ODM MPs have accused President Kibaki's kin and top G7 Alliance members of luring Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi to defect as part of a plot to weaken the ODM. The MPs claim Mudavadi's decision to join the United Democratic Front which is believed to be the brainchild of Kibaki's private secretary Nick Wanjohi, was one of the attempts being made to break the ODM.
The UDF was originally formulated as the campaign vehicle for Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. Yesterday, Education assistant minister claimed Mudavadi's decision was a confirmation of their fears that some powerful people in government were out to wreck the ODM. Gwassi MP John Mbadi wondered how Mudavadi found quickly and conveniently jumped from ODM into UDF. "Even if the State is not behind Mudavadi, how has he found himself in a party associated with Wanjohi and Wambui?” posed the member referring to political activist and businesswoman Mary Wambui.
He noted that Mudavadi’s plans were bound to fail as the ODM was still the party to beat during the next elections. Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo said UDF was a state sponsored and financed party. “It is obvious that the state has had a hand in Mudavadi’s exit since President Kibaki’s kin is one of the founders of the UDF party,” said the MP.
He cautioned Mudavadi that his decision would lead to his political oblivion and he was a pawn in the plot to degrade ODM. "His decision is like that of an antelope being adopted by a leopard! His future was in ODM. He has just decided to throw himself into the wilderness as he lacks grassroots support to help him win the presidency. It is the blunder of the century and he will live to regret it!” Ogindo said.
Government spokesman Alfred Mutua declined to comment on allegations that the UDF was a government project or that the state had had a hand in Mudavadi's defection. “I have no comment since I don’t react to political issues. But our President is not standing next year and I don’t think he has any interest in politics or Mudavadi,” said Mutua.
Close Mudavadi ally Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito declined to confirm or deny the allegations by the ODM MPs. “We need everybody to take power and if the state is behind Mudavadi then who can be against us?” said Kizito. Kizito said it would be 'good news' for Mudavadi and the entire UDF party if President Kibaki was to support Mudavadi's presidential candidacy. Mudavadi is scheduled to hold his first campaign rally as the party candidate at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru this Sunday.
Mudavadi quit as Local Government minister and also as the ODM deputy party leader. He will however remain as the DPM since the post was created by the National Accord and can only be removed through resignation, ill-health, by Parliament, a court of law or if the coalition government collapses. The ODM MPs have challenged Mudavadi to relinquish the DPM's post to prove that his decision was not motivated by greed and selfish interests. They have also threatened to go to court to kick out Mudavadi from ODM claiming he had breached the Political Parties Act. They claim Mudavadi has to seek fresh mandate from the people of Sabatia.
Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang asked the Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u to inform the Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende to declare Mudavadi’s Sabatia seat vacant. Meanwhile, senior counsel Paul Muite has asked the government to state whether taxpayers funds were used in the conscription and establishment of the UDF.
Muite said any public funds spent on the establishment of the party should be refunded and the state officers responsible be charged. Reports which have not been denied indicate that the UDF was crafted by civil servants led by Prof Nick Wanjohi among others, who was pivotal in the recruitment which was camouflaged as leadership training workshops.These workshops were held at among others Corat Africa Conference Centre in Karen, the Demisse Sisters Centre also in Karen in Limuru. He said the public officers involved in the training and recruitment be investigated as the Public Servants Ethics and Integrity act forbade the involvement of civil servants in politics.
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