Taveta MP Naomi Shaban is faced with a dilemma on whether to support Governor John Mruttu or her fellow party member Dan Mwazo in the race for the Taita Taveta governor seat. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
With only 39 days remaining to the much-awaited August 8 polls, Taveta MP Naomi Shaban has been caught between Taita Taveta's complex politics that pits two rival sub-tribes; the majority Taita and the Taveta who are the minority.
Governor John Mruttu who is defending his seat as an independent candidate after losing in the ODM nominations to Thomas Mwadeghu is a Taveta and so is Shaban.However, the two belong to different political camps with Shaban being President Uhuru Kenyatta's key figure in the opposition-leaning county. Senator Dan Mwazo, Jubilee Party's candidate for the gubernatorial position is a Taita.With the Tavetas keen to rally behind ‘one of their own’ in the gubernatorial race, Shaban is left in an awkward political dilemma as she will have to balance between party and tribe loyalty.According to sources close to the happenings in the county, Shaban who is seeking a fourth term is under immense pressure from Taveta residents to sacrifice her loyalty to Jubilee and instead support Governor John Mruttu's re-election bid.Whichever decision the veteran politician makes will have a bearing in the county’s governor race which will see eight candidates battle it out.