The battle for the Coast region by political nemesis, Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga has taken a new twist after Kilifi North MP Owen Baya made a u-turn and returned to the orange party, leaving the DP in a political limbo.
Baya, a first-term lawmaker, had emerged as a key cog for the DP's political machinery that is keen to swing the Coast region into the Jubilee Party fold.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, the vocal lawmaker has declared that he is a member of ODM and that his relationship with Dr. Ruto is purely for development owing to his (Ruto's) position in government.
“I am an ODM member and have the obligation of supporting our candidate. That is the party rule, which we all must adhere to.
Even when I accompanied the DP in his tour of the Coast and other areas, it was purely because he is a national leader," said the lawmaker as quoted by Sunday Nation.
“I have never rebelled against my party or my leader at any given time. I am and will remain an ODM member,” he added.
The declaration will no doubt force the DP back to the drawing board strategizing on how to fill to play his political cards ahead of the next election.