President Uhuru Kenyatta receives defectors during a public rally at Voi Stadium. [Photo/ PSCU]
In the recent days, a number of elected leaders affiliated to the Opposition's National Super Alliance (NASA) have decamped to Jubilee, leaving many to question why so many leaders are running away from ODM leader Raila Odinga and other principals. President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party has been a major beneficiary of the defections, with key elected leaders from the Coast region, considered to be an Opposition stronghold, decamping in the recent week alone. As at now, two governors, three deputy governors, three women representatives and several members of parliament have come out to declare that there are now firmly in President Kenyatta’s camp, pledging to help him win a second term in August. According to unnamed sources within the NASA coalition, quoted by the People Daily, many of the defections are fueled by the numerous visits by President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in the recent months. There were also reports of fears that the leaders may be rigged out of the party’s nominations, with many drawing from their experience in 2013 after supporting Raila Odinga’s ODM. Many leaders have a feeling the same would be repeated this year.The president on Monday welcomed to Jubilee Tana River Governor Hussein Dado and women representative Halima Ware. The two leaders, who said they had joined Jubilee voluntarily, were elected in 2013 under the Kalonzo Musyoka-led Wiper party. “It is good that the people of this great county have joined Jubilee,” President Kenyatta said after receiving the leaders at State House Mombasa. “The policy of Jubilee is to bring all Kenyans together, irrespective of their religion or locality,” the president added, as quoted by the People Daily. The governor said the people of Tana River had joined the government so that they can be helped solve the challenges they are facing. On Saturday, Taita Taveta Senator Dan Mwazo and Women Rep Joyce Lay left ODM for the Jubilee party, with the senator saying he felt the interests of his people were better addressed by the Jubilee party. Women Rep Joyce Lay said she was speaking for the county people. These defections add to the gains made by Jubilee in the past few months, in which Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, his deputy Fatuma Achani, Women Rep Zainabu Chidzuga, Kilifi County deputy governor Kenneth Kamto and Mombasa deputy governor Hazel Katana joining Jubilee. Other Opposition leaders from the region who have defected include MPs Mustafa Idd (Kilifi North), Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi North), Peter Shahe (Ganze) Mwasoud Mwahima (Likoni) and Khatib Mwashetani (Lungalunga).In Eastern region, a stronghold of the Wiper party, Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), John Munuve (Mwingi North), Richard Makenga (Kaiti), Regina Ndambuki (Kilome) and Kisoi Munyao (Mbooni) have ditched their original parties for Jubilee.Karachuonyo MP James Rege has abandoned ODM and declared that he will support the president in this year’s elections. In Western region, former ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba has said he supports Jubilee. MPs Ibrahim Elmi, Adan Keynan and Ibrahim Saney, all from Wajir, have left CORD for Jubilee, saying they want to be part of the winning team.