The 2022 politics continue to take shape with all political big guns in the country seemingly laying ground for a bruising battle in the next general election.
In the latest twist, it is ODM leader Raila Odinga who has seemingly outsmarted Deputy President William Ruto in the battle for Mombasa County. This follows the unexpected handshake between Governor Hassan Joho and Tourism Minister Najib Balala on Monday. Don’t forget that Joho is one of Raila’s most trusted allies.
For the two political heavyweights from Mombasa who parted ways in 2013, their political truce has come at the right time especially when Joho has found himself in an awkward political dilemma amid the DP’s charm offensive of the region.
On face value, the duo’s reconciliation may mean nothing. But in actual sense, the handshake may have political significance which will no doubt have a bearing on 2022 politics.
With Joho and Balala closing ranks in what may also be the turning point in Mombasa politics, Raila would have won a great deal with the DP being the loser.
Given Joho and Balala’s political clout, and should they enter into any political deal going forward, Ruto’s game plan would have been destabilized which will force him to back to the drawing board.
For Raila, the man who can outwit even political geniuses, the ‘entry’ of the former Mvita MP into the fray is good news for him even as he tries to ring-fence the region from Ruto’s insatiable appetite to make inroads.
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