President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader Raila Odinga. [Photo/Standard Media]
Ahead of the presidential election rematch pitting President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader Raila Odinga, the race for over 800,000 enlisted votes in Kisii and Nyamira has gained momentum.
During the August 8 elections, Raila eclipsed Uhuru in Kisii after garnering over 50 per cent of the total votes but Uhuru managed to defeat him in Nyamira.
But according to political analyst Dismas Mokua, Raila still has an upper hand in the region which Uhuru is keen to swing in his favor to springboard his re-election.
Speaking during an interview on KTN, Mokua said that President's sustained attacks on Chief Justice David Maraga will handicap his chances of wooing the region.
With IEBC Commissioner Roselyn Akombe raising an alarm over threats on her life, Mokua believes that just like the Maraga issue, the Kisii community will mount a resistance against the Jubilee region.
"It will be a very big loss for Uhuru as people will react to the attacks on the duo. The community will react on why their children are attacked," said Mokua.
Mokua further believes that Uhuru's attacks on Governors James Ongwae John Nyangarama will rattle the region and that the two ODM Governors will have the incentive to campaign.
"President Uhuru Kenyatta's threats on Ongwae and Nyangarama will give them an incentive to productively campaign for Raila," he added.
With over 60 percent of the people in the two counties being members of the SDA church, Mokua said that the aspect of religion will favor Raila as a majority of the voters will think that attacks against Justice Maraga, a member of SDA, are directed at them.