Deputy President William Ruto has been dealt a huge blow in his quest to win the Western region votes after one of his influential lieutenants ditched his camp.
Hamisi Constituency MP Charles Gimose has defected from DP Ruto's Tanga Tanga camp and declared allegiance to the ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi.
According to a report by Taifa Leo, the MP stated that he is back at the ANC party because the outfit is his home.
"Nilikuwa nimeenda tu kuwalisha mifugo. Nimerejea nyumbani. Ng’ombe wakipelekwa malishoni, hurejea nyumbani (I had gone to feed the livestock. I am back home. When cows are taken to graze they don't stay there but come back home)," he said.
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Gimose, who was elected on the Ford Kenya party ticket in the 2017 polls, is expected to bolster Mudavadi's presidential ambitions.
Hamisi Constituency being in Vihiga county where it is perceived to be the political bedrock of Mudavadi could have played a role in the MP's defection.
The development comes barely a month after Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi announced that he will support the ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Maangi, who was perceived to be DP Ruto's footsoldier in the Kisii region, called it quits at the DP's camp over claims of the DP endorsing Former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara for UDA party ticket in the gubernatorial race that he is equally eyeing.
Before Maangi made public his political stand, he started by missing DP Ruto's rally in the Kisii region.
His absence sparked fears which were confirmed with his attendance at Raila's Azimio La Umoja National Convention at Kasarani Stadium on December 10.
It is from there that he later met the ODM leader Raila who officially welcomed him to the party.
