Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has indicated more than once that he will contest for the presidency in 2022.
What the county chief has not made public, however, is the party he will contest under for the country's top seat.
Joho is the ODM Deputy Party leader and he has two options ahead of the polls- to go to the ODM party primaries and get nominated to fly the party's presidential flag or join any other political party through which he will run for the presidency.
Deputy President William Ruto, on the other hand, has been frequenting the Coastal County and his last address was made in Kisauni constituency represented in Parliament by Ali Mbogo (Wiper).
The DP has been warming up to leaders from Mombasa and as 2022 draws closer, no one can rule out the possibility of Joho teaming up with Ruto.
After all, notable MPs from Mombasa and in extension Coast region are presently drumming up support for Ruto ahead of 2022. Among them is opposition chief Raila Odinga's close ally Aisha Jumwa.
If he decides to jump ship and join the DP's camp, this would be a blow to Raila who claims indicate may actually vie for the country's top seat in 2022.
Joho enjoys fanatical support in Mombasa and Coast and his teaming up with Ruto will deny Raila a sizable number of votes from Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Kwale and Tana River because voters in these counties identify with Joho who they regard as the champion of their rights.
Joho has been at the forefront in defending the rights of the people of the Coast region and has been at loggerheads with President Uhuru Kenyatta over the same.