The absence of Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya from Deputy President William Ruto's trip to the region could be a bad indicator for the country's second in command ahead of 2022.
While the decision by Governors Dhadho Godhana, Hassan Joho, Amason Kingi and Granton Samboja to skip the events over the weekend was expected, Mvurya's snub could raise eyebrows.
The second term governor, one of few Jubilee leaders from the coast, has been a critical player in the DP William Ruto's camp for the past one year.
With his colleagues supporting constitutional changes through BBI, Mvurya might have also changed his mind according to a Jubilee insider who spoke in confidence.
"He met the president the other week and he is supporting BBI. The DP is opposing the changes. That's why he could not attend and has probably decamped," said the insider.
Only three legislators — Lunga Lunga’s Khatib Mwashetani, Malindi’s Aisha Jumwa and Lamu East’s Sharif Athman — were present in Ruto's weekend functions in Kwale.
People close to Mr Mvurya, who did not want to be identified in this story, told the Nation that the governor failed to show up because he had not been involved in inviting the DP, and therefore felt left out.
“It is all about politics. And we are aware that the Deputy President was invited by Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani and this might have angered the governor. The governor has endorsed his deputy Fatuma Achani, and by virtue of attending the functions could have been seen as endorsing Mr Mwashetani,” said the source.
Prof Hassan Mwakimako, a Coast-based political analyst, said the absence, especially of ODM MPs, was as a result of the problems Mr Dori and Ms Jumwa faced with their party.
“We saw the MPs being summoned and actions threatened against them. This move by ODM made others to feel afraid of accompanying the DP, but his (Ruto) absence also saw him lose the base had created for himself,” said Prof Mwakimako.
Mr Mvurya had managed to mobilise several ODM leaders from the coast to support Dr Ruto, but most of the legislators have since changed their mind and toed to party lines.
His exit from Tanga Tanga would leave only Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa as the only vocal leader from the coastal region still supporting DP William Ruto's quest.