Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho is confident he has built a huge political base across Kenya to mount a presidential campaign.
Mr Joho said Coast had supported other regions for the presidency and it was time they returned the favour.
“My supporters know me. When I decide to go for something I mean it. I cannot lose hope,” said the governor.
He said his stand on public issues affecting Kenya and the region was well documented, and he intended to use it as a platform to seek the presidency.
“I have assessed myself and come to conclude I can be the president of this country. We (at the Coast) have been complaining of being marginalised for far too long. That narrative will disappear when we get power,” he said.
Joho said he was shocked to hear some Coast leaders claim the region cannot produce a president, yet it had produced politicians who had played key roles in Kenya’s history, including the struggle for independence.
Joho said he would exploit his new-found friendship with President Uhuru Kenyatta to foster national cohesion and ensure Coast benefits from economic and social development.
