More than 10 political aspirants from Vihiga county defected to the United Democratic Alliance Party on Tuesday.
Speaking at the UDA head office in Nairobi, the party’s executive director Odanga Pessa said the defectors were drawn from the Jubilee, ODM, Amani National Congress, the Progressive Party of Kenya, and Maendeleo Democratic Party.
Pessa said they also received 20 other politicians. He noted that the move was an indication that UDA was gaining popularity in the entire country.
“We are a party driven by fairness and firmly founded on ordinary peoples’ issues. We are committed to further our engagement with Kenyans so that we can move our country forward,” he said.
Among those who defected are Lorna Obiri of ANC, who is eyeing the Vihiga woman representative seat, and Joseck Ang'ana of MDP who will be going for the Luanda parliamentary seat.
Others include Martha Boge from PPK, who is eyeing the Jepkoyai MCA seat, and Faith Koech, who was Jubilee’s Sabatia coordinator. Koech will go for the Chavakali MCA seat.
Pessa urged the youth to come out in large numbers and register as voters in the ongoing voter registration exercise.
“They must be registered so that they can vote for a responsible government that will create jobs and expand business opportunities for them,” he said.
Former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale asked the defectors to intensify their support for the hustler nation.
He noted that for a long time, the Western region had suffered for "being out of the government".
“We are going to be at the centre of the formation of the 2022 government through UDA. This is where our interests will be addressed well,” he argued.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
