MPs perfecting party hopping tactics

As the General Election draws closer, politicians are positioning themselves with an eye on remaining relevant in the next dispensation.

To do this, they have perfected the old art of party hopping to avoid being relegated to the political dustbin. The season of defections is with us.

The defections are informed by regional, nay, tribal considerations where politicians must be seen as singing praises of a tribal chieftain lest they lose favour with the electorate.

As such, politicians from central Kenya are coalescing around Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and those from western province around Musalia Mudavadi.

Those resisting ethnic bandwagon have been receiving threats and intimidation from cheerleaders. They are "enemies" of "our people".

In this group, you will find Gichugu MP Martha Karua, Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and former Kabete MP Paul Muite.

The three, who hail from central Kenya, have refused to pledge blind loyalty to Mr Kenyatta with Ms Karua and Mr Kenneth stating they are in the race to succeed President Mwai Kibaki.

A host of MPs who entered Parliament on the Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket have ditched the party and are waiting for Mr Kenyatta's choice of political vehicle to cross the floor. Already, Mr Kenyatta has left Kanu, which sponsored him to Parliament and is now associated with The National Alliance.

In Western province, tens of MPs have declared their support for Sabatia MP Musalia Mudavadi, who joined United Democratic Forum party.

Eldoret North MP William Ruto ditched ODM for a brief stint in the United Democratic Movement (UDM).

He has since moved to the United Republican Party (URP). Inevitably, Rift MPs have jumped ship on both occasions.

All these defections have taken place despite the stringent measures laid out in the Political Parties Act.

Section 14 of the Act provides that any person who while being a member of a political party falls out with the party shall be deemed to have resigned from the previous political party.

The Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndungu has been unable to rein in the defectors.

The practice of party hoping is not new in Kenyan politics and goes back to the introduction of multi-party politics prior to the 1992 elections.

Below is a list of some MPs who have declared their affiliation to another party other than the one which sponsored them to Parliament.