A key ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga from the Rift Valley region, Micah Kigen, has defected to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
His defection was announced by the party on Tuesday after he was received by Secretary General Hassan Omar and National Treasurer Japheth Nyakundi at UDA headquarters.
Kigen has for a long time been a close confidant of the former Prime Minister.
He also served as the chairman of the Orange party in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Kigen had unsuccessfully vied for the Keiyo South Parliamentary seat on the Orange Democratic Movement party several times.
Omar in his address insisted that what Kigen had done is the desire of President William Ruto, which is to have leaders who listen to the people and do what they ask.
"I welcome you to UDA my brother Micah Kigen. I want to state that it is President William Ruto's desire that we listen to Kenyans, pay attention to Kenyans' issues of concern and address those issues Kenyans are raising," he said.
UDA Treasurer Nyakundi urged Kigen and the leaders who had accompanied him to the occasion to always be good ambassadors of the party and President William Ruto.
Kigen was flanked by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang, Woman Representative Carolyn Ng'elechei and a host of sitting and former Members of County Assembly (MCAs).
This comes even as more political shifts and realignments are expected to take shape in the coming weeks, especially in the Mt Kenya region.
The region is currently at crossroads over to follow as their leader following the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and subsequent appointment of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as the new Deputy President.
Kindiki is yet to take his oath of office due to the ongoing court cases and already the realignments are already visible.
Analysts say the realignments are also expected to be seen in Raila's strongholds as well, owing to his working arrangement with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
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