Taita Taveta County Woman Representative Lydia Haika has officially shifted her political focus after declaring that she will not seek a third term in the National Assembly.
Instead, the second-term legislator has set her sights on the county’s Senate seat in the 2027 General Election, setting up what is expected to be one of the most closely watched political battles in the Coast region.
Haika, who was elected on a UDA ticket in the 2022 General Election, has emerged as one of President William Ruto’s most loyal allies at the Coast. She has been at the forefront of popularizing the ruling party’s agenda in a region traditionally dominated by the opposition.
Her decision to abandon the Woman Representative seat leaves the position wide open, with political observers expecting a scramble among aspiring leaders eager to succeed her.
However, Haika’s path to the Senate will not be easy. She is expected to face incumbent Senator Jones Mwarume of ODM, who will be seeking to defend his seat.
The anticipated UDA-ODM showdown is likely to test the influence of the Kenya Kwanza administration in Taita Taveta, a county that has often witnessed fierce competition between the two political camps.
Haika will be banking on her development record during her two terms as Woman Representative, her grassroots networks, and the backing of the ruling party to convince voters that she is best suited to represent the county in the Senate.
For ODM’s Mwarume, the contest presents an opportunity to retain the seat and reinforce the opposition’s presence in the county despite growing inroads by UDA.
With both candidates enjoying significant political profiles and established support bases, the Taita Taveta Senate race is already shaping up to be one of the county’s defining contests ahead of the 2027 elections.