Mudavadi camp still cautious on coalition talks

By Mwaniki Munuhe

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s United Democratic Forum (UDF) party will not participate in coalition discussions with any party whose manifesto is not compatible with its own.

In an interview with four MPs who are members of the UDF Political Council, the party said it would not participate in what the members termed as ‘discussions about individuals and what positions they will take’.

“As a party, we are not going to take part in coalition debate that surrounds individuals and what positions they will take. UDF is not interested in individuals. Our interest is the country, it is not going to be a discussion of a few individuals deciding who becomes the president,” said nominated MP George Nyamweya. The four MPs who included Yusuf Chanzu, Jeremiah Kioni, Ndiritu Muriithi and George Nyamweya said UDF will only talk to parties whose manifesto is compatible with that of their party.

The MPs, without naming any party, said UDF is already in discussion with some parties, a position also communicated by UDF presidential aspirant Musalia Mudavadi who said his party would not play second fiddle.

“Nobody should imagine we are going to play second fiddle to them but we are open to a coalition with a party after we are clear we have a convergence in ideology with based on our structured guide on issues, not for the sake of it,” he said.

Mudavadi’s confidant and Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni at the same time said the call by Mudavadi to have the International Criminal Court cases brought back to Kenya was the official position of the party.

Common aspirations

“As a party, we believe in umoja daima, faida pamoja (forever united, shared gains). We are talking to parties with whom we share aspirations. We are only interested in the growth and unity of the country. As a party, we will only talk about that which we mean. For instance, the position of the party about ICC cases is that they should be brought back home,” said Kioni.

Mudavadi decamped from the Prime Minister Raila Odinga-led ODM a few months ago.

The MPs, speaking to Standard on Sunday, said a UDF government would pay keen attention to reviving the economy, infrastructural development, education and job creation.

“A UDF government will revive industries like the textile industries and in the process create employment opportunities. We will guarantee compulsory free primary and secondary education,” said Chanzu.

“We have to do away with this Delamere economy. We need to train our people how to make maximum use of every resource,” said Nyamweya. The MPs said more MPs from across the political party rainbow are expected to join the party before the nominations.

Webuye MP Alfred Sambu decamped from ODM on Wednesday last week to join UDF.

“But all politics is local then regional and national. For others to take us very seriously in this ethnicised regional politics, we must have a home. My ‘sweet home’ is UDF hence my decision today,” Sambu said.

Laikipia West MP Ndiritu Muriithi, who was also present in the interview said: “The purpose of any government is to provide an enabling environment for every Kenyan to have an equal chance,” he said.