Former Mombasa Deputy Governor Hazel Katana [Photo/ Baraka Fm]
The year 2017 proved to be the most decisive in the history of Mombasa as many political realignments started taking shape.Largely viewed as an opposition County, any other political move was seen as a gamble. But former Mombasa Deputy Governor Hazel Katana took a risk.
January 28, Katana announced her defection from ODM to Jubilee- a move that was a culmination of her tense relationship with Governor Hassan Joho.
Speaking when she officially defected, the tearful Katana said that it had taken her one year to ditch ODM.
While dismissing claims that she had been given the infamous 'brown envelope' to decamp, Katana said that it was her right to join any political party of her choice even as she blames Joho for her woes.
The politician who was received into Jubilee by then Nairobi Women Rep. Rachel Shebesh and her Kwale counterpart Zainabu Chidzuga, declared that she would be running for the Mombasa Senatorial seat.
However, despite being assured of the party nomination, Katana found herself in another fight for the ticket. First, she controversially lost during party nominations to Abdulsalam Kassim. However, sources say that it took State House intervention for her to be given a ticket.
Ahead of the August 8 poll, the Mombasa senatorial race was seen as an ODM- Jubilee affair with the Orange candidate Mohammed Faki being slightly ahead.
After the counting of votes, Katana's huge political gamble proved costly as she lost to Faki by a huge margin.
Since then, she has maintained a low political profile. However, sources indicate that Jubilee may come to her rescue with a big government appointment.
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