Bahati MP Irene Njoki ditches Jubilee Party to join UDA

It is now official that Irene Njoki, the Bahati MP, has ditched the Jubilee party for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

The MP intends to defend her seat on the ruling party ticket after she formally registered and listed in the UDA aspirants list.

In her new outfit, she will have to battle it out for the party ticket against Samuel Mburu Kamau.

Her predecessor Kimani Ngunjiri had served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for 10 years.

In the 2022 general election, Ngunjiri, who was a key ally to President Ruto and was seen as a favorite to win the election, was defeated by first-timer Irene Njoki, who garnered 34,308 votes against Ngunjiri’s 26,809 votes.

Her win in the previous general elections was especially unique after she managed to overcome the ‘yellow wave’ that engulfed most of the county after UDA managed to win most of the elective seats in the region.

For the better part of three years, her party has been a formidable opposition force against the current regime, calling out the President William Ruto at each and every turn on various issues from corruption to the high cost of living.

However, on her part, she cozied up to the current regime and chose to work with the government of the day.

In a public forum, she attributed the fact that working closely with the government is what has helped her to bring substantive development to the people of Bahati.

“Do not think that the fact I was chosen with Jubilee means I am not in government, I am working with the government and that is why we have been able to bring this development here in Bahati,” she stated.

Her move to UDA now leaves Nakuru with only one Jubilee party legislator in the name of Samuel Arama.

The game of politics is usually said to be purely based on interests, just as Irene was warming up to the ruling party, Jayne Kihara, the Naivasha MP, was on her way out.

Following the impeachment of Gachagua, the Naivasha legislator, who is currently serving her third term, aligned herself with him.

Over the past year, since she aligned herself with the opposition party, she has found herself making news headlines.

From being arrested and taken to Nairobi to face charges, to police blocking the main road leading to her home. During previous interviews with Mtaa Wangu she termed this as a witch hunt with the government trying to persecute her for joining the opposition.

In an act of defiance, she has shunned attending presidential functions, even those being hosted in her backyard, and instead she has been seen in the company of Rigathi Gachagua, even organizing rallies in various parts of Naivasha.

The latest one was on February 8 at Kinamba area in Naivasha Constituency.