After a short stint at Embrace team, Taveta MP Naomi Shaban seems to have rescinded her decision and backed Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 bid.
Lady month, Ms Shaban had joined a host of leaders opposed to Dr Ruto under Embrace movement, which is pushing for constitutional changes under BBI proposals.
And on Sunday and Monday, Dr Shaban, a former special programmes minister, was one of few leaders who escorted Dr Ruto in Taita Taveta County trip.
"I have nothing much to speak other than welcoming you to Taveta. Be coming here often. Taveta is your home. Be sure than we live you so much. When God blesses you, nobody can block blessings," she said, in a statement that hints a return to Ruto's camp.
Dr Shaban is however not a stranger to rescinding her political moves. In 2017, she resigned from Jubilee party only to return few days later.
While speaking at Bughuta grounds in Voi on Sunday, Dr Ruto said the President will not dissolve the county assembly over what he termed as petty issues that could be resolved amicably, adding that the impasse had derailed development in the county.
“We cannot dissolve the county government because of differences between leaders. That is nonsense,” he said.
His statement irked Governor Granton Samboja, who accused him of meddling in the affairs of the county. Samboja has also renounced his commitment to support Ruto.
“We don’t need his counsel and that is why even when I said we should dissolve the county assembly, I reached out to every other national leader but him. The petition will not land at his desk, so he cannot purport to speak on behalf of the presidency,” Mr Samboja charged.
Dr Ruto's trip was snubbed by several local leaders among them all five governors from the coast. Conspicuously absent was the only Jubilee governor from the region Salim Mvurya.
People close to Mr Mvurya, who did not want to be identified in this story, told the Nation that the governor failed to show up because he had not been involved in inviting the DP, and therefore felt left out.
“It is all about politics. And we are aware that the Deputy President was invited by Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani and this might have angered the governor. The governor has endorsed his deputy Fatuma Achani, and by virtue of attending the functions could have been seen as endorsing Mr Mwashetani,” said the source.