‘All the best’, Wamalwa wishes DPM Mudavadi

FRIDAY, 23 MARCH 2012 00:07 BY SIMBI KUSIMBA

MAGNANIMOUS? Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa addresses a rally in Bungoma in March last year.

Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa says he wishes Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi well in his campaign bid for the presidency in the next general election. Wamalwa, himself a presidential contender now eyeing the G7 Alliance ticket, said in an interview: "I wish my brother Musalia well. He has surprised many. He is giving his boss (PM Raila Odinga) sleepless nights and I wish him well."

However, the legislator maintained, "I have no intention of retreating, I will continue with my campaign even if we meet on the ballot as candidates from the West. In 2002 there were two presidential candidates from Central Kenya. Kenyans will have an opportunity to choose as then." Wamalwa's remarks came after it emerged two other key G7 Alliance leaders DPM Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto would throw their weight behind Mudavadi in his quest for the presidency.  Mudavadi is now running for ODM's presidential ticket against PM Raila Odinga.

Mudavadi said the country required "a bold clean break from a past tainted by corruption" and would do well ushering into top leadership "fresh untainted people that represent a generational change", hence his decision to run for the top seat. Wamalwa was categorical that the G7 Alliance leadership "will not disintegrate as hoped by many people but will remain united and focused on national healing and reconciliation".

The MP said each of the G7 leaders has the capacity and ability to be president but its strategy was first to undertake the difficult task of healing and uniting communities after the disastrous events following the 2007 general election in which Kenyans lost their lives and others were uprooted from their homes.

Wamalwa took a swipe at Prime Minister Raila Odinga over his weekend remarks in Kisii that "courts were fake" terming the move "lack of respect for the country's institutions". "As leaders, if we do not uphold the rule of law and constitutionalism besides according respect to institutions we have set up, then we shall be steering the country towards dictatorship," the MP said.