President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party has suffered a setback after some of its members defected to the Kenya African National Union (KANU) on March 1.
The defectors, who are from Trans Nzoia county, cited fears of bias in the upcoming party nominations as their reason for leaving. They were led by Diana Muyoka Lukosi, a senatorial aspirant in the county.
According to Pius arap Kauka, KANU's interim chairman in Trans Nzoia, the move is a boost for the party as it seeks to establish itself in the region. As quoted by Nation, Kauka stated, "The move by the defectors to come to KANU shows that they have trust in our ideals. We are not going to be lightweights like our opponents think."
The defections come a week after KANU declared its support for President Uhuru's re-election in the August 8 polls, following a meeting between Uhuru and retired President Daniel Moi.
This development is part of a larger trend of defections from the Jubilee Party, with many members expressing concerns about favoritism by party top officials in the upcoming primaries.
The recovered account cited reporting by Tuko.
