Ruto taps Joho in 2027 Coast strategy
By Reuben Mwambingu, July 19, 2025Since his meteoric rise to the Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary position, Hassan Joho has increasingly asserted himself in Coast politics, rekindling a political presence that had momentarily dimmed.
Political observers say President William Ruto is deliberately riding on Joho’s clout in the region to bolster his popularity as part of a broader grassroots campaign strategy aimed at securing re-election in the 2027 General Election.
The clearest sign yet of Joho’s new role came on May 27, 2025, when President Ruto hosted a high-powered delegation of leaders from Mombasa, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, Kwale, and Taita Taveta counties at State House, Nairobi. The former Mombasa governor spoke with conviction—casting himself as the man tasked with uniting the Coast.
“The leaders you see here today, Your Excellency, have never stood this solidly before. For the first time, they are united by issues, not factions,” Joho declared.
“I want to assure you of our utmost support. We will execute the duties you’ve entrusted to us to improve lives and bring unity.”
Barely a month later, during the burial of Technical University of Mombasa lecturer John Thoya Karisa—son of the late influential Cabinet Minister Karisa Maitha—the unity call was amplified. Joho, flanked by a host of leaders, continued to press for a unified front to confront the region’s long-standing neglect.
He described the late elder Maitha as a visionary leader who had what it took to ascend to the presidency.
One voice
“If there was anyone I believed could become president, it was Karisa Maitha,” Joho said. “One day, the Coast region will produce a president. But we must stop fighting other people’s political battles,” he said.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya echoed the sentiment, noting that the Coast has historically struggled to speak with one voice.
“For years, this region has been politically fragmented. But thanks to the President’s inclusive leadership, we now have a platform to work together across party lines.”
Ganze MP Kenneth Tungule lamented that the unity once fostered by Maitha had long disappeared.
“Since Maitha’s death 20 years ago, we’ve lost direction. Coast politics is now rudderless,” he said.
During the same event, Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro and Senator Stewart Madzayo paid glowing tributes to the late Thoya, describing him as a humble, kind-hearted academic and community pillar.
Earlier this month, Joho again took centre stage as he hosted Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during a whirlwind tour of the Coast—part of a veiled re-election campaign disguised as an economic empowerment drive.
The two traversed Mombasa in Likoni and Jomvu, before Joho proceeded to lead the events in Kwale, and Lamu, rallying support for President Ruto and declaring that Coast would stand firmly behind him in 2027.
“As Coast leaders, we are satisfied with President Ruto’s leadership. We have agreed to back him for a second term, and in 2032, we expect reciprocal support for the presidency,” Joho stated.
Though his Cabinet appointment marked a significant comeback, Joho’s imprint on Coast politics predates his recent resurgence.
Once dubbed the ‘Sultan’ of Mombasa, he has long loomed large over the region’s political landscape.
Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako recently described him as the only leader capable of uniting the Coast.
However not everyone is convinced that Joho is really ripe for the duty.
Veteran politician and lawyer Anania Mwaboza believes Joho’s star has dimmed and that his past influence was largely pegged to his ties with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
“Without Baba’s people, who really are Joho’s people?” Mwaboza asked.
“If Raila backs Ruto in 2027, the Coast will follow—not because of Joho, but because of Raila.”
Mwaboza also pointed to Joho’s waning presence in grassroots initiatives, citing the absence of his once-vibrant social welfare programmes, especially during Ramadan.
“His political network has weakened. MPs like Mishi Mboko, Badi Twalib, and Mwinyi Majiwa are no longer active voices. They’re silent on key issues affecting ordinary people,” he noted.
He also questioned Joho’s silence on appointments to top government positions.
“As a CS, he should be championing Coast representation in parastatals. Out of over 100 government agencies, how many are led by people from this region?” Mwaboza asked.
Unpredictable battlegrounds
As the 2027 race gathers steam, the Coast has emerged as a critical battleground.
With 1.96 million registered voters, according to the 2022 IEBC records, the contest for the region’s support is expected to be fierce.
Despite being an ODM stronghold for years, the region remains fluid and unpredictable. Historical grievances—land injustices, water scarcity, unemployment—continue to shape voter sentiment.
Mombasa, with nearly 650,000 registered voters, remains the political nerve centre. Iconic venues like Tononoka Grounds and Mama Ngina Waterfront have played host to many decisive political moments.
In 2018, Joho led the ‘Pwani Declaration’ at Tononoka in support of Raila’s 2022 presidential bid. Kilifi , Kwale and Taita Taveta are also expected to be key battlegrounds.
Analysts now say that the new political coalition forged between Ruto and Raila could alter voting dynamics.
That said, the newly formed opposition alliance led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, Fred Matiang’i, Mithika Linturi, and Martha Karua is gearing up for a fight.
But challenging the combined might of Ruto, Raila, and Joho will be a tall order.
“How do they plan to take on this trio in Coast?” wondered Abdallah Kassim, a political activist in Kisauni. “Gachagua was impeached for tribalism—how will he win hearts here?”
Still, the opposition is buoyed by Ruto’s strong performance in 2022. Given that the national vote difference was just 233,211, the opposition knows that every vote will count in 2027.
Recent opposition visits to the Coast have focused on attacking Ruto’s government over unmet promises, stalled projects, and land injustices.
But not everyone is sold on the idea of a consolidated Coast vote.
Pwani University’s Prof Hassan Mwakimako believes that such expectations are misplaced. “Coast voters are not a monolith.
They vote for individuals, not tribes or parties. Efforts to ‘unify’ the vote are still a pipe dream,” said Mwakimako.
He noted that true political dominance is reflected in one’s ability to secure over 90 per cent of votes. At the Coast, the pattern is different.
“In many cases, it’s 40 per cent, 40 per cent, 10 per cent. That alone tells you no single candidate controls this region,” he observed.
And with Ruto making inroads even when Joho was ODM’s deputy leader and sitting governor, analysts warn against overstating the CS’s current political weight.