Maragua Member of Parliament (MP), Mary wa Maua on Wednesday, February 16, defected to Deputy William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) from the Azimio la Umoja movement.
Wamaua announced her defection while she hosted Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza counterparts, Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart, Moses Wetangula at the Kimomori ground in Maragua, Murang'a County.
The MP revealed that the residents of Maragua piled pressure on her to join the DP's camp and that she had to yield to their demands.
"Your excellency, the people of Maragua gave me sleepless nights. They kept on pressuring me to join your camp and I have yielded. I told them that wherever they would go, I would go and that their president will be my president," Wamaua stated.
Her move was welcomed by UDA politicians, who noted that she had been lost and had come back home. In addition, 10 Members of the County Assembly (MCA) from the ruling party, Jubilee,were also welcomed to UDA.
The MP grabbed headlines after she was caught up in the chaos during the launch of the Azimio la Umoja at the Kasarani Sports Stadium.
The legislator was roughed up by security personnel as she made her way into the event presided over by Raila Odinga.
At the time of the incident, she had sent mixed political signals on her political affiliation after hosting Ruto in her constituency.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), through Secretary General Edwin Sifuna issued an apology to the MP. However, he noted that the fracas witnessed was because she failed to communicate with the organizing committee that she would attend.
"This regrettable incident could have been avoided if only she let us know in advance that she would be joining us. We have received dozens of defectors from UDA before, but with prior arrangements to ensure their intention is not misunderstood," Sifuna stated.
In the aftermath of the scuffle, she appeared to have let go of the matter and had been supporting the Azimio coalition - including in the National Assembly's vote on the Political Parties Amendment Bill.
