Recent visits to the coast region by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto seem to have caused panic waves in the perceived opposition stronghold.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho over the weekend led Cord MPs from the region in a rally in Kwale County where they vowed not to vote for Jubilee as was the case in 2013.
But the high rate at which key local leaders are defecting or warming up to Jubilee paints a rather different picture.
During the DP’s tour of the region last week, Taita Taveta Senator Dan Mwazo issued a clear indicator yet that he might defect to Jubilee. He openly criticized his party leader Raila Odinga for not inviting him to Cord functions and thanked the DP for doing so, saying he will support the team that scratches his back.
“I don’t want to be on the losing side. By now Jubilee has high numbers in terms of registered voters,” he said.
His possible defection would see him join Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, as well as MPs Khatib Mwashetani (Lungalunga), Zainab Chidzuga (Kwale Women Rep), Masoud Mwahima (Likoni) Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi North) and Mustapha Idd (Kilifi South) and Mombasa deputy Governor Hazel Katana among the bigwaigs who have jumped ship to Jubilee.