Anxiety in CORD as politicians plot to defect to Jubilee

Karachuonyo MP James Rege

NAIROBI: Some ODM MPs have publicly declared they will join Jubilee Party, as Orange party leaders dismissed the planned defections as inconsequential.

Anxiety has gripped the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) following National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale's claim that 40 members of the coalition, including 35 MPs and five governors, are set to join Jubilee Party during its launch on Saturday.

In Nyanza, Karachuonyo MP James Rege confirmed that he is among the 35 MPs set to defect to Jubilee, amid speculations the Orange Party could lose some of its members from the region, especially from the Abagusii region where a number of leaders have been making frequent visits to State House.

Rege who has been in bad books with the ODM leadership yesterday said he will be attending the unveiling of the new Jubilee Party and will either defend his seat or go for the Homa Bay gubernatorial position on a Jubilee Party ticket.

The legislator parted ways with the ODM leadership last year after he drummed up support for Phillip Okundi for the Homa Bay senatorial by-election against the party's candidate Moses Kajwang'.

And already over 17 MPs from the Coast led by Kilifi North MP Gedion Mung'aro have confirmed that they will be joining JP in Nairobi on that day.