Jubilee and Cord parties are facing a litmus test in efforts to settle on strong candidates for key elective positions in Coast.
As the Jubilee Party continues its onslaught against Cord, efforts are being made by both sides to ensure that only strong candidates are fielded in respective positions.
At the weekend, Cord leader Raila Odinga, probably fearing losing out Kwale county to opposition, endorsed the incumbent Governor Salim Mvurya for the seat.
Mvurya has in the past been perceived as an ODM rebel
Deputy President William Ruto, is also fronting several of his foot soldiers for key positions.
One time Kisauni MP Ananiah Mwaboza, who has declared his bid for the Mombasa governor, is causing ripples within the Jubilee Party since businessman and banker Suleiman Shabhal is also seeking the party's endorsement.
At the weekend, DP Ruto fell short of endorsing Mwamboza for the seat but urged voters to underestimate him since he has managed very crucial programmes in his (Ruto) office, and is a focused man.
“Don't underestimate him. Personally, I wish him well,” Ruto said.
The Deputy President is weighing options among Kilifi North MP Gedion Mung'aro, former Labour CS Kazungu Kambi, and Mining CS Dan Kazungu. Kambi and Munga'ro will run for Kilifi governor seat.
Stakes are high as the fight for the Coast votes intensifies, with both parties promising candidates of a fair process.
While Ruto seemed to have endorsed Mwaboza for the Mombasa governor seat, Raila, keen to keep his team together, has been urging Nyali MP Hezron Awiti to go slow on the incumbent, Hassan Joho.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka is also at crossroads over Awiti, his party treasurer and Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, his secretary general.
In Taita Taveta county, political supremacy played out between Governor John Mruttu and Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadheghu over the positions they hold in the party.
In Lamu, Governor Issa Timamy on Sunday announced he will work with the Jubilee administration to spur development in the county.
Addressing residents of Hongwe area in Mpeketoni, Lamu West subcounty, Timmmy said he would defend his seat on a Jubilee Party ticket.
His decision will help him conquer the Gema votes who voted for TNA in Mpeketoni in 2013.
“The Jubilee government has done a lot such as tarmacking of the Garsen - Mokowe road that is expected to cost Sh10.4 billion and will be launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta when he visits in September,’’ Timamy said.
Mvurya could be the biggest addition for both parties owing to the fact that his county is ranked among the best performing counties in Kenya.
Jubilee is seen fighting to either get Mvurya or former Matuga MP Chirau Mwakwere as their candidate for governor in 2017.
ODM could either retain Mvurya as their candidate or speaker Sammy Ruwa who recently joined ODM.
Recent sentiments by devolution Cabinet secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri in Kwale also revealed that he is in talks with Mvurya on the issue who in return promised everything is okay since ‘his’ people are already in Jubilee.
Despite Mvurya facing opposition from within ODM, he has stayed put.
The same scenario is playing out in Likoni. Woman rep Mishi Mboko is seeking to unseat Cord rebel Masoud Mwahima, who decamped to Jubilee. Mishi will also face it off with former area MP Suleiman Shakombo, who is now in Cord.
Professor Hassan Mwakimako from Pwani University, however, noted it is a tricky situation for both parties.
“Cord is slightly weakened due to the current leadership. They are very factional, and Joho is perceived as someone who imposes himself on other leaders. And in as much as Cord will have an uphill task, it is not rosy for Jubilee since people like Mung'aro who they are using as point persons are having credibility issues and cannot liberate the region,” Mwakimako said, referring to the land issues Mung'aro is facing.
The political analyst said Cord has allowed Jubileee to see that there is an opportunity for them to make inroads in the region which is now being perceived as a split zone.
Professor Rocha Chimera from Pwani University said the political issue should be approached both individually and wholistically.
“Everyone is first concerned with his own political survival. In as much as Mung'aro and company say they are tired of the opposition, it seems they are convinced Jubilee will win,” said Chimera.
However, Chimera said Mvurya is not keen on joining Jubilee, but noted that Cord has to work extra hard to retain certain seats.