Kilimo set to officially ditch Ruto for Uhuru

By VINCENT BARTOO

Marakwet East MP Linah Kilimo is set to decamp from the United Republican Party (URP).

Ms Kilimo had planned to officially announce her defection to The National Alliance (TNA) at a function in her constituency on Sunday, but cut it short after she was bereaved.

She had invited the media to Chesongoch in Marakwet East where she was to make the big announcement.

This is after she attended a TNA function in Nairobi on Friday where she and Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh were welcomed to the party.

Kilimo’s planned defection will deal a blow to URP, led by Eldoret North MP William Ruto, even as it celebrates snatching Sotik MP Joyce Laboso from ODM.

Speaking to The Standard, Kilimo expressed her reservations with URP, saying its recently concluded elections showed there were favourites in the party.

“My supporters feel that they no longer have hope in the party,” said the MP.

Marakwet East acting URP chairman Nicholas Serem claimed outsiders were picked as URP officials in last minute political machinations. “We feel very angry that after working for the party before the polls, we were unfairly edged out. It leaves us with no choice but to seek another home (party),” he said.

claims

Serem claimed some of those who were picked to be party torchbearers in Marakwet were local strategists of other parties.

“They work for URP during the day and at night they are working for their masters in ODM. It is no secret and the party leader (Ruto) should know this,” he said.

Kilimo said her next course of action politically was driven by the wishes of her constituents who put her under pressure to identify and join another political outfit.

“I will go as per the wishes of my people as I have always done before. I thank them for electing me for the last ten years irrespective of party considerations,” she said.