Fresh waves of high-profile defections are sweeping across major political parties driven by heightened apprehension over tickets awarded for favouritism and betrayal jitters.
Lifting the lid on the role of parties in elections, politicians are hedging their bets by reaching across the aisle to outfits that boasts of influence enabling them actualise their ambitions.
With weeks remaining before the parties conduct primaries or otherwise pick their candidates for the August 9 general elections, it is no longer business as usual as defections rock the boats.
There are fears that party-hopping could escalate in the coming days as politicians shop for new outfits that can guarantee them tickets without cutthroat competition.
Critically, politicians are strategically crossing over to parties that are friendly to the two main political coalitions shaping the presidential contest to ensure political correctness.
Raila Odinga’s ODM and President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee outfit are among major political parties grappling with mass defections.
The two parties, which are considered as the key pillars of the Azimio La Umoja Movement, have been hit by desertions as political aspirants find solace in affiliate outfits.
Azimio la Umoja is the machine driving Raila’s State House bid and has picked the former prime minister as its presidential flagbearer to face Deputy President William Ruto.
Both Azimio and Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance have been hit by not just intra-coalition defections but also inter-alliance movements as aspirants join new parties ahead of polls.
Analysts opine that the wind of defections will continue sweeping the political arena until May when the window for those seeking to run as independents closes.
The IEBC is set to register candidates from May 29 to June 9. Political parties have until April 22 to conduct nominations.
“Kenya is a free democracy and the market is open for movements across political parties, that will heighten in the coming weeks,” former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara said.
Magara, initially a key point man for Deputy President William Ruto in Kisii, defected from UDA where he was treasurer.
He has not declared his next home.
The new Political Parties Act, which stipulates tight nominations timeliness that constrict nomination losers from joining other parties, has precipitated the mad rush.
Aspirants are legally required to be members of the parties on whose ticket they intend to vie by March 26, officially opening the nominations window.
The Constitution stipulates that to run as an independent candidate, a person must not have been a member of a political party at least 90 days before the general election.
Aspirants who lose in nominations, under the current law, may opt to run as independents but not as flagbearers of other political parties.
However, the IEBC has proposed Parliament amend the Act to reduce the number of days for parties' submission of members' lists from 120 to 90 days.
The move, if approved by MPs, could lock out losers from running as independents.
The law currently requires parties to present party lists 90 days to the general election, while independent candidates have 120 days to submit their names to the IEBC.
Before then, politicians including heavyweights who have for decades been loyal to party leaders, are fighting for survival as nominations fears sweep parties.
On Wednesday, Kisii Senator Professor Sam Ongeri became the latest high-profile Raila ally to dump ODM for the Democratic Action party, an affiliate of Azimio la Umoja.
The DAP-K outfit, which is associated with Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, is an Azimio affiliate supporting Raila.
The senator said after "seeking the intervention of God", he realised that the "safest route” to his political career was through the DAP-K.
"In our democracy, everyone is allowed to join a political party of his choice, I have chosen DAP-K as the best vehicle for me to become Kisii governor," Ongeri said.
The veteran politician aims to succeed Governor James Ongwae and has been a loyal member of ODM but jitters over nomination forced him out.
Last week, former Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye defected from ODM and joined Jubilee to replace Governor Joseph Ole Lenku.
Lifting the lid on tickets fears, Kajiado North MP Joseph Manje said the decision was reached after the Nkedianye discovered he was "being played" by individuals in the party.
“We realised all was not going well in ODM and decided we should join Jubilee where we will meet Governor Lenku in the nominations,” Manje said.
Both Nkedianye and Lenku are staunch supporters of Azimio but will now face off in the Jubilee primaries.
The ODM party also suffered a big blow when East African Legislative Assembly MP Abdikadir Omar joined Ford Kenya.
Ford Kenya is an affiliate of the Kenya Kwanza alliance that supports Ruto.
Omar told the Star Ruto has the best interests of Northeastern at heart
“A leader must always be ready to champion the aspirations of his people. I wonder why some aspiring leaders from Northern Kenya are crowding themselves into Azimio. I left Azimio when I realised that they have no plans for this region,” Omar said.
The wind of defections has not spared Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC that has lost Vihiga MP George Khaniri to Cyrus Jirongo’s United Democratic Party.
The senator accused Mudavadi of deserting his allies when he joined Ruto’s camp without "robust consultations".
“It is not us leaving ANC, the party leader ran away with the party and went to a place where we cannot follow him,” Khaniri said.
Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba also quit Ford Kenya and joined UDA party as the wave of defections is hitting fever pitch.
The governor, who is exiting after two terms, was twice elected on the Ford Kenya ticket.
Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi who replaced Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata as Senate Majority Whip is the latest to ditch Jubilee for UDA.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Thursday morning, Wamatangi said UDA was the most popular party in his home county.
“I don’t have a problem with Jubilee. The people of Kiambu told me to move to UDA,” he said days after his surprise entry into Ruto' fold.
"I am not here to joy ride. I am here because this is the place that I need to be. I have talked with the women in the market, the youth in their jobs, and the men in their homes, and even with my own family.
"All of them told me UDA is the party I should join," he said.
Analysts argue that Kenya’s politics is notoriously deceitful and political parties are tools of convenience rather than instruments of advancing ideological beliefs.
The whirlwind of defections is expected to intensify after some political parties including ODM and UDA close their nomination deadlines ahead of their primaries next month.
Raila’s ODM party will next week start issuing direct party tickets to popular aspirants, a move that will shatter dreams of hundreds of aspirants.
ODM said it has finalised scientific opinion polls across the country and will issue certificates to aspirants with a wide lead.
However, where there are no clear favourites, the party will hold primaries.
Also to be issued with direct tickets are single applicants without competition.
(Edited by Graham)
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