Nyali MP Hezron Awiti at a past event. Photo/ the-star.co.ke
Nyali MP Hezron Awiti has denied claims that he intends to join the Democratic Party.Awiti was elected MP on a Wiper party ticket in 2013 and is the opposition National Super Alliance-affiliated party's Treasurer."I wish to re-affirm that I have no ditched Wiper for any other party contrary to rumours doing rounds in Mombasa," he told his supporters in Nyali on Thursday evening.The first time lawmaker has declared interest for the Mombasa gubernatorial position and envisions at gunning for the seat against Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.Others in the race for the coveted seat include Jubilee Party's Suleiman Shahbal as well as Mombasa Senator Omar Hassan.The three command a sizable following in the Coastal county and each one of them is optimistic of being crowned county chief after the August general election.The first rumours of Awiti's planned departure from Wiper emerged in November 2016 at the height of his wrangles with Mr Joho.Joho and Awiti after the 2013 polls were close allies until when Awiti accused the governor of misusing the county resources and announced his intentions to vie for the governor seat.At the peak of their wrangles, he was forced to cancel a rally in his constituency after Joho's supporters disrupted the meeting accusing him of disrespecting the county chief.If he makes good his threat to ditch Wiper, he will join a bandwagon of politicians who have already left the National Super Alliance led by Raila Odinga (ODM), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Moses Wetangula (Ford Kenya).The latest political bigwig to leave NASA is Migori Senator Wilfred Machage.