The battle for the Coast region votes between Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) leader Raila Odinga and Jubilee Party under President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of 2017 elections is taking a new twist.
The region that overwhelmingly supported Raila in 2013 is now shifting loyalty according to analysts.
The supremacy wars between Cord and Jubilee to control the Coast has seen Raila and Uhuru’s government frequent visits to the region in a bid to seek for support ahead of the 2017 polls.
In the last two weeks both Raila and President Uhuru have pitched camp in the region to consolidate for votes.
However, according to analysts, Coast region may have started to dance to the Jubilee government tunes.
Peter Ngure, a Kiambu based political analyst says that President Uhuru’s recent tour of the region has been successful in consolidating support for 2017.
He observes that Uhuru in his recent tour managed to convince Kwale governor Salim Mvurya to ditch the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and join the yet to be launched Jubilee Party.
Mvurya on Saturday said that he was ready to work with Uhuru in 2017.
The move by Mvurya to ditch ODM has been cited as a major blow to Raila’s quest for votes in the county.
Analysts also observe that the multi-million projects that Uhuru launched at the Coast during his recent tour has left an impact and boosted his re-election support.
“President Uhuru’s tour of the Coast region has been a plus to him in terms of support by local’s basing on the development projects he commissioned,” said Ngure.
Mr Ngure notes that ODM rebels led by Gideon Mung’aro are leading a high-profile campaign for the Jubilee government in the region that may see Raila lose grip of the Coast if he does not change tactics.
“So far Jubilee is steadily eating up to the Coast which is Raila’s stronghold,” he adds.
However, a section of leaders allied to opposition leader Mr Odinga say that Uhuru’s and Jubilee government tour of the Coast will have no impact in terms of popularity.
Speaking at AIC Bomani church in Machakos on Sunday, Mombasa Women Representative Mishi Mboko said that Coast will not become a Jubilee stronghold.
Ms Mboko claimed that the Jubilee government has failed to address key issues facing Coast residents.
“Coast region is still an opposition stronghold and no one should claim that Jubilee has taken control of the Coast,” she said.
With barely a year to the 2017 polls, Raila and Uhuru are traversing their perceived strongholds to consolidate support.
President Uhuru has been seeking support from regions perceived to be Raila’s strongholds in the recent past.
With the launch of the new Jubilee Party slated for next week, Uhuru is expected to tour more regions as he seeks for re-election in 2017.
Raila on the other hand is currently on a tour of the Western region to consolidate support after a rebellion by a section of leaders led by former ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba.
However, analysts note that Cord under Raila stands to gain more support if it declares its candidate for the 2017.
The coalition has not endorsed its candidate with both principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula declaring interest in the seat.