Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya and NASA leader Raila Odinga in a past event. [Photo/ The Star]
A home to over 282,000 enlisted voters, Kwale County is once again in the spotlight as Jubilee and NASA take on each in the race for those votes.
With the county being among those targeted by President Uhuru Kenyatta to springboard his re-election bid, the battle for Kwale will be a do-or-die affair as Uhuru is keen to water down Raila Odinga's influence in the coastal county.
Despite losing to Raila during the August 8 poll, Uhuru is keen to better his tally of over 40,000 votes in next month's contest.
But even as the two coalitions hit the campaign trail, Governor Salim Mvurya's impact may be a determining factor in that presidential race.Emboldened by his resounding win during the August 8 contest, Mvurya who ditched Raila's ODM party for Jubilee is becoming an influential figure in Coast politics.
He may not have the same influence as Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho, but Mvurya is making a statement of some sorts that he is the man to watch in Coast region's ever evolving political scene.
Alongside Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha, Mvurya is a key member of the Uhuru campaign team that is keen to stage a coup in the region Raila Odinga has reigned supreme over years. And for Raila to avoid any setback in his journey to State House, then he must contain Mvurya.