Mombasa UDF wars bad for Mudavadi
Infighting in the United Democratic Forum in Coast province is likely to hurt its presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi’s performance in the vote-rich Mombasa county.
According to party insiders from the region, a silent war between the aspirants who want to outdo each other on various positions is likely to slow the party’s campaign momentum in the region.
Speaking to the star yesterday on the phone, Stanley Makeo, one of the party’s strategists in the region, said: ''The infighting has been brought by the party’s non-members who want to benefit at the expense of the original members.''
He said this in reference to the existing silent war between women representative aspirants Naima Badhawi and Janet Mbete, who are seeking a UDF ticket in the March 2013 general election.
“Someone like Janet Mbete is not even a UDF member. She is in ODM and the party does not recognise her. So far, we only have one women representative aspirant in the name of Naima Badhawi,” said Makeo also a close ally of Badhawi.
He added that the party had grown and such scenarios will be experienced as elections beckons. He also said that the party systems should ensure the infighting is checked so as not to hurt Mudavadi’s support at the Coast.
“If we don’t take into considerations these things, we are likely to be faced with internal rebellion that will spill over to other counties at the Coast.
This will hamper our presidential aspirant’s hope of clinching the top seat. But what I can say is that the party has grown and everybody wants accommodation,” said Makeo.
Mbete on her part said that there was no infighting in the party and vowed to fight it out with Badhawi for the ticket as she supports the governor aspirant Suleiman Shahbal’s bid.
“I am there because of Shahbal. I moved from ODM which I thought was a bit dictatorial and we must enhance democracy UDF through free and fair nominations,” said Mbete.
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