Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Tourism CS Najib Balala at a past event. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
After years of a ceasefire, the rivalry between Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Tourism CS Najib Balala is back on the cards as the two political heavyweights are expected to face off in the presidential campaigns.This comes following the decision by Deputy President William Ruto to appoint Balala as Jubilee chief campaigner in the Coast region.Balala will take over from Suleiman Shahbal who has fallen out with a section of the party supporters.With Joho widely regarded as the region's political kingpin, Balala's re-entry into the political scene is set to test the fiery county chief's political mettle.For the past six years, Balala has been operating under the shadows of Joho, who is Raila Odinga's point man in the region that has over 1.7 million residents enlisted as voters.Whereas Joho has managed to contain Balala politically since losing his senatorial bid in 2013, the former Mvita lawmaker is one of the most strategic politicians in the country and the decision by DP Ruto to give him the new role could be a well-planned move considering his understanding of the region's political dynamics.During the August 8 polls, NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga beat Uhuru in all the six Coast counties. However, the entry of Balala into Jubilee's campaigns may change the fortunes for Uhuru whose dream to eclipse Raila in the region remains elusive.