Three MPs from arid North Eastern region have ditched the opposition National Super Alliance and joined President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party.
The three, Mohamed Elmi (Tarbaj), Adan Keynan (Eldas) and Abdikadir Ore Ahmed (Wajir West) decamped at a rally in Orahey addressed by Uhuru in Wajir town on Saturday.
The three MPs are said to have joined Jubilee courtesy of the efforts of Parliament majority leader and Garissa Township MP Aden Duale.
"We want to announce in broad daylight that we have defected from the opposition and together with the people of Wajir county, we have declared our total support for Jubilee," said MP Ahmed.
Others who defected are deputy governor Abdihafid Yarrow and Senators Hassan Abdirahman Ali and Halima Abdille (ODM nominated) and 20 MCAs.
They all pledged to work with Uhuru who they said has strived to improve the lives of th people from the dry region.
"It is good that you have acknowledged the development we have implemented in the short span of four years and decided to walk with us on the path of development, unity and progress," Uhuru on his part told the defectors.
He said his administration will continue to distribute resources equally to all Kenyans adding that through the National Youth Service programme, over 1,000 youth will be employed.
"In the next six months, we will use Sh53 million in paying the youth of Wajir county under this programme. That is part of our efforts to improve the lives of Kenyans," he said.
"We want all parts of the country to be at par in development. That is why we have committed huge finanial resources to development and supported devolution."
ODM party leader Raila Odinga beat Uhuru at presidential level during the 2013 general election in Wajir after collecting 49,715 votes against Uhuru's 38,927.
[Eldas MP Adan Keynan who was among MPs who decamped from NASA to Jubilee on Saturday at a rally attended by the president.] the-star.co.ke