Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana has been endorsed by delegates from the Coast region to take over as party leader and chairman of the Federal Party of Kenya (FPK), in a move that could reshape the region’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The proposed leadership change emerged from consultations involving Coast-based delegates and civil society representatives seeking to reposition the party and give it a stronger regional presence while maintaining a national outlook.

Godhana is expected to oversee the restructuring of FPK as the party seeks to establish itself as a political vehicle for the Coast region and expand its structures across the six counties represented by the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP)—Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta. JKP has previously brought the six governors together around shared economic and development interests.

According to the delegates, the decision followed growing concerns over the increasing influence of other political parties in the Coast region and what they described as the need for the region to chart its own political direction.

The group said FPK, which is listed by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties as a fully registered political party, would seek to position itself as a party of choice for Coast residents while retaining a national outlook. Official records show the party was registered in 2012, rather than 2018 as suggested in the briefing, and currently uses the slogan “Inawezekana Tukijipanga.”

The party has a longer political history. FPK participated in previous elections and, in 2013, won parliamentary seats in constituencies including Ganze and Butula, as well as a Senate seat in Tana River.

The delegates said Godhana’s elevation will, however, have to be formally confirmed through a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The meeting is expected to determine the distribution of other senior party positions, including the Secretary-General and other national offices.

The current party executive director, identified by the delegates as having kept the party’s operations running, is also expected to remain in the organisation during the transition.

The proposed changes come as political parties and regional leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections. Godhana is currently serving his second term as Tana River governor. He successfully defended his seat in the 2022 election on an ODM ticket, defeating former governor Hussein Dado by 349 votes. The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld the validity of his election after an electoral dispute.

The delegates also said some members had pushed for Godhana to become FPK’s presidential candidate in 2027. For now, however, the governor is expected to focus on rebuilding the party’s structures, establishing functional branches and strengthening its systems before making a decision on a presidential bid.

Godhana’s own position on the matter is yet to be fully determined, with the delegates indicating that discussions on the leadership structure and his eventual role will continue.

FPK also remains open to negotiations with other political formations ahead of the 2027 polls. While some members reportedly favour continued cooperation with ODM, the party has not ruled out working with another coalition.

The delegates said FPK intends to field candidates in the 2027 elections, with the final decisions on coalition arrangements and candidate positions to be made through the party’s formal structures.