Coast-based political analyst Hassan Mwakimako now says that Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa is slowly becoming a threat to fellow politicians in her Kilifi county backyard.
Jumwa, who has since declared interest in the gubernatorial seat in the 2022 polls, has been more vibrant lately, which the commentator says is causing jitters in the county political arena.
He says that this comes as a blow to the likes of Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, who is eyeing the same seat, and who appears to be leading a revolt against her in the region.
"What is clear now is that Kilifi politicians have ganged up against Jumwa because she poses a challenge to anyone seeking to be governor particularly Baya who has shown interest in the position,” he told the Saturday Standard.
He also says that her preferred candidates' loss in the Ganda Ward race last month is not a good show for her, and the MP might have to go to the drawing board.
On her side, analyst Maimuna Mwidau said that whether or not she succeeds, Jumwa will have eastern into the ODM influence in the region by 2022, and is, therefore, a force to reckon with.
According to her, whether or not Jumwa's candidate won the seat, he has also made it clear that she is not to be looked down upon, especially after Abdul Omar, the candidate, appeared second.
“She is playing the Kenyan politics of the moment with the same zeal she sang the Baba (Raila) tune. If she had won the Ganda poll, she would have made a bid influence and even tilted the political ground in Kilifi and Coast. But she still remains a big asset for Ruto and keeps his politics alive at the Coast,” she said.