Mudavadi to join New Ford Kenya, says Khalwale

Written By:Diana Okemwa/KNA,    Posted: Sun, Apr 15, 2012

The Local Government minister has been pushing for the repeal of the contentious clause that gives party leader Raila Odinga automatic nomination New Ford Kenya party leaders have confirmed that Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi will be joining the party ahead of the forthcoming general election. The party director of elections Dr. Boni Khalwale says Mudavadi will soon ditch the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after Prime Minister Raila Odinga employed what he termed theatrics to  lock him out from the party's presidential nominations. The Local Government minister has been pushing for the repeal of the contentious clause that gives party leader Raila Odinga automatic nomination and wanted it amended before ODM handed over its documents to the registrar of political parties. Speaking at a funeral service in his Ikolomani constituency, Khalwale said Mudavadi is now working closely with New Ford Kenya to make it strong come elections. He claimed ODM has undermined Mudavadi and urged him to stand his ground if he wants to realize his presidential ambitions. "If Raila failed to defeat me at the by election last year, I want to assure him that I have now teamed up with his deputy and we are going to defeat him," said the MP. The legislator lashed out at Kisumu town MP Shakir Shabir over his remarks that the DPM was an adopted child in ODM saying it was a clear indicator that Raila and his cronies undermine Mudavadi.  He however said Mudavadi like any other party member has the constitutional right to vie for presidency through the orange party. He noted that for many years, leaders from the Luhya community have been viewed as a stepping stone to power urging Mudavadi to stay put. The legislator further took issue with the government over the increased fuel prices adding that he will put the Energy minister to task once parliament resumes to regulate the prices which are bound to increase the cost of living.