Succession politics for the Kwale Governor seat in 2022 has started to play out as Governor Salim Mvurya serves his second and final term having been re-elected in last year's general election on Jubilee Party ticket.
Mvurya was first elected governor in 2013 on Raila Odinga's ODM party ticket but he ditched the Orange Party to join Jubilee in 2015.
The once Raila Odinga's ally has since been advocating the Coast region to support Jubilee government.
In the 2017 general election, Mvurya campaigned for President Uhuru Kenyatta in a region that is strongly considered an opposition zone.
The Kwale governor has not indicated his political future plans once his term comes to an end in 2022 but political pundits say that he could be fronted to deputize Deputy President William Ruto in 2022.
Mvurya was last year elected as the next Council of Governors (COG) chairman.
He is expected to take over once the term of the current chairperson Josphat Nanok ends.
The Kwale governor was fronted by President Kenyatta for the COG position.
Accroing to political analysts, here are the likely politicians to succeed Governor Mvurya in 2022.
1. Zuleikha Juma
She is the the Kwale Women's Representative elected in last year's polls on ODM party ticket.
Zuleikha is considered vocal and and ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
She took over Zainab Chidzuga who had dumped ODM in 2015 to join Jubilee.
Zuleikha enjoys majority support of women and youth and is considered ODM point-person in Kwale county.
2. Fatuma Achani
She is the Kwale Deputy Governor.
Achani is considered a development oriented leader with much focus on marginalised groups.
It is strongly believed that Governor Mvurya will endorse Achani as his successor in 2022.
3. Chirau Ali Makwere alias 'Zipapa'
He is a veteran politician having served as Cabinet Minister in previous regimes.
In 2013, he unsuccessfully contested for the Kwale.governor seat losing to Mvurya.
He was later appointed as Kenyan ambassador to Tanzania by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In 2016, Makwere resigned as ambassador, dumped Jubilee and rejoined the opposition.
He unsuccessfully contested for the governor seat in last year's polls on Wiper ticket again losing it to governor Mvurya.
Makwere petitioned Mvurya's re-election but his petition was dismissed by the Kwale High court on grounds that it lacked merit.
4. Dr Issa Chipera
He is an ODM politician and strategist.
Dr Chipera unsuccessfully contested for the Kwale governor seat in last year's polls on ODM ticket , losing out out to governor Mvurya.
The ODM politician is likely to succeed Mvurya in 2022 on grounds that the region is strongly an ODM zone.
Governor Mvurya has clearly said that he will not engage in succession politics, stating that his agenda is to serve the people.
"My key focus is to serve the people and those who think that they will drag me into 2022 succession politics debates are in for shock," Mvurya said on Saturday as quoater by a local daily when he hosted Deputy President William Ruto in Kwale county.
The governor has , however , made it clear that the Coast region will support Deputy President William Ruto in 2022.