Raila, Mudavadi lock horns in Mombasa
PHOTO/GIDEON MAUNDU/NATION Right:: Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi leads the UDF team to a meeting at Travellers Beach Hotel on May 19, 2012. Left: The ODM team: Mvita aspirant Abdulswamad Nassir, MPs Ababu Namwamba and Margaret Wanjiru wave to party supporters during a road show at the VOK bus stage in Kisauni on the same day.
By DANIEL NYASSY dnyassy@ke.nationmedia.com and MWAKERA MWAJEFA mwajefa@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, May 19 2012 at 22:30
Posted Saturday, May 19 2012 at 22:30
Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his estranged deputy Musalia Mudavadi will be staging major political shows at the Coast on Sunday as the battle for votes goes to a new level.
The duo, who parted ways recently after Mr Mudavadi quit the Orange party, kicked off their political duel on Saturday in Mombasa town in simultaneous tours and meetings.
Coast provincial police boss Aggrey Adoli said his officers would tighten security for the meetings called for sobriety during Sunday’s rallies.
As Mr Mudavadi’s United Democratic Forum (UDF) hosted delegates and aspirants for political offices on the party’s ticket from the entire Coast region for a day-long meeting, the Orange Democratic Movement held colourful processions across the town. (read: )
Mr Odinga was expected to fly into Mombasa on Saturday evening in readiness for a rally in Likoni on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Mudavadi will also address a rally at Tononoka Grounds. The parallel rallies, which have been the talk of town, will be the climax of the two parties’ three-day campaign activities in Mombasa.
On Saturday, Mr Mudavadi pledged to work on a permanent solution to the issue of the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council.
He said UDF would sponsor a motion in Parliament seeking the establishment of a parliamentary team to tackle the issues raised by the secessionist group.
“We have decided to sponsor a motion when the House meets on Tuesday, setting up a Parliamentary Select Committee to meet all key players and find a lasting solution that seeks to offer justice to the disaffected and nurtures the integrity of our great country,” he said.
He spoke at a press conference at Travellers Beach Hotel, where he met the aspirants and delegates from Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Lamu and Tana River counties.
Mr Mudavadi opposed the new law requiring aspirants to elective positions to have at least a Form Four certificate.
“It is our considered view that these leaders have a valid point and we also believe that the office of the councillor, in particular, avails (sic) one an experience comparable to post-secondary training as required by the new law,” he said.
He said the party has initiated changes to strengthen the Miscellaneous Amendment Bill currently before the House to exempt sitting councillors and MPs from the new requirements.
Mr Mudavadi was accompanied by MPs Abu Chiaba (Lamu East), Abdikadir Mohamed (Mandera Central), George Khaniri (Amisi), James Kizito (Shanyalu) and other political leaders.
While the UDF meeting was going on, Mr Odinga’s supporters held a road show. The ODM procession comprised Lands minister James Orengo, assistant ministers Hassan Joho, Margaret Wanjiru, and MPs Ababu Namwamba and Rachel Shebesh.
The procession began outside Shanzu Teachers College and snaked its way along the Malindi highway with stop-overs at the Kenyatta public beach, Kisimani and VoK.
They said the caravan was meant to sensitise ODM supporters and voters in the region that the party was “reloaded” and fully prepared for elections.
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