Caption: President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga/ New headache for them as new coalition brewing.
Photo: Diaspora Messenger/diasporamessenger.com
On Wednesday the 2017 Presidential race might have seemed to be a two-horse race after the National Super Alliance (NASA) signed a pact to face Jubilee as a fold on August 8th.
Political pundits and opinion polls have even hypothesised that the race will be between NASA and Jubilee owing to their perceived massive following in the Kenyan politics.
However, a third force is allegedly brewing in the Coast province to counter the two coalitions influence in the presidential poll.
Leaders from the Coastal region have been holding consultative meetings on how they can have their voice heard amidst the NASA and Jubilee trumpets.
Chama Cha Uzalendo national chairman Mr Maur Bwanamaka has urged the Coastal voters to vote as a block and cause the second round of Presidential elections hence giving them a chance to bargain with the two aspirants in case of a run-off.
"Whoever goes to a runoff will come to us and ask what do we need as Coastal people, there is when we will tell them the several opportunities we need. Do not be cheated that anybody will fight drugs if our youths are not empowered," he said.
Former Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) deputy Managing Director and Kilifi county politician Naomi Kumbatha called for Coastal unity and projected that by so doing the voters residing at the Indian Ocean shores will be valued in case of a presidential run-off.
"The new generation must not be defeated, why can't we also vote as a block. Do you understand if we become one incase of a run-off how important we can be in this country we will be holding the key to StateHouse," she said.
"Everybody will come here to seek our over 1.5 million votes," she added.
Mombasa County Women Rep aspirant on KADu Asili ticket also insisted on the same issue of Coastal unity as their best bargain to get a big share of the national cake.
"As of now the votes we are looking for are for the Coastal people, the other regions have already decided who they will vote for as a block. It is only us who are not certain whether we will vote as a block," she said.
Early this week major dailies published that a majority of Coastal counties were perceived NASA strongholds, however with the new development its a matter of wait and see whether the region will pull stronger waves to determine Kenya's fifth President.