Western leaders decamp to UDF

Western leaders decamp to UDF Written By:Margaret Kalekye/DPMS,    Posted: Sun, May 27, 2012

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi's stab at the presidency got a major boost after officials from different parties in Western Kenya resolved to consolidate and support his bid on a United Democratic Forum (UDF) party ticket. More than 300 party branch officials from Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), New Ford Kenya, Ford Kenya and PNU made the resolution after a daylong meeting in Kakamega on Saturday. Under the banner of a ‘fresh start', the officials said there was need for unity in the region to ensure all support Mudavadi's bid. Present were Mudavadi, Housing Minister Soita Shitanda, Gender and Children assistant minister Manyala Keya, Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale, and Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu. At the same time, KNUT branch officials led by county Chairpersons and executive secretaries in Western province declared their support for Mudavadi as did over 100 women leaders drawn from Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation, church leaders and professionals. The political parties officials said they will marshal support for the DPM and deal with those opposing his candidature in the region. Mudavadi spent Saturday meeting with different interest groups drawn from the four counties of Western region to seal and firmly secure his home base support. Housing Minister Soita Shitanda cautioned leaders from Western Kenya against their continued allegiance to different political parties saying it was not in the best interest of the region. "In 2002 NARC was formed then after it became clear that if candidates from the affiliate parties contest against each other they risked giving back power to KANU. Here again we risk the same unless we make the best decision to collapse our parties into UDF to give it strength" said Shitanda. Mudavadi said the glorious moment of ODM passed in 2007 and it is the best time for UDF which has national representation to the form the next government. "UDF has the best chance while ODM has the worst chance. Kenyans have moved on and changed significantly. If there was a time that ODM were to win an election their best chance was in 2007. If they are behaving desperately as you're seeing then you can understand because they have the last chance" he said