Why Coast leaders have changed tune before repeat presidential poll

President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and Hassan Omar share a light moment during a meeting of Jubilee Leaders from Coast Region at the Serani grounds, Mbaraki, Mombasa County. October 9th, 2017

The latest political defections at the Coast have put the Opposition’s grip on the region to a test ahead of the repeat presidential election.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto on Monday stormed the region in a series of political rallies that culminated in defections by leaders allied to the National Super Alliance (NASA) to the ruling Jubilee Party, which is determined to solidify its support base across the country.