Mudavadi steps up bid for top job

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By BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com AND ERICK NGOBILO engobilo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, December 26  2011 at  19:19

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has launched a campaign in Western Kenya to rally the region behind him as he seeks to challenge Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the ODM presidential candidacy next year.

Since last Friday, Mr Mudavadi has met more than 300 elders from the Luhya, Teso and Sabaot communities, hosted 1,440 grassroots party delegates from 24 branches and held talks with Ford-Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula and Noah Wekesa.

Ready to compete

“I have declared my candidature and I am ready to compete and admit defeat but will not run away and form another party like others,” he declared at the home of Luyha Elders Forum chairman Patrick Wangamati in Webuye at the weekend.

He was accompanied by assistant ministers Alfred Khangati (Kanduyi) and Sospeter Ojaamong (Teso), and MPs Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga), Justus Kizito (Shinyalu), Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i), Alfred Odhiambo (Butula) and Wilbur Ottichilo (Emuhaya).

Mr Mudavadi has announced that he will go for the presidency on an ODM ticket.

He has moved to reunite ODM members in the region who are divided following grassroots elections last month that saw some leaders, among them Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya and Mr Kizito lose in the sub-branch elections.

Mr Mudavadi said he will fight it out with other candidates in the presidential nominations next year. “We cannot afford to go to the elections a divided house,” he said.

This decision aims to curb the influence of Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, who is leading G7 alliance campaigns in the area. Dr Wekesa said no single party could work alone and win the General Elections.During the Webuye meeting, ODM, Ford-K and elders agreed that it was important for the Luhya community to unite and support one of their own for the presidency before they seek the support of the rest of the country.

“The next president will be elected through a collection of parties and that is why we have to start organising the winning team now,” said Dr Wekesa.

Mr Wetang’ula said the elders had a huge responsibility to ensure the Luhya community was united. He said it would be an elusive dream for anyone to think of being president without uniting the community.

The community elders told the leaders to ensure they bring all other MPS from the region on board.

“You have the capacity to unite us as a community. You have the task to bring all political leaders and voters together so that other Kenyans can support us,” said Mr Wangamati.

Mr Mudavadi said he will now move to other counties to consolidate his support nationally.

On Monday, Mr Odinga said the contest between him and Mr Mudavadi for the ODM ticket should not cause jitters in the party.

He said it did not matter whether he or Mr Mudavadi was picked as the ODM touch bearer since either candidate had taken a decision to respect the choice of whoever is picked to run for presidency.

“ODM is a party that practices internal democracy and Mudavadi  and I have declared that we will be seeking nomination for the party’s ticket next year and that should not cause any worries since we are ready to support whoever wins the ticket,” said Mr Odinga during the Vihiga cultural festival.

Additional reporting by Benson Amadala