Last weekend, Deputy President William Ruto made his ninth trip to the Coast region since the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader Raila Odinga. The visit just confirmed that the region cannot just be ignored in the 2022 political equation.
Amid the increasing Ruto charm offensive, Raila’s support in the region has of late been wavering which may force him to make a strategic decision that could secure his own future in the region that is on everyone’s political radar.
With Kwale County becoming increasingly vulnerable, the former Prime Minister may have to rope into the ODM fold former Matuga MP and Cabinet Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere to water down the growing Ruto influence.
At 73 years, Mwakwere may be at the twilight of his political career. However, being a veteran in the region’s politics, a move to ODM may a little bit steady the party’s sinking ship.
With Governor Salim Mvurya leaving office 2022, the former MP can take advantage of his exit to relaunch his political career with ODM being his political vehicle.
Although the former Kenyan Ambassador to Tanzania is a known Ruto ally, he is most unlikely going to reject a good political offer on the table especially from Raila, the man he has not been seeing eye-to-eye politically.