After setting in motion the ODM rebellion in Kilifi County, Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa is becoming NASA leader Raila Odinga's biggest political headache in the larger Coast region following her decision to publicly declare her support for Deputy President William Ruto.
As 2022 general election approaches, Raila's next move on the political chessboard may be his make-or-break moment in his quest to stamp his authority on the region's political arena.
For Raila, watering down Jumwa's growing influence in the region may be key to his future political success.
And to do that, he requires a formidable political force to keep the vocal MP on toes.
Immediate former Malindi MP and Jumwa's predecessor, Willy Baraka Mtengo, is the man who can perfectly do the job of cutting Jumwa to shape and reverse Ruto's gains in the county.
Though he may not be as influential as Jumwa, Mtengo who served the constituency for slightly one and a half years following his election in 2016 in a by-election, can at least apply some breaks on the firebrand MP whose influence is soaring.
With Raila's blessings, the former MP who was ousted by Jumwa in 2017 can use this as a strategy to relaunch his political career in readiness for the 2022 political contest where he may face off with her bitter rival once again.
And riding on Raila and ODM's popularity in the region, the tactic may work.
Raila can as well use his newfound love with President Uhuru Kenyatta to lobby for a state job that can keep the former MP politically relevant going into the next poll.