By P W
ODM deputy party leader and Mombasa governor H.E Governor Hassan Joho on Saturday named top five ODM youths tagged to play a critical role in the party now and post 2017 period.
The named youths include Dr Kevin Osur, Ahmed Papa, Silas Jakakimba, Omar Mwinyi, Tendayi Mutana among others
Indiectly Governor Joho endorsed Ahmed “Papa” Ibrahim and Dr. Kevin Osur in their quest for Langata and Alego Usonga parliamentary seats respectively on Saturday during a well attended youth convention in Mombasa.
Joho was widely cheered by the more than 5000 youthful delegates when, in the presence of Party Leader Raila Odinga, he read names of youthful 2017 aspirants terming them pillars around Raila and the future of ODM.
Joho referred to Papa as “Lang’ata 001” implied to mean presumptive Lang’ata member of parliament in – waiting. Joho’s clout in ODM circles is perhaps second only to the Party Leader and he is himself popularly known as Mombasa 001 by his supporters.
Dr Kevin Osur is a well known ‘Railist’ and top groundsman who led grass-roots campaign to get more people register as voters in Nyanza and Western Kenya, he also led largely successive anti IEBC campaigns in Homa Bay county.
Mohammed Ali “Jicho Pevu” who is eyeing the Nyali parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket was also among the participants who attended the convention.
But it is Joho’s remarks, an influential party functionary, that are being viewed in different light although made far from Lang’ata and Alego. The implicit endorsement will certainly get other aspirants and the incumbents scampering back to the drawing board. It is believed that the support of Joho gives them a boost which may be seen as headstart at the ODM nominations which are known to be more competitive than the main elections.
Osuri delivered an electrifying speech that had the delegates on their feet applauding and in the process making a collective pledge, led by Osuri, to pursue leadership change by whatever means necessary.
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