•Lenku decamped to ODM after it emerged there were attempts to deny him the ticket.
•The governor promised to deliver 20 of the 25 MCA seats in the county.
The defection of Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku to ODM could make Jubilee unable to field candidates in various positions.
The party could also field weak candidates or losers after the alleged strong aspirants followed Lenku to ODM, in a last-minute effort to outwit some officials keen to lock the governor out of his re-election bid.
On Thursday last week, Lenku, a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta, decamped to ODM after it emerged there were attempts to deny him the ticket.
One of the conditions was to drop his Deputy Martin Moshisho for a running mate from the Mt Kenya community living in Kajiado with Lenku saying the move could bring a backlash among the host community.
It could antagonise his populous Matapato base in Kajiado Central where his deputy comes from and face resistance from the ten Ilmeirish age set which is critical in his re-election bid.
The Star has found out, Jubilee could miss candidates for more than 10 MCA seats after sitting ones, who had paid up their nomination fees defected with Lenku.
The first casualty is Imbirrikani and Nkaimurunya wards which the majority leader and majority whip Julius Moipai and James Waichanguru represent.
Other sitting MCAs who were applicants for the Jubilee ticket and have now paid for ODM are Jackson Mpaada (Iloodokilani), James Ntaati (Dalalekutuk), Hosea Toshi (Matapato South), Leng'ete Kamete (Rombo) and Mpete Meshuuda (Kuku).
Joshua Olowuasa (Kaputiei North), Grace Salau (Ewuaso Enkindong'i), Peter Tirishe (Mosiro) also moved.
The nominated MCAs now backing Lenku are Elizabeth Kibor, Josephine Sharar, Rebecca Supeyo, Jacqueline Lalaito and Patricia Mbaria.
The Lenku camp also gained from ODM and Wiper MCAs.
Other Lenku allies who were ahead in the race for Jubilee tickets but will get ODM tickets are Moses Konana and Sakimpa Parashina for Kajiado West and Kajiado South parliamentary aspirants.
Lewuantai Lemomo (Kuku ward), Joseph Kasaine (Kimana), Isaac Kiresian (Magadi ), Jenipher Moinkett, Priscilla Sailepu, Purity Sein (woman representative) and Brian Sekento (senate).
Waichanguru said the haemorrhage in Jubilee was caused by some party officials who allowed vested personal interest to take precedence of building the party.
“Most of the Jubilee aspirants had paid up because they are the governor's allies and were in his lineup. Their rivals had feared paying in Jubilee. Now the party will not have candidates or have to field leftovers,” Waichanguru said.
Moipai said it was an operation gone awry for party officials trying to bring in their friends to oust popular candidates in preparation for the 2027 elections.
Lenku promised to deliver 20 of the 25 MCA seats in the county.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris