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Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has been dealt a huge blow after a section of leaders in the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) party defected to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

The politicians, including former Kilifi County Assembly Members (MCAs), were welcomed back to ODM by the party leader Raila Odinga at Chungwa House on Thursday, January 18, 2024.

The opposition chief expressed his delight as the politicians defected to ODM two years after their exit.

“It’s been a fantastic day at Chungwa House as PAA leaders, including ex-Kilifi MCAs, rejoined The ODM Party after a two-year hiatus. I stressed our party’s emphasis on people-centred leadership. They’ve offered their support and willingness to participate in the ongoing recruitment drive in Kilifi. Karibuni Nyumbani,” Raila said in a social media post.

Kingi registered PAA at the height of the 2022 succession politics, stating that the outfit would bring on board politicians from the Coastal region in a bid to have a big voice in the 2022 polls.

The move saw the former governor kicked out as chairperson of the ODM party in Kilifi County.

The former Kilifi county boss later ditched Raila’s Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition to join forces with then Deputy President William Ruto of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance in May 2022.

Kingi led his troops out of the Raila-led political formation, citing dishonesty. He accused Jubilee, ODM and Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper of bulldozing their way against other fringe parties in the coalition.

The last-minute deal with Ruto saw Kingi fronted for the Senate Speaker post after the Kenya Kwanza leader secured victory in the August 2022 presidential election.

However, while addressing the ODM delegation at Chungwa House on Thursday, Youth Leader Sammy Nyundo stated that his colleagues were not consulted in Kingi’s decision to defect to Kenya Kwanza.

“We were never involved in the decision and that is why we have decided to come back home,” Nyundo stated.

ANC leaders defect to ODM

On Tuesday, Raila also welcomed a section of defectors from various political parties in the country as he seeks to solidify the party’s support ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The defectors led by former woman rep candidate Violet Bagada were from the Amani National Congress party (ANC), the National Agenda Party of Kenya (NAPK) and the United Democratic Party (UDP).

ANC was founded by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and is one of the members of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.