ODM leader Raila Odinga and his deputy Hassan Joho in a past rally. The party is keen to maintain its control on coast region politics. [Photo/Star]
As the two main political formations, NASA and Jubilee lock horns in the race for 1.7 million votes in the Coast region, it's the Raila Odinga-led NASA that seems to be having an edge.
For a region that has been quite receptive to opposition politics for over the last 15 years, the narrative may not change in 2017 even as the opposition alliance moves to reverse all the gains made by the Uhuru Kenyatta-led party in the region.
Over the last few months, President Kenyatta and his Jubilee politicians have been making inroads in the region even as they aim to get a share of the votes.
However, the NASA leaders have always stood firm in keeping Jubilee's at bay in their stronghold.
Usually, NASA leaders have always visited the six coastal counties whenever the President and his deputy leave after holding political rallies.
For example, last week, immediately after Deputy President William Ruto held rallies in Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi counties, the NASA brigade toured the region almost immediately in an attempt to water down any gains made.
Besides that, NASA is banking on three key politicians in the region to deliver the 1.7 million votes.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi and Kwale governor hopeful Chirau Mwakwere have become key pillars of the alliance in the region that has been on the Jubilee radar for some time now.
For President Kenyatta and his party, his political lifeline in the hostile coast region is pegged on his next move on the political chessboard as the coastal strip is now under NASA's full control.