(PHOTOS) Raila welcomes defectors from Meru to the Orange party

ODM leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday received defectors from Meru, and officially welcomed them to the Orange party.

Raila received the defectors at the party's headquarters, Chungwa House.

Speaking during the ceremony, he said his Azimio la Umoja push is aimed at uniting all Kenyans without discrimination because that's what our country's founding fathers wanted.

"Unaanza na kuwa Mkenya kabla hujakuwa Mmeru, Embu, Kikuyu au Mluya, hio ni batizo tu. Hakuna mmoja wenu hapa aliyechagua kuwa Mmeru, ni mapenzi ya Mungu," Raila said.

This translates to "You are a Kenyan before you become a Meru, Embu, Kikuyu or Luhya that is just baptism. None of you chose to be a Meru, but it was God's will."

The new defectors include; Secondina Kanini, Former PS lands Kirinya Mukira, Former ANC chairman Meru Jacob Nairoti, Julie Gathire, Gitonga Muku, Upper Savannah MCA Duncan Kimemia and Buuri MCA Lucy Mukaria.

This comes even as more political realignments are expected in coming days, as politicians warm up to the August 9, 2022 General Elections.

In September, Raila also received another batch of defectors from the counties of Narok, Tharaka-Nithi, Embu, Marsabit, and Mandera.

“We are happy to welcome defectors and returning party members back home to ODM. The ODM movement is steadily reloading day after day and all Kenyans from all walks of life are welcome at our table,” he said.

These defections have seen both Raila and Ruto who are highly seen as the only candidates to beat gain and lose from their sides of the political divide.