By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Silas Jakakimba, a former aide of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is now a member of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Jakakimba quit ODM a few months after the 2022 general elections.
There had been claims that he quit ODM to join the Kenya Kwanza side but for months, it was not yet official.
However, on Tuesday, UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala announced that Jakakimba had joined them.
In a statement, Malala said the party was delighted to welcome the former Raila aide.
“Jakakimba brings with him a wealth of experience, having served as a long-standing aide to the former Prime Minister,” the UDA Secretary-General said in part of the statement dated March 26, 2024.
“His decision to align himself with the UDA party is a testament to our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive political landscape in Kenya,” he added.
He further expressed confidence that Jakakimba’s decision to join them will be instrumental in advancing the UDA party’s agenda and strengthening its presence in the Nyanza region.
The former Raila aide also confirmed officially joining UDA in a separate statement shared on his verified X handle.
Jakamimba said his joining UDA affirms the party’s growing popularity in Nyanza and across the country. He is expected to vie for the Suba North MP seat on a UDA ticket in 2027.
“I intend to join the many Nyanza people who are now increasingly ready to mobilize and popularize and even contest elections on a UDA platform,” he said in part of the statement.
He also insisted that it was time Raila took a backseat on matters of Nyanza politics and instead focused on the continental issues.
“Jakom has done his bit locally, has had his chances and even within ODM, let alone Azimio, the discussion now is ‘who next?” Jakakimba added.
He now joins several other leaders in Nyanza who have openly declared their support for the Kenya Kwanza government.
Most of them are those who lost various seats during the 2022 general elections alongside the current elected leaders led by Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwour, his Ugenya counterpart David Ochieng and Kisumu Senator Prof Tom Ojienda.
