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President William Ruto (right) with Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Ali Joho at State House, Nairobi, on November 19, 2024.
Political divisions have resurfaced among leaders in the Coast region, threatening the success of the planned alliance between President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ahead of the 2027 elections.
The divisions have been sparked by various issues, chief among them a persistent bid by Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and his allies to become President Ruto’s running mate in the upcoming General Election.
For several months, the former ODM deputy party leader has been calling on leaders from the Coast to unite and support Dr Ruto’s second term in office, as his allies push for his elevation to the position of deputy president in 2027.
President William Ruto, his deputy Kithure Kindiki, Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir (right), Cabinet secretaries Davis Chirchir (extreme right), Hassan Joho (left) and Salim Mvurya (extreme right) during the inspection of the Kwa Jomvu Interchange in Mombasa County.
The position is currently held by Prof Kithure Kindiki, with ODM signalling intentions to negotiate for it as part of the conditions to support President Ruto’s second term.
What initially appeared as an effort to convince Coast leaders and residents to rally behind a running mate candidate from their own region has now taken a different turn, with a section of politicians rejecting Mr Joho’s bid.
Led by UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar, these leaders have described the former Mombasa governor’s ambitions as unwarranted. He stated that calls based on the need for regional political kingpins are outdated.
“Times have changed and politicians must know that we’re no longer following the politics of hero-worshipping. As UDA, the presidency is inseparable. Our deputy president is well known, it’s Prof Kithure Kindiki,” he said.
Mr Joho, accompanied by several Coast elected leaders and other politicians, has been touring the region’s counties to popularise his bid. However, the visits were not well received by Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, who described them as disrespectful both to the county leadership and the presidency.
Similar rivalries
The situation has particularly revived political rivalry between him and the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs and Sports Salim Mvurya, an influential politician in Kwale. The two were once allies in ODM at the start of devolution in 2013 but broke apart due to similar rivalries.
In less than a week, Mr Joho visited Kwale twice, including on Sunday, accompanied by Msambweni MP Feisal Bader and several other politicians.
Speaking in Lunga Lunga over the weekend, Governor Achani dismissed the tours, insisting that she and the residents of Kwale recognise only Mvurya as their political head and will continue to support Prof Kindiki to be President Ruto’s running mate in 2027.
“If anyone feels that their political kingpin is in Mombasa, let them cross the ferry and follow him there. The person who we know helped us in Kwale is Salim Mvurya. We want him to be respected,” she said.
While speaking in Matuga, Mr Joho dismissed claims that he was interfering in the county’s local politics. However, he maintained that his ambitions are focused on a higher national position.
“I want to tell the people of Kwale that this local politics is for you to sort out among yourselves. Everyone here is capable to defend themselves politically. I am in national politics,” he said.
President William Ruto with CS Hassan Joho and Salim Mvurya during the Third National Executive Retreat at KCB Leadership Centre in Kajiado County.
He acknowledged that the emerging divisions could threaten intentions to have Coast leaders speaking with one voice ahead of 2027, risking their bargaining power with presidential hopefuls.
“This time people should know that the Coast will unite, and if anyone has reservations, we will speak with them so they abandon such divisions. There is an important journey ahead,” he added.
The politicians are also divided on proposals by some leaders for zoning in electoral regions, where particular parties are more popular than their affiliates in the anticipated 2027 coalition.
In Kilifi County, former Cabinet Secretary for Gender Aisha Jumwa is positioning herself to run for the gubernatorial seat against Governor Gideon Mung’aro of ODM in 2027. Ms Jumwa had initially ditched UDA for the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) when it became apparent that the ruling party would support Mr Mung’aro.
However, recent developments indicate a possibility of PAA dissolving before next year’s election. Several politicians, including its Secretary General and Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu, have left the party, which is led by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.
“Within Kenya Kwanza, there are many other parties. The President called us all and explained his vision. He doesn’t want to face the challenge of reconciling different groups come 2027; he wants the region to speak with one voice from within one party,” Mr Kazungu disclosed in a public rally.
These new trends have quietly pushed Ms Jumwa back into the UDA, with Mr Kingi also attending a seminar for the party’s Coast leaders in Mombasa earlier this week.
Some UDA leaders have sought to allay fears among aspirants that they may have to set aside their ambitions in support of ODM candidates. However, Mr Owen Baya, the Member of Parliament for Kilifi North Constituency and an ally of President Ruto, insists that UDA will support Mr Mung’aro for the Kilifi governorship.
ODM and UDA tested the zoning strategy during the November 2025 by-elections across the country, where the broad-based team won the majority of seats against opposition parties.
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