Lamu Governor Issa Timamy at a past event. Photo/ the-star.co.ke
After clinching the Lamu County Governor seat having trounced his fiercest rival by just a margin of 2000 votes in 2013, becoming the only county boss elected on a UDF party ticket, Issa Timamy is facing a familiar foe in the 2017 poll.The 57-year old lawyer-cum politician who likes playing his politics close to his chest is however aware that this year's election may prove to be his nightmare with his opponent Fahim Twaha expected to give him a run for his money.Twaha, the former Lamu West MP garnered 17,785 votes in 2013 against Timamy's 19,744. However, following some legal battles, the Governor's election was nullified by the High Court, just six months after the poll. But after mounting a spirited fight to overturn the High Court ruling, his victory was upheld by the Court of Appeal.For a county where party politics is viewed as a luxury, tribal matrix is most likely going to determine the next Governor with the native Bajuni community and Kikuyu being the most dominant tribes.For political convenience, Timamy picked the youthful Eric Mugo to be his running mate in 2013. The two have vowed to stick together ahead of the August poll.After being arrested in connection to the Mpeketoni attack that left hundreds dead in 2014, Timamy has since fallen out with Senator Abu Chiaba, a veteran in Lamu politics. Similarly, his relationship with Women Representative Shackilla Abdalla who equally enjoys a huge following in the island county has been frosty.However, despite having a checkered political career during his short stint in politics, the incumbent is banking on his development record to win a second term in office."Those challenging me in this race are only exercising their democratic right. At the end of it all, the best man will stand tall and victorious," he said early this year.Despite jumping from Jubilee Party to Mudavadi's ANC, Timamy is reportedly still assessing the ground before making a firm decision on his political vehicle.