Over 50 politicians defect to Uhuru’s party

By Edwin Makiche

The National Alliance Party got a boost in Kericho this week when more than 50 local leaders defected from their parties to join it.

Led by former Kericho Municipal council mayor Samuel Rugut and ODM Kericho county youth leader Hillary Cheruiyot, they claimed TNA’s popularity and its national outlook was the main reason for joining the Uhuru Kenyatta led party.

Rugut, who decamped from UDF where he was Kericho county chairman, said the recent opinion polls that put Uhuru at 30 per cent was a pointer on where the country was headed.

He hit out at UDF saying the party lacked proper structures and that the national office had ignored recommendations from grassroot leaders.

“We are frustrated by the apparent negligence by the national office. We have been giving ideas on how the party can be rejuvenated, but no one listens to us,’’ Rugut said.

Cheruiyot, who led defectors from ODM, claimed that the Orange party had neglected them.