Former Kilifi County Senatorial hopeful Kazungu Katana has claimed that Orange Democratic Movement Party's popularity in the Coast region could be fading.
In an opinion editorial published with the Star on Monday, Katana noted that recent defections by key leaders to Jubilee Party in the region is enough evidence that the Opposition party is losing ground in the Coast.
"The wave of defections from a popular party - ODM - has perplexed political watchers who have long held the view that the Coast belonged to the opposition. Several explanations may account for ODM’s gradual decline," he stated.
"If Jubilee Party wins the Coast vote on August 8, it shall alter the political face of this region. For the first time since the dissolution of the Independence opposition party Kadu in 1964, JP shall have driven coastal communities to the party of government," he added.
Some of the key politicians who have defected to Jubilee Party include: Kwale governor Salim Mvurya, woman representative Zainab Chidzuga, Taita Taveta Women Representative Joyce Lay, Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro, his Kilifi South counterpart Mustafa Idd among others.
Opposition leaders from the region led by Kilifi governor Amason Kingi have since rubbished these defections, maintaining that the area is solidly behind the Opposition.
Photo caption: Jubilee Party's public rally at the Tononoka grounds Courtesy: Tuko.co.ke