Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya with Women Rep Zainab Chidzuga at a past event. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
The rivalry between Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya and Women Representative Zainabu Chidzuga is threatening to split the Jubilee Party camp in the county into two factions.
Despite the fact that the two bolted out of ODM together and headed to Jubilee, Chidzuga has become Mvurya's fiercest critic on how the county is run.
It is alleged that Chidzuga is supporting Chirau Ali Mwakwere's gubernatorial bid at the expense of her own party member, Mvurya, who is looking for a second term in office.
Just recently, Chidzuga was handed a direct nomination by her Jubilee party to defend her seat despite the fact that there was another candidate who was eyeing the same ticket.
Fatuma Tabwara was forced to look for a new party that would guarantee her candidature ahead of August 8 polls and Mvurya has reportedly thrown his weight behind her in a bid to unseat Chidzuga.
The duo are also backing different Senatorial candidates, in a move that will further complicate the party's arithmetic in the region where the opposition enjoys a huge following.
For a party that is keen to sway the region in their favour, the internal wrangles between the two leaders will give them a false start that will ultimately handicap their quest to beat ODM in their own turf.