UDM leaders defect to Kenya Kwanza
Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition has suffered a major blow after 12 United Democratic Movement (UDM) elected leaders defected to President-elect William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza alliance.
The leaders met with Ruto on Thursday, August 18, and pledged to give him support as he prepares to form the next government.
"We salute the United Democratic Movement (UDM) leadership for abandoning Azimio La Umoja and joining Kenya Kwanza.
"UDM Party Leader and Mandera Senator-Elect Ali Roba, Deputy Party Leader and Marsabit Governor-Elect Mohamud Ali, and Mandera Governor-Elect Mohamed Adan Khalif were present at the Karen Residence, Nairobi County," Ruto said shortly after meeting the leaders.
Others in the meeting were Deputy Governor-elect Mandera Ali Maalim, Wajir Senator-elect Abbas Sheikh, MPs Umulkheir Kassim (Mandera), Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North), Kullow Hassan (Banisa), Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), Mangale Munga Chiforomodo (Lunga Lunga), AbdulEnrahim Haro (Mandera South) and Adan Haji (Mandera West).
This comes a day after Azimio's presidential running mate Martha Karua said the coalition had won several seats in the National Assembly.
Before the defections, Azimio had 162 members in both Houses of parliament against Kenya Kwanza's 159.
"Our figures show that we command the National Assembly. Our competitors are up by one in the Senate, but we command the National Assembly. We will meet to execute how we will carry out our mandate," Karua said during a press conference at KICC on Wednesday, August 17.
Independent MPs defect to Kenya Kwanza
This is the second time Ruto is receiving new MPs to his camp after welcoming 10 out of 12 independent legislators on Wednesday.
Defection to Ruto's camp is happening even as Azimio prepares to head to court to challenge Ruto's victory in the August 9 presidential election.
Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga termed IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati's declaration of Ruto as President-elect null and void.
One of the grounds of his rejection of the vote was the disagreement that rocked the electoral commission just before Chebukati announced the winners.
Four of the seven commissioners rejected the results on Monday saying the last phase of counting and tallying had been opaque.
Raila’s rejection of the results came even as Chebukati on Tuesday gazetted Ruto and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua, as President-elect and Deputy President-elect respectively.
Vowing to fight the results, Raila said: “The figures announced by Chebukati are null and void and must be quashed by a court of law. In our view, there is neither a legally and validly declared winner nor a president-elect. Mr Chebukati’s announcement purporting to announce a winner is a nullity.”
He also thanked his supporters for remaining peaceful as he and other Azimio leaders prepared to challenge the results.
He said that Chebukati had acted with gross impunity and in total disregard of the Constitution and the laws, adding that he could have plunged the country into chaos had Azimio supporters not exercised restraint.
