A supporter of the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) at a past event [PHOTO/nation.co.ke]
Taita Taveta governor John Mruttu has ditched the ODM party.
While confirming the move on Sunday, Mruttu cited constant frustrations by the party head office as the reason behind his decision.
Speaking at Lushangonyi Catholic Church in Mgange Nyika, Mruttu said he will instead be defending his governor's seat as an independent candidate.
The governor revealed that he took the decision after the party showed reluctance towards conducting a repeat of the primaries as had earlier been directed by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) in May.
He said said he struggled to have the residents of Taveta constituency, who never voted, to exercise their democratic right but the party eventually failed to execute the court orders.
“It was my wish that the elections which were supposed to be repeated in some parts of the constituency conducted, but since about 7000 electorates in the constituency have been denied their constitutional rights to nominate their leader, I have made a decision to defend my seat as per the people’s wish,” he said.
He added that he had consulted the electorate who then advised him to go it as an independent if ODM was reluctant to repeat the primaries in Challa and Mahoo wards and Jipe polling station.
“He who chases you away does not directly tell you to go, I saw the signs and decided to bolt out so that the party can settle on Mr Mwadehu as it had preferred,” he told the congregation.
“But come August, I will be on the ballot, I will come back to you and ask for your votes so that I can continue with the projects already started,” the governor added.