Karachuonyo MP's home under 24-hour guard after defection to Jubilee

Police have been deployed to the rural home of Karachuonyo MP James Rege after his defection from ODM to the Jubilee Party on Saturday.

Mr Rege’s home has remained under 24-hour police guard since Saturday night soon after he was reported to have abandoned ODM, which sponsored him to Parliament in 2013.

Mr Rege was the only ODM lawmaker from party leader Raila Odinga's bedrock of Nyanza who was introduced by Deputy President William Ruto during the launch of the Jubilee Party at the Kasarani Safaricom Stadium as having defected.

Also defecting were Gideon Mungaro (Kilifi North), Mohammed Abass (Ijara), Zainab Chidzuga (Kilifi), Mustapha Idd (Kilifi South), Masoud Mwahima (Likoni) and Mpuri Aburi (Tigania East).

Others were Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), John Waluke (Sirisia), Stephen Kariuki (Mathare), Protus Akuja (Loima), Isaac Mwaura (nominated), Cyprian Iringo (Igembe Central) and Samwel Arama (Nakuru Town).

Homa Bay County Police Commander John Omusanga confirmed that officers had been sent to the home of the legislator following his request.

"The honourable MP called and requested that we provide his rural home protection and since our role is to protect life and property, we had to oblige," he added.

Sources revealed that soon after Mr Rege's defection was announced by the Deputy President during the event that was televised live, a group of young people chanting ODM slogans threatened to set the MP's home ablaze.

The youths, however, dispersed on seeing police officers at the home.

On Monday, some police officers guarding the MP’s home also launched a major operation in the area and made several arrests.

Most of those arrested were found drinking at chang’aa (liquor) dens.

Mr Odinga enjoys massive support in his backyard of Nyanza.

Last Thursday, police in Homa Bay arrested 39 youths linked to an incident on Wednesday when a billboard belonging to the Jubilee Party was set ablaze in town.

The heavily armed officers, a majority of them in plain clothes, swung into action and rounded up the youths at the Homa Bay bus park.

Meanwhile, the local ODM branch has recommended the immediate expulsion of Mr Rege from ODM following his defection.

In a statement read to the press by branch secretary Francis Randiaga Ogola, the delegates sent their apologies on behalf of the people of Karachuonyo for the "embarrassment" caused by Mr Rege.

"We sincerely apologise to you party leader because the MP defected as an individual since he didn't have our mandate," they said.

The delegates urged the party headquarters to ratify their proposal and facilitate a by-election in Karachuonyo.