Sunday’s launch of Nyali MP Hezron Awiti’s bid for Mombasa governor is expected to trigger political realignments in the county.
The scramble for various communities' votes might intensify.
Already, the Kamba community is demanding a bigger share of the county cake in exchange for their support.
This complicates matters for Awiti, Governor Hassan Joho, Deputy President William Ruto’s political advisor Ananiah Mwaboza, Jubilee’s Suleiman Shahbal and Senator Hassan Omar all of whom want to contest for the post.
The Kamba believe they control a significant number of votes in the county and they want to make it count.
Kamba community spokesman Philip Ndolo told the Star on Sunday they want to be recognised by any camp that wants to form the next county government.
“We are in Jubilee but we are not recognised there. We want to be well represented and given prominent positions in Jubilee at the Coast,” he said.
Awiti, Joho and Shahbal have been courting the Kamba, the second largest single vote bloc after the Mijikenda community, which holds not less than 110,000 votes.
“We have had several meetings and we have decided if we are not recognised, we will come up with our own candidate and rally all the upcountry votes,” said Ndolo.
If they make true their threat, this will be a big blow to all the five candidates.
Awiti is working to have a Mijikenda running mate to consolidate the support of the community.
But this plan has been interfered with by Mwaboza's bid, as he is a Mijikenda.
He is looking for a running mate from upcountry and has asked the upcountry communities to give him one.
At the same time, a number of MCAs are seen to be shifting allegiance as the 2017 polls draw near.
Kadzandani MCA Mohamed Ndanda and his Mjambere counterpart Khamis Mwabashiri have lately been seen to be warming up to Joho.
The two were bitter critics of the governor.
Ndanda, who was ever present in Awiti’s functions, was conspicuously absent during the launch on Sunday.
Kongowea MCA Jabess Oduor and his Bamburi counterpart Riziki Fundi were at the launch.
“I did not know of the event. I was in Mavueni,” Ndanda said yesterday.
On Friday, he was at the launch of a youth empowerment programme presided over by Joho and Norwegian Ambassador Victor Rønneberg, and was even in Joho’s team in an exhibition football match.
Mwabashiri was also in Joho’s team.
Oduor said 25 MCAs are secretly supporting Awiti.
Changamwe MP aspirant Daniel Munage and his Nyali counterpart Crispus Waithaka were also absent at the launch.
They said they were invited late and they already had other plans. The two have been with Awiti in most functions.