The political alignments ahead of the 2022 elections are starting to take shape with NASA leader Raila Odinga's Coast political turf becoming increasingly vulnerable to Deputy President William Ruto who is assembling his State House race political machinery.
For Raila, his biggest headache now is ring-fencing his traditional turf from Ruto's encroachment that has seen his key political lieutenants show signs of decamping to the Ruto axis. Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi could be on his way out if his recent political activities are anything to go by.
With the DP seemingly courting the 44-year old, Raila will be forced to go back to the drawing board and thwart the plan before it is too late. Why? Kingi still holds key to his future political success especially if he tries his luck again in the State House journey.
The firebrand governor who is a political heavyweight in his own rights has matured to become a formidable politician who commands a huge following in the Coastal region. Today, he is considered a Mijikenda political kingpin. And to many, he may just eclipse Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho to become thew region's spokesman.
Besides that, with Kilifi becoming increasingly vulnerable to Ruto's ruthless charm offensive that has seen a good number of MPs declare their support for him, Kingi remains Raila's savoir as his influence may water down the DP's growing popularity and save the former Premier.
Losing Kingi to Ruto will be Raila's biggest political blunder going into the 2022 elections.