaders from across the political divide, including UDA, Jubilee, ODM and the PAA.
The CPG was previously chaired by Danson Mwashako of Wiper, but in a dramatic turn of events, Kilifi County Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu declared after a meeting in Mombasa that she had assumed the leadership role. Mr Mwashako is among a handful of Coast leaders aligned to the opposition wing led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, among others.
“We want to be at the table in all negotiations. We will no longer be left behind,” she said.
This position was echoed by Lamu East MP Ruweida Obo and her Matuga counterpart Kassim Tandaza, who argue that the region’s support for President William Ruto in 2027 is a strategic bargain for development and key government positions.
More than 20 Coast MPs said they have set aside their party affiliations to unite and front Mr Joho for national politics.
Pamoja African Alliance Secretary-General Kenneth Kazungu, who is also Ganze MP, said their goal is to secure the Coast’s space on the national table with one collective voice.
“This is about the Coast agenda. We must negotiate for 2027. Most big political parties tend to neglect this region, especially during negotiations. This time, we must be in the room. If ODM forms a committee, we want a Coasterian represented — and the same for Kenya Kwanza — so that we can push the Coast agenda,” he said.
In mid-2025, CS Joho publicly declared his intention to run for president in 2032 while backing President Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027 — a move that positions him as a potential heir to the Ruto–Odinga broad-based political alignment.
Kinango MP Gonzi Rai said Mr Joho’s entry into Cabinet created a direct link to national government that the region previously lacked. He credited the CS for facilitating meetings between Coast legislators and other Cabinet secretaries — and even the President.
“Recently, we told him we needed to speak to Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, and he brought him. We discussed our security challenges at length. I recognise Mr Joho because he is very accessible, and that is why we are working with him,” Mr Rai said, adding that the CS has secured an upcoming meeting with Education CS Julius Ogamba. Mr Rai, however, stressed the need for unity.
“We agreed to bring in Mr Kingi and Mr Mvurya so that no one is left out. We want uniform politics,” he said.
Despite their growing influence, the Johos face resistance from some quarters. Critics argue that the CS did not deliver adequate development in Mombasa during his two terms as governor and should, therefore, not lead the Coast’s engagement with the national government.
Among his strongest critics is Nyali MP Mohamed Ali — an ally of Mr Gachagua — who is eyeing the Mombasa governorship in the next election.
The former investigative journalist accuses Mr Joho of contributing to Mombasa’s development shortfalls and claims he has also failed to effectively manage his ministry in the public interest.
