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Amani National Congress leader, Mudavadi, allies divided on his election options

Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 05:00 | By
Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi has refuted claims that he is in talks with former NASA principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka to revive the political outfit.
Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi. PHOTO/Courtesy
Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi has refuted claims that he is in talks with former NASA principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka to revive the political outfit.

Amani National Congress chief Musalia Mudavadi is emerging as the most-sought after presidential aspirant with leaders in his party divided on whether he should support ODM boss Raila Odinga or Deputy President William Ruto.

 While Ruto, who was in Kakamega on Friday openly asked Mudavadi to work with him, leaders at Bukhungu rally told the ANC boss to join Raila’s Azimio train. 

Following the Ruto-Raila overtures, three groups have emerged in ANC with one insisting that he should go all the way to the ballot and others divided between the DP and Raila.

Some of the leaders are said to be strongly behind Mudavadi and insist he must be on the ballot while others are pushing for a deal between him and either Ruto or Raila. 

People Daily established yesterday that though they had not yet declared their positions publicly, others who were for a Mudavadi-Ruto alliance included Lurambi MP Titus Khamala and his Butere counterpart Tindi Mwale.

Khamala would not be reached for comment; however, Mwale could not deny that he was for a Ruto-Mudavadi candidacy. 

Running mate

“What will be Mudavadi’s position if he joins Raila? And what if Ruto picks him as his running-mate?” the MP posed.

“Because as a community we should settle for nothing less than the presidency or DP,” he added. 

The leaders engaged in blame-games with each claiming that millions had changed hands in the deals to either join ‘Hustlers’ or ‘Azimio’.

 Those pushing for him to run for presidency argue that he will be in a position to force a run-off after which he will negotiate a post-election deal.

Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi and Vihiga County Woman Rep Beatrice Adagala have said they will not be comprised to support Azimio or UDA but they are solidly behind Mudavadi. 

The two leaders, while speaking in various functions in Vihiga county yesterday, said they are supporting Mudavadi’s presidential ambitions without looking look back, saying the former deputy Premier has assured them that he will be on the ballot and is hopeful of winning elections.

 Agoi disclosed that Mudavadi may decide joint a political alliance if there will be a rerun for the presidential election.

 “We are fully supporting our party leader for the presidency. The push for Mudavadi to join Azimio or UDA is not there,” said Agoi.  

Better chance

He said it is time for Raila to be honourable enough and reciprocate by supporting Mudavadi, noting the ANC boss has sacrificed a lot for Raila.

But ANC deputy leader Ayub Savula, who defected to Azimio insisted that he will ensure Mudavadi supports Raila to ascend to power.

Savula said Mudavadi stands a better chance to take leadership of the country from Raila if he supports him fully to take it over from President Uhuru Kenyatta.

 “Mudavadi has no space in Ruto’s camp and even if the DP wins, he (Mudavadi) is not sure if Ruto will pass the baton to him, but in Raila’s camp we are 100 per cent sure Raila will pass the mantle to him,” said Savula.  Savula said he will initiate the discussion to ensure Mudavadi is not left in a political coldness as they go to the August polls.  Already, the DP’s United Democratic Alliance has formally written to both Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula in pre-election talks.

 Mudavadi’s former running-mate in the 2013 presidential race, Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa), now urges Mudavadi to team up with Raila, and not fall for Ruto’s seduction, adding that Mudavadi’s chances of surviving politically are higher if he joins hands with the former Premier.

“Mudavadi can go into any coalition (once the Political Parties Amendment Bill becomes law),” Kioni said on a local TV station during the morning breakfast show.

“But if he is swallowed by Ruto, then he will go into political oblivion. His side should be Azimio la Umoja,” Kioni charged.

Kioni said Mudavadi’s time to successfully run for president will come after Raila’s possible victory in 2022, adding that Mudavadi blew his chance of showing his political might when he skipped the Bukhungu II convention on Friday.

Pundits now argue that it is a dangerous time for Mudavadi to remain vegetative on the political scene.

Political analyst and High Court Advocate Dr Martin Oloo said the Bukhungu II meeting was a statement of both supporting the Azimio La Umoja and those opposed. “If Mudavadi does not come out clearly, it is going to dent his presidential stab. He has said that he is going all the way to the ballot yet his competitors are calling him to join them. He must come out very strongly, and the sooner he does that, the better and shows it with action or he loses traction,” said Oloo.

Mark Bichachi argued that Mudavadi is putting himself in a political corner by realising that he cannot raise the number needed to make a credible vie for presidency and that creating a third that would be united to create a run-off is seemingly unlikely.

“Why would he wait for there to be a run-off and negotiate for a position that you can get now. During a run-off, the deputy president position is already taken. Mudavadi is now in a corner and most likely, he might join Ruto. It is anyone’s game. One day in politics is long,” said Bichachi.

Up his stakes

Javas Bigambo argued that the ANC leader needs to up his stakes, scale-up his visibility and aggressively galvanise various regions to seek their support and votes, adding that it is for him to show his interest and seriousness of his bid.

“To be abandoned even by his deputy is denting. His silence robs him of the seriousness the race calls for,” says Bigambo.

Another political analyst, Dismas Mokua argued that Mudavadi has two options; dismantle the two-horse race narrative by re-positioning his presidential candidature or suspend his presidential interests and support either Ruto or Raila. Report by Enock Amukhale, Dennis Lumiti and Rawlings Otieno

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