The United Democratic Movement (UDM), an affiliate of the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance, has suffered a major blow in Ugunja Constituency, Siaya County, after a section of members exited the party.

The members of UDM announced Saturday, April 6 that they were joining the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the most dominant political outfit in the region.

Speaking at the ODM Party offices in Sidindi town, the defectors, led by Jacob Odhiambo Odipo and Henry Oluoch said they were forced to leave the ruling coalition on the realization that it was full of empty promises.

They said that they were tired of persistent promises by the top party officials who, they said, were only eloquent in public speech but failed to actualize their promises hence giving them a hard time with the people at the grassroots.

Addressing the occasion, ODM’s Ugunja Constituency Youth Leader Sylvester Owino said the branch was committed to ensuring that all those who ditched the party for one reason or the other are brought back ahead of the party elections.

Owino said that the Ugunja ODM branch had registered 2,000 new members, bringing to a total of 32,800 party members.

Ugunja ODM branch chairman Jerim Okoth welcomed all Kenyans to ODM.