Mombasa governor hopeful Hassan Omar during a past media briefing. [Photo/ the-star/co.ke]
With the race for Mombasa governor gaining unstoppable momentum, aspirants for the coveted seat are facing a delicate balancing act on their choice of running mate.
Wiper candidate and Mombasa Senator Hassan has been shopping for a running mate that will consolidate his support in the cosmopolitan county.
Though he is yet to announce his choice, details at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) indicate that he has settled on a female running mate, Shuma Linda Mariwa, a Mijikenda.
The Mijikenda community control 52 per cent of the county's voting population and his choice could have been informed by the desire to get a chunk of the votes from the county's vote basket.
In the 2013 gubernatorial race, with Hazel Katana as his running mate, Governor Hassan won the contest by a landslide.
Already, Vibrant Democratic Party leader Hezron Awiti has settled on Hassan Mwamtoa, a banker, as his number two.
In the Jubilee Camp, Suleiman Shahbal will fly the party flag with former Kisauni MP Ananiah Mwaboza playing second fiddle.
ODM's Hassan Joho is still weighing his options before unveiling his deputy.