In Summary
- Alliances risk losing some seats in areas where they have a strong presence as members contest against each other
The nightmare of split votes, which could cost major coalitions certain seats, now looms large as candidates campaign ahead of the March 4 General Election.
The situation was created following the botched party primaries, which saw losers troop to “sister” parties within the same coalition. It is from these parties that they are now preparing to contest once again against their “coalition siblings” and rivals from other parties.
Even though it does not threaten the presidential vote, the situation has the potential to spread out the votes for governorship, senate, national assembly, women and county representative and deny candidates a clean sweep in their coalitions’ backyards.
At the Coast, the competition for Mombasa and Taita Taveta seats is bound to be tough as virtually all the five elective positions have attracted an array of candidates from parties in the same coalition.
Tough choice
The Mombasa senate race presents a tough choice for Cord and Jubilee Alliance supporters.
Cord members Ramadhan Kajembe (ODM) and Hassan Omar (Wiper) will be contesting against each other in a race that also includes Jubilee members Najib Balala (Republican Congress Party) and Alice Maitha (TNA).
Other candidates in the race are Mr Hassan Mwakimako (UDF), Mr Lawrence Kamau (Party of Democratic Unity) and Mr Mutuku Kamau (New Democrats).
Similarly, in the gubernatorial contest, ODM’s Hassan Joho is squaring it out with Mr Suleiman Shahbal of Wiper.
On the Jubilee side, those in the race are Mr Abdullah Mwaruwa (TNA) and Athman Ibrahim Khamisi (RC).
Other candidates completing the line-up in what promises to be a tough duel are Mr Tenda Lewa Mtana (independent), Mr Anderson Chibule (Kadu Asili) and Mr Lawrence Kamau (PDU).
There is also no let up in the race for Mombasa’s women representative slot where once more, Cord supporters will find themselves torn between Ms Mishi Juma (ODM), Ms Margaret Olang (Ford Kenya) and Ms Afia Mukuwewa Rama (Wiper).
Jubilee supporters on the other hand be deciding between Ms Sureya Ali Hersi (RC) and Ms Khadija Abdallah (TNA).
They will be facing off with Ms Serah Mwikali (Restore and Build Kenya), Ms Naima Salim (KNC), Ms Mariam Bashir (NVP) and Ms Florence Wawuda (UDF).
The pattern continues in the national assembly membership slot where in a crowded field of eight candidates in Nyali constituency, three — John Mcharo (ODM), Hezron Awiti (Wiper), Yaser Seif (Ford Kenya) — are in Cord.
Jubilee, too, has its fair share of the headache as its party members Yasir Noor (TNA) and Kinnogah Abarija (URP) contest for the seat against KNC’s Kimburi Mwakio, UDF’s Said Mabruk and independent candidate Ojaju Alfred.
Large field
Populous Kisauni constituency, too, has attracted a large field of eight contestants with Jubilee and Cord member parties presenting candidates.
The Jubilee camp includes Mr Saddam Said (TNA), Mr Anania Mwaboza (URP) and Mr Swaleh Shambi (RC), while the Cord side has Mr Rashid Bedzimba (ODM) and Mr Fahad Kassim (Wiper). Ms Amina Abdullah (UDF) is the only woman in the race.
In Taita Taveta County, the three main parties that form the Cord partnership — ODM, Wiper and Ford Kenya — are presenting candidates for virtually all the seats, with the governor position being the most hotly contested.
Contestants for the seat are Mr John Murutu, Ms Sophie Kibai and Ms Jacinta Mwatela from ODM, Ford Kenya and Wiper, respectively.
They are contesting against Mr Wisdom Mwamburi (URP), Mr Elijah Mwandoe (SDP) and Mr Mwenyengela Ngali (Narc-Kenya).
In the senate race, Mr Dan Mwazo (ODM), Mr Mwandawiro Mghanga (SDP), Rev Donald Mwawasi (Agano) and Mr Tole Mwakidadi (TNA) will contest against each other.
The race for the women representative has two contestants in the Cord camp: Ms Joyce Lay (ODM) and Ms Priscillah Mwangeka (Wiper). They will be battling it out with Ms Anne Kina Nyambu (URP) and Ms Edith Lewela (Kanu).
In Lamu County, the senate and women representative positions will pit candidates from TNA and DP — parties with a largely similar support base — against each other.
TNA has Captain Ruweida Mohamed while DP has Ms Anastacia Mwangi who will battle it out with Wiper’s Amina Shakila and Narc-Kenya’s Priscilla Wambui Mutie Daido.
With the party primaries behind them and IEBC clearing them, candidates have now hit the road with their campaign teams, traversing the Coast region in trucks and pick-ups mounted with powerful public address systems.
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