The race for the Machakos gubernatorial seat has taken a new turn after Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) party secretary general Phillipe Sadja endorsed Wiper's Wavinya Ndeti.
It is a huge blow for CCU leader and former State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita, who is seeking to succeed Dr Alfred Mutua.
On Wednesday, elated Wavinya claimed that Salja and the other CCU officials had defected to the Kalonzo Musyoka-led party.
"We sincerely thank CCU Secretary General - Phillipe Sadja and the Party Officials for decamping to our side. Indeed today is monumental. We are winning big," Wavinya.
The defectors including Deputy governor Francis Maliti were officially received by the Wiper party leader.
With just under a fortnight to the August 9 polls, the Machakos County race has been marred with defections. Leading the exit pack was Maliti's running mate Rose Wambua who stepped down from the race.
Wambua decamped to CCU and officially announced her support for Waita. Her defection meant that Maliti would run for county boss without a deputy but this too became a non-reality.
The Maendeleo Chap Chap candidate announced that he had dropped out from the race, consequently endorsing the former Chief Administrative Secretary.
It is a big headache for the Azimio bosses, as Raila Odinga struggles to tame sibling rivalry, as neither Waita nor Wavinya is willing to blink first.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the chair of the coalition's council, has decided to keep off the battle pitching his former Chief of Staff and CAS.
Meanwhile, Deputy President William Ruto's UDA is looking to capitalize on the in-house wars in Azimio which they hope will work in favour of its candidate Johnstone Muthama, a former Senator.
The fourth candidate seeking to replace Dr Mutua is Rose Mulwa of the Empowerment and Liberation Party (ELP).
