3 ODM Leaders Abandon Raila, Join Jubilee

Three top Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders on Monday ditched the Party and declared support for President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election.

Former Narok governor aspirant Tiampati Ole Musuni along with two former MP aspirants, Rebecca Tonkei and Alfred Keriolale, were officially received at State House by the President and his deputy William Ruto.

"What is important to me is that now Narok leaders who were political rivals have decided to put politics aside and in a very mature manner join hands and work together for the benefit of the electorate," President Kenyatta stated.

The President further sanitised the move by the three, who have now abandoned their party leader Raila Odinga, by asserting that shifting political alliances is permissible for the benefit of the electorate.

"This proves that their main aim was not to get positions to advance their personal interests but to work for the welfare of the people of Narok.

"Politics is competition but not enmity and after a political contest, leaders should be able to work together to serve Kenyans," Kenyatta stated.

Narok Governor Samuel Tunai assured the President that the three were the pillars of ODM in the region and their defection means the county is firmly supporting his re-election.

The move comes amid threats from politicians within the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition who are agitating for a split.

The leaders from Mombasa and Kilifi counties have threatened to join Jubilee unless the party bosses of Wiper, ANC and Ford Kenya revisit terms of engagement with coalition leader Raila Odinga.

Read More: NASA Leaders Threaten to Join Jubilee