Mudavadi, UDF founders fight for control
THE United Democratic Forum party is in the grip of a silent, but vicious, war among its officials that could ruin its chances in next year's poll. A well-placed source in the party has revealed that even though its presidential hopeful Musalia Mudavadi is painting the image of an invincible party that plans to win the presidential contest “not in extra time but within 90 minutes", wrangling among the UDF officials could ruin this triumphalism.
The wrangle pits members who defected to UDF alongside Mudavadi against some members who consider themselves founders of the party. Both sides are motivated by the desire to control the party ahead of the election. The Mudavadi group is reportedly angered by the way things are unfolding. It is said the group does not want to start another furious war so soon after the acrimonious exit from the Orange Democratic Movement party. "Things are not as good as they seem. What you are seeing and all talk about winning the presidency in 90 minutes is a facade that masks the suspicion that runs deep among the members," said the source. "The frustration by the Mudavadi people is being controlled by their acrimonious departure from ODM," said the source, who refused to be named for this story.
However, speaking separately to the Star this week, MPs Jeremiah Kioni, George Nyamweya and UDF secretary general Abraham Limo denied claims of rift in the party. "UDF is founded on the primary principle that we should run away from the culture of personalised political parties. We stand on that and we will always stand on that," said Limo.
He maintained that UDF will ensure that it places itself beyond Mudavadi or any other individual politician. “We don't want to see a politician being described as UDF. We want to see UDF beyond Mudavadi, but as far as we are concerned, there is no rift between the officials and any of the politicians," he said. The Mudavadi group claims it has been sidelined from the party activities. It complains of lack of interest by those who wield power in the party to implement a 50-50 power sharing formula agreed upon between Mudavadi and founders of the party before the defection.
On the other hand, the UDF original group accuses the Mudavadi side of coming into the party with "a mob psychology" and "importing" to UDF the Kanu-era personality cult politics. Mudavadi joined UDF last May from ODM following a disagreement with Prime Minister Raila Odinga over the modalities of the ODM's presidential nomination. Mudavadi claimed he was disadvantaged in ODM's presidential race because of a provision in the party's constitution that made the party leader the automatic presidential candidate. The clause has since been deleted.
Mudavadi was allegedly guaranteed an automatic presidential ticket in UDF and was to appoint a person of his choice to the secretary general. The DPM picked former Postmaster General Dan Ameyo as secretary general to replace Limo but the appointment was not confirmed by the party leadership. The UDF secretariat in Lavington is still controlled by MPs Jeremiah Kioni and Muriithi Ndiritu. The duo is accused of making decisions with little or no consultation and tightly controlling the flow of funds within the party.
Even though the matter is hushed, there is confusion on who between Limo and Ameyo is the secretary general with reports suggesting that Ameyo is reportedly unhappy with the standoff because “he believes he has been reduced to doing clerical work at the party”. The former Postmaster General has been signing correspondence and press releases as the secretary general but records at the Registrar of Political Parties show the position is held by Limo. Limo is the personal assistant of activist Mary Wambui and is reportedly not keen to step down.
Some within the Mudavadi group blame the DPM for not stamping his authority in the party "because he hopes things will fix themselves." Ever since Mudavadi's defection to UDF on May 2, Kioni has attended all Mudavadi's campaign rallies. Kioni denied there is a rift within the party and that he was controlling the secretariat. "Things have never been better for UDF and we thank God for all that," he said, but avoided responding to the specific allegations levelled against him. “There is no way the party could frustrate anyone because the overall interest is to get as many members as possible. We want more to come so the question of infighting or sidelining anyone does not arise," he said.
Nyamweya, who is nominated MP, said there is no rift between the secretariat and the politicians. "They are managing the party while we are seeking the votes. We're working harmoniously on that score. We are moving on."
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