President William Ruto has stepped up efforts to consolidate political support in the Coast region as he seeks to strengthen his re-election prospects ahead of the fiercely contested 2027 General Election.

The renewed push comes at a time when the opposition is also intensifying its campaigns in the region, turning the Coast into one of the key political battlegrounds likely to influence the outcome of the next presidential race.

To counter growing opposition influence, Ruto has launched an aggressive political charm offensive targeting influential leaders across the six Coast counties while simultaneously rolling out multi-billion Kenya shilling development projects and addressing the emotive land question that has shaped the region’s politics for decades.

The President is also banking on his political cooperation deal with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the dominant political party in the region, to win over local leaders and consolidate support for his United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

The strategy is aimed at neutralising the opposition’s threat and securing the Coast vote bloc, which has historically leaned towards the late ODM leader Raila Odinga.

For years, the region remained one of Raila’s strongest political bases, with ODM enjoying massive support among residents.

However, Ruto now appears determined to dismantle that dominance by bringing on board key political figures from the region.

Among the Coast leaders currently backing the President are Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya.

Others include Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime and Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana.

The leaders accompanied Ruto during his ongoing five-day development tour of the region, where the President used public rallies and project launches to project political strength and rally support for his administration.

During the tour, Ruto unveiled several development projects and issued 33,000 title deeds to residents from Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Tana River and Taita Taveta counties.

Ruto’s charm offensive

Key in the President’s Coast strategy is the promise to resolve the long-standing squatter crisis that has fuelled political dissatisfaction in the region for years.

Ruto announced that the government had acquired land from absentee landlords to resettle at least 200,000 squatter families.

“Today, we are here to address the challenge of squatters, citizens who live in fear of being evicted. It is a commitment I made and it is a commitment I intend to keep,” Ruto said during a meeting at Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa.

The title deeds issued cover parcels in Kilifi/Weru Ranch, Mwele Simakeni, Msabaha, Ka Dzandani, Wachu Kordentu and the Ronge Juu Registration Unit.

The Coast vote could prove decisive in the 2027 elections, making the region a major contest between Ruto and opposition leaders seeking to reclaim influence.

Recent opinion polls point to a tight political race in the region, with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka emerging as the most preferred presidential candidate among Coast residents with 30 per cent support.

ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna and President Ruto are also among the leading contenders. Sifuna enjoys 21 per cent support, while Ruto stands at 18 per cent.

The polls further show that ODM remains the most popular political party in the region ahead of UDA, underlining the challenge facing Ruto despite his intensified campaigns.

“The people of the Coast will not be drawn into opposition political fights that do not benefit them. What matters to residents are land ownership, water, schools, markets and economic opportunities,” Joho said.

Kingi said Ruto had demonstrated commitment to solving historical injustices affecting the region.

“The Coast has many challenges, but land ownership remains the biggest,” he said.

Beyond land reforms, the President also used the tour to unveil major infrastructure and economic projects aimed at boosting the region’s economy and strengthening support for his administration.

Ruto said the government had invested more than Ksh5 billion in the blue economy sector, including the construction of five fish landing sites worth Ksh820 million and the purchase of 272 fishing boats in partnership with county governments.