Mr. Geoffrey Nasioli (with white cap) the  Kakamega  county party coordinator addressing UDFP followers at the Lumakanda township grounds. Photo I Joseph Amunya

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s bid for the presidency received a boost when several officials and members affiliated to ODM and other parties in the Lugari constituency decamped to United Democratic Front Party (UDFP).

Led by Lugari County Council chairperson Mr. David Amaswache, about 200 members mainly from ODM announced that they had formally defected to UDF and vowed to support Mudavadi’s match to state house.

Praising Mudavadi’s declaration for the country’s topmost seat most of the defectors said that it was long overdue, adding that the move will now unite residents living in western province.

They appealed to other presidential contenders from the province including Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Eugene Wamalwa and his Trade counterpart Moses Wetangula to shelve their ambitions and instead support Mudavadi.

Several aspirants for Lugari’s youth, women, civic and parliamentary seats were present at the function with each of them promising to seek UDF’s ticket.

The defectors were received by UDF interim officials from Kakamega County headquarters led by Mr. Geoffrey Nasioli, the party’s county coordinator.

Other officials included Tony Maleche and Raphael Welimo as the county’s Organizing Secretary and Executive Secretary respectively.

Nasioli urged area residents to massively join and seek UDF membership in order to strengthen Mudavadi’s grassroots support.

He added that the party will soon launch a rigorous process for recruiting members across all the 47 counties before holding its national elections in August.

Subsequently, over the weekend, Mumias mp Ben Washiali backed DPM Musalia Mudavadi for the top seat accusing the PM of condoning corruption by failing to sack the Minister for Medical Services Prof Anyang Nyong’o over the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) saga.

“We expected the PM to take stern action against the Minister instead of letting him off the hook and dissolving the NHIF board, said Washiali adding that the move is a clear indication Mr Odinga was sympathetic to corrupt individuals.

 He explained the matter was not a party issue and demanded that Prof  Nyong’o be held accountable for the scandal that could lead to disappearance of huge sums of money that belong to the taxpayers.

 “I have decided that I will support Mudavadi because he is one man who does not know tribalism and can ensure equity and equality in distribution of resources,” he said.

 However, the legislature said he will not resign as the deputy chief whip in parliament unless the PM expels him.