Former Lagdera MP Farah Maalim's unexpected defection from ODM to Wiper might have been informed by the battle for Garissa Township constituency race next year.
The parliamentary seat, which sees Maalim face off with current MP Aden Duale, has proved to be a contest between the two big sub-clans in the Ogaden Darod of the Somali community.
Duale, who is the leader of the majority in parliament comes from the populous Abduwak while Maalim from Auliyahan.
According to one Aden Mohamed, a former civic leader, Maalim's defection to Wiper is a political strategy aimed at capturing the Kamba votes in the constituency.
"At least about 40 per cent of the votes belong to the Kamba community and the former National Assembly Deputy Speaker is angling to benefit from this votes," said Aden.
The former Deputy speaker's decision seems to have had the Auliyahan elders' blessings.
"We want to retain the governor's, the county women representative and the Garissa Town constituency seats. We decided that we can only achieve this through the Wiper Party and that is why we asked the former deputy speaker do move," said Sugow Abdi, a local Auliyahan elder.
Maalim, a close ally of Raila defected from ODM to Wiper on Tuesday during the Party's National Governing Council at the Kasarani Gymnasium.