Former Cabinet Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere shifted his allegiance to the Wiper Democratic Movement from the Orange Democratic Movement, few weeks to the Kwale gubernatorial election battle on August 8, 2017.
Alias Zipapa, Mwakwere had resigned from the Jubilee government where he served as Kenya's Ambassador to Tanzania, to oust Governor Salim Mvurya.
According to the county's ODM vice-chairman Nicholas Zani, the brother to Senator Dr Agnes Zani, there was an increased rejection of 'newcomers' to the party since there were people who had fought had to popularize the party across Kwale.
In March 2017, Msambweni ODM Sub-county chairlady Fatuma Juma warned saying they could not welcome party 'rejects' and they should not expect tickets to vie.
"We cannot accept projects to come here and get the party tickets at the expense of people who have been with the party and built it to its current strength and popularity," she said.
Mombasa Governor Ali Joho, had wooed Zipapa from his ambassadorial job in Dar-es-Salaam into the Raila Odinga-led ODM party in January 2017.
Zipapa had earlier in 2013, unsuccessfully vied for the county's senatorial seat through William Ruto's URP, which later merged to form Jubilee party.
He later shifted to Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper, after ODM's hostility went high, and later lost the election to Mvurya, who was is currently serving his second term.
Addressing journalists in Mombasa, the then Wiper secretary-general Hassan Omar said “Mwakwere has asked me to clarify his so-called defection to Wiper. He was never a member of ODM. Some people went on to post pictures on social media platforms each time they held talks with him."