Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho says being in the opposition is not a death sentence.
Speaking on Thursday after witnessing the swearing-in of Abdulswamad Nassir as the new governor, Joho said a UDA MP recently taunted him over the issue.
"I want to tell him today, look for an idiot to intimidate but not me. I told him you being an MP is a small position I held many years ago," Joho said.
Prior to his election as Mombasa governor in 2013, Joho was the Member of Parliament for Kisauni.
He has been a firebrand ODM and Azimio leader and prominently said during the 2022 campaigns that he would be a State House operative once his party leader Raila Odinga wins the presidency.
However, Raila was defeated in the August presidential election by UDA presidential candidate William Ruto who is now Kenya's fifth President.
But Joho said, despite the loss, a leader of his calibre cannot be intimidated by young legislators for being in the opposition.
"Ati mimi Hassan Joho nitishwe na mjumbe wa UDA? (How can I as Hassan Joho be intimidated by a UDA MP?" Joho asked.
"Kuna watu wa kutisha na watu huwezi watisha my friend (There are people to intimidate and those you cannot intimidate)" he added.
The immediate former governor pledged to support his successor as he takes over the leadership of the county.
Nassir, who like Joho, is taking over the leadership of the county from being an MP.
He is taking over the leadership mantle with deputy governor Francis Thoya.
