The political landscape in the Kenyan coast remains unpredictable as new political alignments are being shaped. Fikirini Jacobs, the Principal Secretary for Youths is one of the young politicians from the coast region who is changing the perception about youth leadership.
Fikirini who shot to fame from university political activism and captured the eye of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga is a good mobiliser, an orator and a political strategist who helped Kilifi Governor Gideon Mun’garo capture the seat in 2022 elections. He had initially announced his bid for the Kilifi senatorial seat against incumbent and lackluster Stewart Madzayo but was prevailed upon by Raila to shelve his intentions after being promised ODM nomination to the senate after the elections. His performance at the ministry has inspired local youths and may be a key player in the 2027 elections especially if the broad base coalition will be campaigning alongside William Ruto.
The appointment of Hassan Ali Joho into the cabinet (Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary) has propelled him into national limelight. Formerly a key loyalist of ODM leader Raila Odinga, Joho has robustly shifted his allegiance and has become a central figure in President William Ruto’s administration. Early this year, several coast politicians and residents came out strongly in support of Joho becoming a regional kingpin.
Joho was riding on a popularity wave promoting the Ruto administration more vigorously than Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and CS Salim Mvurya who helped the president form the government after the August 2022 elections. The two original Kenya Kwanza government leaders did not appeal to the masses appearing more official and aloof.
The impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the November, 27 by-elections brought out a new face of Nyali MP Mohamed Ali also known as “Jicho Pevu,”. Ali was initially a strong Ruto and a big critic of Raila Odinga and his coastal bigwigs Hassan Ali Joho and Abdulsamad Shariff Nassir. He has since changed and emerged as one of the government’s notable critics in the region. He has been seen aligning with opposition leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka and is positioning himself for a potential gubernatorial run in Mombasa in 2027, challenging Joho for regional supremacy.
One of the reasons for the shift, according to observation is the fear of meeting UDA Secretary General Omar Hassan Sarai in the nominations for the party’s ticket in 2027. Given a vacuum in opposition leadership after ODM joined the broad based government, Mohamed Ali appears to be eyeing the opposition block votes of Kalonzo Musyoka and Rigathi Gachagwa.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party leader and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir. His new found national appeal especially being at the centre of the ODM supremacy battle has changed his political fortunes at home becoming a darling of the ardent ODM supporters. Nassir is working alongside Joho and other leaders to align the region with the broad-based government agenda. He is a potential long-term leader for the region, benefiting from his late father’s positive political image and the new found alliance with President William Ruto. His active involvement in the Magarini by-election that resulted in the win of the ODM candidate has made him one of the strong pillars of the Orange party in the coast region.
Although she may appear just a Kilifi county leader after losing her ministerial position Aisha Jumwa’s new political approach pushing the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) party to be the political vehicle of the region has changed people’s perceptions. Though she lost the Kilifi governor race in 2022, Jumwa remains a vocal and aggressive figure in national and regional politics and still a key member of the William Ruto administration. She is currently the Chairperson of the Kenya Roads Board. With her new campaign for a coastal party, Jumwa has revived a debate that has been there over the years but lost traction as political leaders opted to join other national political parties to get closer to power.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, one of the senior politicians in the coast region is a political strategist who navigates his ways to remain relevant politically both at the national and regional level. A strong proponent of a regional party, Kingi has been active in rebranding and energizing the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) party, aiming to provide the Coast with a stronger, independent political bargaining power. The fact that PAA was able to bag three parliamentary seats and several ward representative seats across the coast region makes him a serious player in the political landscape. It remains to be see if his party will fight it out with UDA and ODM to emerge a vehicle of choice for the region in the 2027 general elections.
Although he holds a senior position in the UDA party, Hassan Omar (UDA Secretary General): A former Mombasa Senator, still needs to do a lot more to command following in the coast region. Omar is a national leader within the ruling UDA party and is working to solidify the party’s presence at the Coast.
New political faces are also emerging setting their eyes on the 2027 elections especially at the parliamentary level. One of the emerging political contenders for the next general elections is journalist Lulu Hassan who is eyeing the Mvita Parliamentary seat in Mombasa.
