The race to succeed Hassan Joho as Mombasa County Governor may take centre stage in the region's 2022 political contest.
Whereas the ODM deputy party leader who has declared his intention to vie for the presidency come the next general election has not publicly declared his preferred successor, it is claimed that he is grooming the Mombasa County Assembly Speaker Harub Khatri to take over once he exits office.
If so, Joho's backing will give little-known Speaker a precious head start going into that battle. But can Joho's current deputy William Kingi pull a shocker and deny Khatri the seat? It will depend on how he will play his cards.
Since joining politics in the run-up to the last year's general election, Dr Kingi, a former university lecturer has seen his political profile rise. His amazing chemistry with his boss, who is already a political heavyweight has been one of the best.
To further elevate his stature in the region's political scene is the fact that he comes from the majority, the Mijikenda community, the largest voting block in the region.
Though it is premature to start comparing the former Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani CEO with the likes of Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, himself a governor hopeful, in terms of political clout, Dr. Kingi should not be written off in Joho succession battle.