Kwale Governor Mvurya ditches ODM for Jubilee

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya has announced his defection from Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to Jubilee.

Mvurya has for some time shown signs of shifting political posts leading to public condemnation from fellow governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Amason Kingi (Kilifi).

His defection deals a blow to ODM, which has so far lost a number of leaders from the region to Jubilee including Kwale Women representative Zainab Chidzuga, MPs Gideon Mungaro (Kilifi North), Salim Idd Mustafa (Kilifi South), Masoud Mwahima (Likoni) and Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga) among others.

Speaking on Saturday, Mvurya confirmed his next political destination by declaring that he would support President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in the 2017 elections to ensure they are re-elected.

Governor Mvurya said the politics of Kwale have changed, with the realisation that President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto are the people who are supporting the county on its development agenda and not the opposition.

“And in the next General Election, we have said we will vote for those who have stood with us and supported our development agenda,” the governor said.

His move was supported by DP Ruto, who urged Coast residents to support Jubilee in the next elections.

Mvurya’s pronouncement comes just two weeks after ODM leader Raila Odinga threw his weight behind Mvurya during his tour of Kwale County.

Raila said that Mvurya had proved that devolution works saying his development record is commendable after his county was named the best spending in the country.

Political temperatures have been high in Kwale within internal wrangles between two factions wreaking havoc in the party’s position in the county.

During Raila’s visit, supremacy battles between a faction led by Governor Mvurya and another led by Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori played out with a Mombasa governor Hassan Joho’s influence on the matter also visible.

Joho has accused Mvurya of not supporting ODM candidate Willy Mtengo in Malindi by-election in March and unwillingness to support the party’s cause.

@benjaminwafula