[A letter by Dr. James Gesami addressing Orange House. The two term MP has quit ODM and will run for Nyamira governorship as an Independent. Photo/Cynthiah Kerubo]
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has yet again been hit with another blow as the series of defections continues to rock either sides of political divide.
Barely a week after Funyula MP Paul Otuoma ditched the Orange party to run as Independent following disputed Busia governorship ODM primaries, his West Mugirango counterpart James Gesami has followed suit.
In a letter sent to ODM and copied to Registrar of Political Parties, Gesami, who lost to incumbent Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama in another disputed elections, demanded that his name is expunged from ODM register.
“I wish to resign and withdraw my membership from Orange Democratic Movement with immediate effect,” read the letter.
He added: “Kindly remove my name from party lists of members as I have voluntarily opted out of the party,” he said.
The move now means Mr. Gesami, a term ODM MP will be challenging Mr. Nyagarama as an Independent candidate.
His petition, I which he cited numerous irregularities, was thrown out by ODM appeals body last Friday on grounds that it did not meet threshold.