The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has received a major blow after close to 170 grass root leaders ditched the party for Jubilee.
The members from Kwale County parted way with the Opposition on Wednesday at a time when President Uhuru Kenyatta is on a tour of the Coastal region.
While welcoming the defectors to Jubilee, Coast Coordinator Shila Shikoza stated that they were stepping up the bid to popularise the party in the region.
She affirmed that it was time to remove the notion that the Coastal region was predominantly aligned to the Opposition, adding that the leaders would now concentrate on working towards Kenyatta's re-election in the 2017 polls.
"We are also sensitising residents to register as voters so they can participate in the coming election. We want to remove the notion that this region is an opposition zone,” said Shikoza.
At the same time, the coordinator lauded area governor Salim Mvurya and Women Rep Zainab Chidzuga who have been instrumental in driving the Jubilee agenda in the region.
During the last polls, most of the Coastal leaders were elected on a CORD ticket but the ground has slowly been shifting.
Since the launch of Jubilee Party in September last year, the opposition, in particularly ODM, has lost a host of senior leaders from the region who have expressed their support for the ruling government.
