ODM Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh is among Members of Parliament set to defect to The National Alliance (TNA) party, The Standard has learnt.
Shebesh was among 35 MPs allied to TNA who attended the party’s two-day retreat held at the Great Rift Resort in Naivasha chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.
Shebesh, who has been a strong defender of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, sent the clearest indication that she could be ditching ODM for TNA when she joined TNA members for the retreat, raising eyebrows over her attendance.
But sources attending the meeting told The Standard that Shebesh had already crossed over to TNA and was just in ODM technically.
“She joined TNA a long time ago, her support for ODM is just technical because of maintaining her parliamentary seat but otherwise her entire soul is in TNA, which she wants to use to run for a seat in Nairobi,” added the source who preferred anonymity.
But efforts to get a comment from the ODM legislator prove fruitless with calls to her mobile phone going unanswered.
Raised funds
During the meeting, those present raised over Sh30m to run the party where it was agreed that the people should own the party.
The source added that the party had prepared a major ceremony where some legislators would officially defect.
Contacted, Naivasha MP John Mututho, who was present, said the meeting was set to lay strategies for the General Election.
He said the meeting was meant to set standards for aspirants, discuss party rules and address the elections rules. “We had a good meeting and some MPs from others parties are set to join TNA as the party prepares for the coming elections,” he said.
Mututho was, however, coy about discussing those who would be defecting, but was quick to note that talks were underway for MPs from PNU and ODM to join the party.
The sentiments were echoed by Roads Assistant Minister Lee Kinyanjui, who confirmed the pending defections. “At the moment I don’t have the numbers but in the course of this week you will see MPs leaving their parties for TNA,” he told The Standard on telephone.
The Nakuru MP said the workshop had discussed the issue of recruitment and the just ended by-elections where TNA bagged two of the three parliamentary seats. “We discussed various issues including party recruitment, national campaigns and working with other parties,” he said.
Source:standardmedia.co.ke