Luke Awich @AchiaAwich Opposition Cord suffered a major blow on the first day of Jubilee’s three-day series of events that calminates in the launch of the Jubilee Party tomorrow after six of its MPs defected to the new outfit.
The six legislators—four from ODM and two from Ford Kenya—yesterday attended the New Ford Kenya’s special National Delegates Conference (NDC); where they denounced their sponsoring parties for JP.
Ford Kenya chairman and Turkana Senator John Munyes, MPs Stephen Kariuki (Mathare, ODM), Isaac Mwaura (Nominated, ODM), Nicholas Ngikor (Turkana East, Ford Kenya), John Waluke (Sirisia, ODM) and Protus Akujah (Loima, ODM) said they will defend their seats in next year’s General Election on JP tickets.
Apart from the six, a number of Opposition MPs and governors are also expected to announce their defection tomorrow when the party will officially come into force.
Even though the list of the MPs who plan to ditch the Opposition remains unclear, it is expected that Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro (ODM) and Rachuonyo MP James Rege will top the big names in the defections.
Opposition governors expected at the JP launch are; Salim Mvurya (Kwale), Ukur Yattani (Marsabit) and Hussein Dado (Tana River). Also expected to join the new party are governor Issa Timamy (Lamu, UDF) and Simon Kachapin (West Pokot, Kanu).
While announcing their defection at the Bomas of Kenya, the six MPs claimed the merger of 13 Jubilee affiliate parties is a demonstration that President Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto are committed to ending tribalism and promoting inclusivity in the country.
“I am from the Opposition, but let us support President Uhuru and do away with tribalism,” said Waluke, a close ally of former ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba. Waluke added that the Jubilee administration had performed well in developing the country contrary to Opposition’s claims that the UhuRuto duo has nothing to show for the four years it has been in power.
Mwaura, who is eyeing the Ruiru parliamentary seat, told the delegates that he had shared with his party leader the decision to join JP.
“I told Raila thank you for nominating me on ODM, but 2017 I am going to Jubilee,” he said. Rege addressed a press conference on Tuesday in Kisumu and announced he will join Jubilee after realising he will not get the ODM ticket in 2017.
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