When politicians change parties, the explanation is usually about principle, loyalty or the party's direction. Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has given a far more everyday reason for leaving President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) for Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP): the lack of milk on the market.
Karanja named the milk situation as one of the reasons behind her decision. It is an unusually specific grievance for a defection announcement, and it puts a household product at the center of a political story that is normally told through power struggles and alliances.
Her move comes hours after Gathoni Wamuchomba announced she was leaving UDA to defend her position on another ticket. Both exits point to the Mt Kenya region, where UDA has been losing members to the DCP ahead of next year's general election.
What remains unclear is how much the milk complaint weighs against the other factors that typically drive such moves, and whether other leaders will cite similar concerns from their own constituencies.

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