Why it's not easy to break Raila's bond with Coastal people – Joho

Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs CS Hassan Joho has said that it is difficult for anyone to break the bond between former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the people of the Kenyan coast.

Speaking at an Iftar dinner hosted by Raila, Joho said their relationship dates back many years ago, and not many people can understand it.

“People sometimes ask me why the people of Coast love Baba (Raila) and it is because there is a serious historical background of our relations that not everybody can understand,” he said.

Joho said no one should bother trying to undo the relationship because it will not be easy.

He said the people of the Coast have grown around the family of Raila in almost all aspects of their lives, and their support for him is because he is one of them.

“Don’t stress yourselves, to undo that relationship is not easy. All of us grew up in our politics, communities and our affairs while very close to the family of Raila Odinga. We support Baba because he is one of us and has stood with us through it all,” John said.

He explained that when leaders of the Islamic Party of Kenya (IPK) from the coast were being fought against, it was Raila who stood with them and he has never looked back.

The Cabinet Secretary said that the former PM went to the extent of giving the IPK candidate his party’s ticket (Ford Kenya at the time).

“Muslims and Raila have come a long way. When we were young, Omar Mwinyi was the chairman of a party called IPK, which was looking for their space in the democracy and was suppressed and fought a lot together with Sheikh Khalid Balala. In the end, it was Baba (Raila Odinga) who took them in,"  Joho said.

“The late Karisa Maitha and Prof. Rashid Mzee had a by-election, Baba came and stood with the candidate of IPK and gave him the Ford Kenya ticket. It was a tough war but Baba stood with the people of Mombasa and the Islamic Party of Kenya.”

The Coast region has been Raila Odinga’s stronghold for many years. The region has supported him overwhelmingly in all elections he has vied as a Presidential candidate.