Mudavadi: I'm not compromise candidate

By Oscar ObonyoDeputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has reiterated he is his own man with clear goals and is not on the "speculative political market" for hire as anyone’s compromise candidate.
The deputy ODM leader’s sentiments follow proposals by some that he be fielded as party compromise candidate in next year’s presidential polls, following sustained hostility by the rival PNU directed at party leader, Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Highly placed PNU operatives have also reportedly made overtures to Mudavadi in what observers view as a move to pluck the Sabatia MP away from the PM.
"We need to build strong political parties not just as vehicles to propel us into leadership but as instruments of competitive developmental policies for the country. I belong to ODM and members will again make their choice in respect of the party nomination rules," says Mudavadi.
The DPM regrets that valuable time has been wasted "in trying to run one partner out of the coalition, yet the Constitution stipulates the contrary."
Below are excerpts of the interview:
QUESTION: What persuaded the party to join President Kibaki in a shared Government?
ANSWER: ODM did not "join a Kibaki Government" but rather we formed a mutual partnership with PNU affiliates that is officially the current constitutionally entrenched Coalition Government. We agreed to a coalition purely to re-ignite far reaching reforms now under way through a new Constitution. Further, we reasoned that the survival of the country was much more important than individual pursuit of power.
Q. Some have suggested ODM would have had better political prospects, had it rejected a coalition government. Comment.
A: I have no idea what better alternative prospects were available to ODM and PNU when the country was being stream-rolled into a civil war. I often wonder what ODM would have gained on the blood and graves of Kenyans by merely demanding that we won the elections?
Q. With 44 members, we have a rather bloated Cabinet. How was the figure arrived at and why did ODM play ball?
A: The ink cannot have dried on historical records that show ODM wanted a lean Cabinet of not more than 25. Remember formation of a Cabinet took quite a while to resolve on this matter of numbers. Our partner was in a political quandary to satisfy the interests of myriad PNU coalition parties. It was purely to satisfy the problem of our coalition partner that led to the expanded Cabinet.
Q. Initially, there were hitches in Government including protocol wars between the PM and
A: We had a new constitutional Office of the Prime Minister, who was an equal principal of the Coalition, and whose functions are overarching. As would happen in an experiment, it took a while for the realities of the new office to be appreciated and subsequent protocols developed and accepted. I also know there were factions in the coalition for whom even the idea of a coalition should never have been allowed. Those elements remain with a similar mindset, that ODM is uninvited in Government.
Q. Your Office of DPM is one of those that were crafted under the new coalition arrangement. How has it influenced operations in Government?
A: Functions of this office are delegated from the PM on either permanent or on ad hoc basis. To this end, matters of supervision and co-ordination of Government functions are done through Cabinet committees, which I chair from time to time. There is also an advisory role that comes with the Office of DPM that strands all Government affairs. Combined, all these roles ensure that the Office of the DPM influences decision-making in Government. I also head the critical Local Government docket, which some refer to as the second government. But I see it as managing the delicate nexus of local and national politics.
Q. Briefly state some of the main challenges and successes of the Grand Coalition Government
A: Disorientation with the new way of doing things has been a big problem for some us. Just accepting that you are equal to the other partner has taken time to sink in. Disengaging political competition from affairs of running Government has had a disruptive impact. But if you take the optimist view of the objectives of forming the coalition, I am in no doubt we remain on track with the agenda of reform whose main achievement is the new Constitution. Organically, we are still a country because there exists Coalition Government.
Q. Lastly, a Kalonzo-Uhuru-Ruto alliance has taken root with PM as the target of their attacks. Does ODM view this as a political threat?
A: In politics, there is no development that is not seen in the prism of threats and opportunities. Something is afoot to create euphoria to help some people into office. I have no problem with that. It is the orientation of that euphoria that disturbs me. If our post-election experience is still alive, I cannot comprehend how you want to create a party on the basis of individuals driven by fear or hatred of another individual.