Mudavadi party in strategy to dominate Parliament, senate

UDF Musalia Mudavadi (R) arrive for a rally at Bukura market in Lurambi Constituency.

By Peter Atsiaya

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi says United Democratic Forum (UDF) targets to have majority MPs and senators in 2013 General Election.

Mudavadi said he wants to win the presidency and control the two houses in order to pass critical Bills and policies of the party.

He said UDF would avoid being forced to seek support from the other political parties to pass Bills.

“You are aware that when you seek support from other MPs, this kind of backing comes with conditions and the best way to avoid this is to win more parliamentary seats,” said Mudavadi.

He was speaking at Bukura Trading Centre while campaigning for the party’s civic aspirant in the forthcoming by-election, Walter Andati.

MPs Boni Khalwale (Ikolomani), Justus Kizito (Shinyalu) and Kakamega County Council chairman John Shimaka accompanied Mudavadi in the meet-the-people tour.

Rivals worried

He said it was wrong for his opponents to brand some leaders from the region as tribalists for asking for Luhya unity in the quest to succeed President Kibaki.

He added that the community voted for former president Daniel Moi, President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Saba Saba Asili leader Kenneth Matiba, signs that the region was democratic.

“This time round the community has decided to support my presidential bid and it is wrong to claim this is tribalism,” he said.

He added that he was not a spoiler and neither was he being used by some forces to seek the presidency.

“I supported Uhuru Kenyatta in 2002 and Raila in 2007 and I have decided that it is also time that I fulfilled my ambitions in politics by gunning for presidency and I am confident that I will win,” noted Mudavadi.

He said his candidature had caused shock waves in ODM because leaders in the party had dismissed him as a nonstarter.

“When I quit ODM, some key leaders in the party dismissed me as a joker who could not make any political impact,” he said.

“They are now worried after seeing my growing popularity in campaigns,” he added. Speaking in Butere constituency, Mudavadi asked the area MP and Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya to read the mood of voters and join UDF.

The former Local Government minister said he would camp in Busia County from next Friday to disapprove the impression created by his political detractors that Raila still commands support in the region.