7 Kiambu MCAs defect to NASA ahead of Raila’s visit to the county.

NASA leader Raila Odinga addressing the press after he received a delegation of Kiambu politicians who defected from Jubilee Party at ODM offices in Nairobi on Monday morning.

13 Jubilee Party politicians from Kiambu County, 7 among them sitting MCAs at the current assembly have defected to the National Super Alliance (NASA).

The group was received by NASA leader Raila Odinga received the delegation at ODM offices in Nairobi on Monday morning ahead of NASA’s tour to the county today.

Among the MCAs who defected are drawn from Thika, Juja, Kiambu and Limuru who include Mr. George Gitau (Juja) and Ms. Mary Muigai who is running for Limuru Central Ward on an ODM ticket as read out by Mr. Michael Rubia who is NASA’s coordinator in Central Kenya.

Speakers at the media conference in Lavington expressed concern at the disparities between the rich and poor in Central Kenya, which they said was widening despite the Jubilee government's promises to improve conditions for the poor. They also described the tough fortunes of small businesses and lamented that a cartel in the milk sector was robbing farmers of their valuable produce.

When she welcomed the defectors to NASA, Ms. Mary Muigai said that it was better to walk with spray scented individuals in order to smell nice and promised to work with Mr. Odinga.

Gitau on his part said Odinga was welcome in Kiambu to lead them and show the way as father does to his children. He requested him to raise concern to the issue of tittle deeds on the behalf of the people of Juja. He dismissed the claims that they have been paid to in order to support NASA.

Raila said NASA will be starting a new journey that has never been witnessed before in the past political regimes in Kenya adding that NASA was the solution to deal with Jubilee which he termed as the problem of Kiambu people.

He said they were focused on removing ‘KANU regime’ out of power because it has been ruling indirectly in previous governments although it was removed from power in 2002.

“Wakati wa mabadiliko ni sasa (it is time for change). NASA will campaign in Kiambu, Murang’a and Nyeri since we represent the face of Kenya. Our message to Kiambu residents; NASA is the solution to your problems and Jubilee is the problem to the solution.”

He also appealed to the people of Kiambu that they should unite with other tribes because every tribe plays a vital role during the fighting for the country’s independence.

He also expressed optimism that the NASA team will form the next government in the upcoming elections, warning Jubilee that things have changed and therefore UhuRuto will be sent home by the electorates on August 8.

Meanwhile, Kiambu County Assembly speaker Hon. Gathii Irungu has downplayed the impact of the alleged defection saying that the MCAs have not officially tendered their resignation.

“I have not received any formal letter of resignation from any one of them but once they do, I will take the necessary step as per the law to make sure they cease to be members of this assembly. 

Otherwise, this number (7) is a very small fraction of the MCAs we have (88) and it doesn’t affect our support for President Uhuru Kenyatta,” said the speaker.

He added that the defectors’ resolve was personal and had no ripple effect to the general mood in the county.