The race for the Kwale governorship ahead of the 2027 General Election is shaping up into a political showdown between Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho of ODM and his Sports counterpart Salim Mvurya of UDA.
While Mr Mvurya has taken the lead in efforts to retain the county under UDA, the ODM is positioning itself to challenge the ruling party's grip on Kwale, with Mr Joho declaring its intention to sustain its dominance in the Coast region.
“We have to make ODM strong again. We cannot allow other parties to take what was for ODM,” Mr Joho said, during a recent rally in Kwale.
The declaration signals a shift from political arrangements that have encouraged calls for zoning, under which parties would support one another’s candidates in selected constituencies or counties, to a contest in which ODM intends to defend its traditional support base.
Kwale Governor Fatuma Mohamed Achani.
Photo credit: File | Nation
Ms Fatuma Achani, a first-term governor, faces stiff competition after ODM gubernatorial aspirants Prof Hamadi Boga and businessman Lungazi Mangale decided to pull their resources together in favour of one candidate among them.
The two, who finished second and third respectively in the 2022 polls, have been urged by grassroots leaders to maintain their newfound partnership until the elections. ODM leaders have warned that a fallout could undermine the party’s bid for the governor’s seat.
Despite the unfolding events, CS Mvurya has dared Ms Achani’s opponents to prepare for a showdown reminiscent of the Msambweni 2020 by-election.
The by-election became a major test of political supremacy between him and CS Joho, both of whom were then governors of Kwale and Mombasa respectively.
Mr Joho threw his weight behind ODM candidate Omar Boga (younger brother of Prof Boga), while Mvurya, a former ODM member who had defected to Jubilee, rallied behind independent candidate Feisal Bader, who enjoyed the backing of politicians allied to then Deputy President William Ruto.
Cabinet Secretary Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya during the launch of the World Athletics Continental Kipkeino Classic Gold Tour at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on May 20, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Mr Bader eventually defeated Omar, securing 15,251 votes against his rival's 10,444, handing Mvurya a significant political victory.
“It’s no secret that our president is William Samoei Ruto, and our governor is Fatuma Mohamed Achani, while the area MP is Feisal Bader. They despised Feisal in the 2020 by-election and came here with all their might but we’re telling them, they can plan the same way for the governor, but she will remain the governor of Kwale,” Mr Mvurya said at a rally in Msambweni.
Prof Boga, who served as Agriculture Principal Secretary in the Jubilee administration, contested the 2022 gubernatorial election on an ODM ticket, garnering 53,972 votes to finish second behind Ms Achani, who won with 59,674 votes.
Mr Mangale, a former Kenya Ports Authority employee and engineer, contested on a Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) ticket before later joining ODM when the party folded.
Kwale Woman Representative Fatuma Masito urged the two politicians to maintain their unity as they pursue their political ambitions, saying the partnership should last until the party selects its flagbearer.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho addresses ODM supporters during a rally at Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa on February 15, 2026.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
“Politics is not a war; it is about planning and having goals. You have united because of ODM supporters. I pray that this unity lasts until you choose the person who will fly the party’s flag,” Ms Masito said.
She said Kwale had historically been an ODM stronghold and that the party would field candidates for all elective positions except the presidency, where it would support President William Ruto.
“That is why we gave Mr Odinga more than 200,000 votes in 2022. Our votes remain firm and will now be channelled to President Ruto. At the grassroots level, however, we intend to retain all our seats and reclaim the ones we lost, except the presidency,” she added.
When President Ruto visited the Coast last month, he avoided the ongoing campaigns pitting UDA against ODM and instead urged local leaders to set aside their political differences to strengthen the broad-based arrangement.
During the October 2 visit, Mr Mangale asked the President to allow local politicians to organise the gubernatorial contest without interference from State House, while Prof Boga said ODM leaders in Kwale had initially been sidelined in the political arrangements.
“Initially, we were being sidelined, but you recently called me and personally invited me to your Coast tour. Kwale is an ODM zone, and you can clearly witness that. ODM is the party of the late Mr Odinga, and this is the party that will ensure you are re-elected by giving you all the votes from our members,” Prof Boga said.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho (left) and the Cabinet Secretary Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya in Nairobi on August 9, 2024.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Prof Boga maintained that he and Mr Mangale would remain united under ODM and present a joint political front in 2027.
“ODM in Kwale is stronger than UDA despite them having a governor. We will ensure we elect ODM leaders in a six-piece,” he said.
Governor Achani, however, defended her record, saying she expected to retain her seat based on her development projects.
“Leaders should be evaluated and re-elected based on their development projects. Stop the politics of hatred and malice. There are some people who have no policies; all they discuss is Achani. I will be re-elected to serve my two terms,” she said.
The anticipated alliance between Prof Boga and Mr Mangale also brings together politicians with support bases in some of the county’s major voting blocs. According to 2022 electoral figures, Kinango had 98,123 registered voters, while Matuga had 83,015 and Msambweni 82,261.
Reporting by Anthony Kitimo, Winnie Atieno and Valentine Obara
