Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo at a past event. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
The exit of former Ganze MP and KANU point man in the Coast region Noah Katana Ngala from the political scene ushered in a new generation of politicians from the Coastal strip, who have revolutionized the region's politics.Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi may be seen as the face of Kilifi politics today but area Senator Stewart Mwachiru Madzayo's impact in the region's political arena cannot go unnoticed.The University of Bombay-trained lawyer was elected the first Kilifi Senator in 2013. But before that, he served as a Judge in the Industrial Court of Kenya for nine years.However, it's his political life that has defined him more than his life in the corridors of justice.Though he lost his quest for Bahari Constituency MP in 2007, Madzayo was able to make amends of his failed bid five years later when he was overwhelmingly elected senator.Since then, the 59-year-old lawyer-cum-politician has never looked back.He may be playing second fiddle to Kingi in the county politics, but the duo's combination has successfully kept Jubilee at bay in their quest to make inroads in the vote-rich county.Prior to the August 8 elections, President Uhuru Kenyatta had made more trips to the county than Raila Odinga. However, Madzayo and Kingi have stood firm and declared the county as an ODM zone with the pair denying Uhuru's party any elective position in the county.When President Kenyatta had altercations with Kingi, Madzayo stood with the firebrand Governor to make the region virtually impossible to politically penetrate.With Kingi set to leave his gubernatorial position in 2022, Madzayo may be his heir apparent, though he may have to battle it out with Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa who is reportedly eyeing the seat.