The political tide at the Coast took a new turn on Tuesday when one of the regions heavyweights extended a hand of friendship to Deputy President William Ruto after many years of political hostility.
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi showed up to welcome DP Ruto during the third Annual Legislative Summit.
It was the first time Mr Kingi and the deputy president were exchanging pleasantries in public having never seen eye to eye on many issues since the 2013 General Election.
On Tuesday, Mr Kingi who has been giving the ruling party sleepless nights accompanied Mr Ruto to distribute relief food in Tana River and Kilifi counties, signalling a change of political tune.
2022 RACE
Mr Kingi and his Mombasa County counterpart Mr Hassan Joho have both said they are eyeing the presidency in 2022.
Just like the DP, Mr Kingi has shown lukewarm support to the political pact between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Nasa leader Raila Odinga, saying he would only fully support if it had something tangible for locals.
The governor, who is serving his second and last term, Mr Kingi has said he will form his own party field a presidential candidate in the 2022 race.
Nasa’s failure to clinch the presidency in last year’s General Elections and the President Kenyatta-Odinga handshake has scuttled the opposition unity at the Coast, opening up room for Jubilee to penetrate the six counties.
Several Nasa MPs including Malindi’s Aisha Jumwa have backed DP Ruto’s presidential ambitions.
Now, Mr Kingi and Mr Joho are jostling for supremacy at the Coast ahead of the 2022 presidential race.
Before the Kenyatta-Odinga handshake, Mr Joho had been seen as the undisputed Coast political boss.
On Tuesday, a photo of Mr Kingi and Mr Ruto both in jovial mood and shaking hands at Pride Inn Hotel went viral.
After opening the MCAs/Senators meeting, Mr Ruto and Mr Kingi boarded the same helicopter to Tana River and Kilifi counties.
While addressing Tana River residents, Governor Kingi said after the formation of the planned Coast party, the region will have to seek for support from other parts of the country to realise the dream of a local politician occupying State House.
Governor Kingi asked Coast legislators to also ask the DP if he was ready to support a presidential candidate from the region.
“I want to tell our legislators that you have talked of supporting DP Ruto for the Presidency in 2022 but you have not asked him about his stand. Perhaps, he would also like to support a presidential candidate from the Coast. We have not asked him, have we?” asked Mr Kingi.
The deputy president called on the Coast leaders to unite in in serving the people.
Kinango MP Benjamin Tayari said they would support the Mr Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
The call was supported by Coast Parliamentary Group Chairman Suleiman Dori who is also Msambweni MP.
Mr Dori said locals were ready to support the DP in his walk to State House in 2022.
When the DP visited the county after the March 9 handshake, Mr Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho snubbed his functions but all their close allies except Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire and Likoni MP Mishi Mboko attended.