Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has poached three members of the Party of National Unity (PNU), who joined him on Saturday after a closed-door meeting.
The three are former Igembe North MP Ntoitha M'Mithiaru, businessman Kiriinya Nairuti and former Deputy Governor Mr Kaberia, who served under ex-governor Peter Munya.
The three were seen as Mr Munya's allies, before shifting to Mr Kiraitu's camp, with the governor coming out to welcome them on Saturday evening.
While welcoming them, he lauded the group for joining him, expressing his keenness to work with his former rivals for the sake of Meru residents.
"I am pleased that the top leaders of PNU and strong supporters of the former county government have resolved to throw their support behind me and my administration," he said.
The three join several other allies of Mr Munya, now the Trade Cabinet Secretary, including Tigania East MP Josphat Kabeabea and lawyer Mugambi Imanyara, in Kiraitu's camp.
However, the party on Sunday rubbished the latest unfolding, saying that those defecting are impostors whose defection does not in any way mean that the party is losing its strength.
"The PNU [National Executive Council] takes great exception to impostors claiming to hold any office. They have moved out of their own volition and in no way represent PNU," it said.