Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu (L) and Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu addressing journalists outside the governor's office in Taveta at a past event. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]It will be a battle of the titans as two of the biggest ODM politicians in Taita Taveta County face off in the party primaries in the race for the crucial ticket to run for governor in the August 8 polls.Governor John Mruttu and Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu who are both considered to be Raila Odinga's close allies in the region that has seen heightened political activities in the past few months will battle for the ODM Party ticket.Having been in politics since 2007 when he won the Wundanyi seat, Mwadeghu has become a key ally in the Raila Odinga camp.His loyalty to the former Prime Minister was rewarded when he was appointed to replace the rebellious Gideon Mung'aro as Minority Whip in the National Assembly.On the other side, there is John Mruttu who despite being a late entrant into politics has fared on well in his political life to an extent that he has become a formidable political actor in the Coast region.Alongside his Mombasa and Kilifi counterparts, Mruttu has ably kept at bay Jubilee party encroachment of the region that is seen as opposition's political turf.Keen to avoid antagonizing his support base, the former Prime Minister is faced with a tough balancing act in the county that has seen ODM lose two of their top politicians to Jubilee.Many political pundits predict that the contest may boil down to tribal politics with Mwadeghu coming from the majority Taita while Mruttu from the minority Taveta.

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