The battle between Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga over the control of the Coast region ahead of 2022 election may not end any time soon with both seemingly calculating on how to outsmart the other.
Whereas Raila enjoys the support of the region's political heavyweights, Ruto's political game plan remains a top guarded secret. However, Nyali MP is slowly emerging as the DP's point man in the region amid recent a move by ODM rebels to retreat into the Raila-led party.
He may not have the political muscle to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi, but Ali is a self-made politician. His 2017 surprise win despite vying as an independent candidate attests to that.
Since 2017 election, the lawmaker has gravitated to the DP's political axis and has been his key defender in a political battle pitting pro-Ruto 'Team Tanga Tanga' and 'Team Kieleweke' that is backing President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In a recent video he posted on his Facebook page, the former KTN investigative journalist rubbishes the Building Bridges Initiative, the cornerstone of the handshake between President Kenyatta and Raila.
With the DP seemingly opposed to the referendum which Raila is backing, is Ali the man to preach the anti-BBI gospel in Mombasa and the Coast region in general?
Well, time will tell. But for William Ruto, the Nyali legislator maybe his new saviour in Coast.