'My name will be on the ballot paper' says Mudavadi

Written By:Rufus Hunja,    Posted: Tue, Apr 17, 2012

Mudavadi said his presidential bid is not based on specific regions Deputy Prime Minister and presidential hopeful Musalia Mudavadi says his name will be on the ballot paper irrespective of the ongoing struggle for control of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) between him and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Speaking after a meeting with leaders from Western Kenya to consult on his quest for presidency Tuesday, Mudavadi said that he would hold further consultative forums to chart the way forward. He said he will be consulting with likeminded leaders across the country adding that his presidential bid is not based on specific regions. His duel with Prime Minister Raila Odinga to be ODM's flag bearer in the forthcoming elections remains a controversial issue especially after the party applied for a certificate of registration without amending a contentious clause in the party constitution that gives the party leader an automatic party presidential ticket. Mudavadi has once again hinted that he may ditch the party in his endeavor to succeed incumbent President Mwai Kibaki. Mudavadi's quest for the top seat has caused disquiet in ODM and attempts by the top echelons of the party to have him relinquish his ambition seems to have been futile. He clarified that he will tour Kakamega this weekend where he will meet civic leaders in closed door consultations. Meanwhile, National Rainbow Coalition Party leader Charity Ngilu says her party will field candidates in all elective positions in the next general elections and that it will not be used to escort others to statehouse. Ngilu who filed her party's compliance documents to the registrar of political parties today denied allegations that her party was planning to host Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi when he quits ODM. Ngilu said no such plans have been mooted but was quick to add that her party was ready to welcome likeminded individuals. Elsewhere, Presidential hopeful Peter Kenneth has down played reports that his meeting yesterday with Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi was aimed to strategize his exit from ODM. Speaking during an interview with KBC, the Gatanga MP said that his meeting with Mudavadi was casual and had nothing to do with politics. He expressed concern over the formation of tribal alliances calling on Kenyans to shun leaders out to divide them along their tribal lines.