Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo has officially joined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
His entry to the ruling party comes two weeks after President William Ruto visited Isiolo for an interdenominational church.
This was his first visit to the region since he won the presidency last year.
This is a big blow to former President Uhuru Kenyatta as Guyo was the only Jubilee elected Governor in the August 2022 general elections.
Guyo's official entry to UDA was officiated by the party’s Secretary General Cleophas Malala on Friday , who has made it his responsibility to increase the membership countrywide.
“On behalf of my party leader, the President, I would like to welcome the governor to the party officially. He has joined with his deputy,” Malala said to a cheering crowd.
Also joining UDA was Isiolo Deputy Governor James Lowasa, County assembly Speaker Mohammed Roba Qoto and the Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) chairman Hassan Galma among others.
Guyo had earlier vowed he will soon be joining the United Democratic Alliance party.
"We are not joining Kenya Kwanza but joining UDA which has you, President William Ruto as its party leader," he said then.
Governor Guyo made his commitment to the UDA party and promised to work tirelessly toward the advancement of Isiolo County.
“I want to emphasize the need for unity and cooperation among party members to ensure the county's progress under the leadership of President William Ruto,” he said.
UDA’s Secretary General, Malala highlighted the party's ongoing recruitment and registration drive at the grassroots level.
He stated that the goal was to have approximately 15 million registered voters for the ruling party by the year 2027.
The former Kakamega Senator further emphasized that the recruitment process would ensure genuine party officials who had been nominated by registered party members at the grassroots level.
"We want to ensure that by August this year, our party will conduct elections from the ward level up to the county level so that we can have genuine UDA officials who will represent Isiolo County at the National Delegate conference," Malala added.
He also assured the newly recruited members that the party would accommodate them and urged the pioneers to work closely with them to strengthen the UDA. The party aims to build a formidable force that can effectively address the needs and aspirations of the people of Isiolo County.
Also in attendance were UDA political leaders from Marsabit and Tanariver , Isiolo County Women Representative Mumina Bonaya, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Rehema Jaldesa and Isiolo county assembly members.
