Ruto victory reignites political fortunes of ANC’s Mudavadi
Deputy President William Ruto’s victory has reignited the political fortunes of Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi.
The former Vice-President, alongside Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetangula, joined forces with Ruto to found Kenya Kwanza Alliance which caused a major furore in his party leading to the exit of some of his closest allies.
He was promised the position of Prime Cabinet Minister, and 30 per cent of positions in Ruto’s government together with Wetangula who was also allocated the post of Senate Speaker.
A section of political analysts from the Luhya Community were however yesterday divided over whether the victory would resuscitate Mudavadi’s political fortunes.
Martin Andati, a senior analyst says Ruto victory places Musalia in a prime position within the community’s standing.
“It is a big thing for him. He workde hard to deliver the sizeable number of votes that made the difference in the Ruto win. However, he has to use his influence as the highest ranking Luhya personality in the new government,” said Andati.
“It is a major score for him because it would have been disastrous if Ruto lost. But we shall see if Ruto fulfils his pledges especially after he failed to deliver 70 per cent of the Western region votes in the August 9 elections,” said Desterio Okumu, an analyst from the city.
Fred Wesonga, another analyst, said the DP’s win could propel Mudavadi back to his stature as the Luhya political supremo.
“Musalia had of late been eclipsed by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who was now regarded as the Luhya spokesman, particularly after being promised the position of Treasury CS in a would have-been Azimio-One Kenya Alliance government. But this seems to have now faded away,” he said. Focus is also on the Kakamega governorship seat whose result some analysts had said would depend on the outcome of the presidential contest.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malalah said yesterday that Ruto’s victory was a big boost to his bid to succeed Oparanya.“It is definitely going to boost my campaigns because our people want to be in government,” he said while he following the event on television at his Milimani home in Kakamega town.
But the Azimio candidate Fernandes Barasa dismissed the remarks as laughable saying he had enough machinery and goodwill to clinch the seat in elections slated for Tuesday, August 23.
“I am not scared at all and will hand Cleo defeat very early in the morning. Was Oparanya in government? Our people will get what they deserve as a county in line with the constitution no matter who sits in Nairobi as President,” he told the People Daily on phone.
