Former Mombasa Deputy Governor Hazel Katana [Photo/the-star.co.ke]

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Former Mombasa Deputy Governor Hazel Katana is expected to be one of Mombasa poll losers who will be rewarded by the Jubilee government with state jobs.

Katana rebelled against Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho whom she accused of undermining her office. 

And in Jubilee, she found a new home- the party that gave her a ticket to run for Mombasa Senator after a protracted feud with Abdulsalam Kassim who also wanted to fly the party flag.

Sources claim Jubilee hatched a plan for Katana to leave ODM in order to give President Uhuru Kenyatta some sympathy votes from a region that is pro-opposition, a move that worked.

In the August 8 poll, Uhuru almost doubled his 2023 tally after garnering 99,200 votes against 64,000 her polled four years ago.

Katana became a key cog in President Kenyatta’s effort to water down Raila Odinga’s influence in the Coastal County. 

Alongside fellow opposition rebel Suleiman Shahbal and Uhuru’s longtime ally former Nominated MP Amina Abdallah, the group managed to paint the city with red color.

With Uhuru widely expected to rehire politicians to his cabinet and for Principal Secretary Positions, Katana might make the cut.

According to the Nation, the former Deputy Governor is among 120 applicants those who have been shortlisted for PS position.

Constitutionally, PS and CS positions are reserved for technocrats. However, to reward party loyalty, Uhuru will not shy away from bringing in politicians to his new-look executive to kick-start his new five-year mandate.

For Katana, the appointment will be welcome news for her even as she hopes to make a swift political comeback in 2022.