Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his deputy Hazel Katana at a past event. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
Mombasa Deputy Governor Hazel Katana whose political future is hanging on the balance amid controversy surrounding the just-concluded Jubilee Senatorial nominations in Mombasa is believed to be President Uhuru Kenyatta's 'project' to weaken Governor Hassan Joho.A source privy to the happenings in the Jubilee camp in Mombasa told The Star that the President's handlers are pushing for Katana's candidature on a Jubilee party ticket."She was poached by Uhuru from Joho's camp to weaken him. The plan was that she be in the race on the assumption that she will win because she come from a majority community," a source told The Star."They were to present her as a woman who has been subjected to frustration and persecution by her boss, to get sympathy votes for her and Uhuru. Her loss in the primaries was unforeseen," the source added.Nomination results had indicated that Katana had garnered 9,9924 votes against Abdulsalam Kassim who polled 10,785. However, she dismissed the results before lodging an appeal.Should Katana be out of the race, then it would be a big blow to President Kenyatta who is keen to get a share of the region's vote to push for his re-election bid.