Mudavadi turns to Atwoli over Jirongo and Wetangula

By Vitalis Kimutai and Roselyne Obala

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has initiated talks that could see three other aspirants from Western Province quit the race and back him.

On Sunday,  Mudavadi took part in the first round of talks brokered by Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli at Mara Serena. In attendance were Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo and Trade minister Moses Wetangula, who have both said they are in the race to succeed President Kibaki.

But absent from the talks was Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa who has said he will be in the race to the end, despite perception in The National Alliance that he is Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s running mate.

The Mudavadi plot is simple; get the backing of Western bloc behind him by getting the other aspirants off the race so that he can get a head start with the certainty of the majority votes in the populous province.

Mudavadi’s campaign team is said to be concerned with the fact that the region has several presidential aspirants, something, which not only undermines bargain power because of split votes, but also casts its candidate as lacking solid support in his home turf. 

The three leaders held a five-hour meeting at Masai Mara Serena Lodge, which culminated in a gentleman’s agreement that they would work towards narrowing the list of aspirants in the region to one. But the question as to who would step down was left to future discussions.

“Chances of the region are better if it offers one candidate instead of having polarised environment,” said Atwoli who convened the meeting.

The group appeared to have been jolted by emergence of talks between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and URP’s William Ruto, the Eldoret North MP

Atwoli said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere despite previous differences and mistrust among the three, and revealed Wamalwa had been invited.

“We invited him but he did not turn up,” said Atwoli, explaining he convened the meeting because he claimed there had been pressure from Kenyans, members of the Luhya community and political activists asking if there is need to present only one aspirant for the presidential race.

Atwoli said he was picked to champion the talks because he is not vying for any political seat and is seen as a “neutral arbiter”. 

Briefing the press in Nairobi after the meeting, an optimistic Atwoli said a permanent and amicable deal was struck during the meeting. “A team leader who will also be the Presidential candidate will be announced in the coming weeks,” Atwoli promised.

The leaders agreed on the urgent need for Western Kenya leaders to unite and speak with one voice ahead of the election. 

The Cotu boss said the meeting bringing together fierce rivals was held “in the interest of the community” in a relaxed atmosphere. 

“They were very friendly in their exchanges at the meeting that took five hours under my chairmanship,” Atwoli said.?

He added the Western team would now go out as a united front to engage other presidential hopefuls from different regions. 

From next week Atwoli revealed he would be reaching out to Uhuru, Raila and then Ruto in that order before meeting Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, who is the Wiper Democratic Movement aspirant.

“Charity begins at home and that is why we do not want to go out there when we are a divided lot,” declared Atwoli. ?

Asked if the leaders will overcome the mistrust that has divided them in the past, Atwoli retorted: “The past now belongs to the past and anything known as past is now buried.”

Last week,?Mudavadi engaged Ruto in two meetings seeking a pre-election deal between URP and UDF. ?He met Ruto twice in a day, just two days after the Eldoret North MP met Raila.

Kalonzo, Uhuru and Ruto who are members of the informal G7 Alliance also met two weeks ago at the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi without Wamalwa.

Efforts to reach Wamalwa were unsuccessful as his three mobile phones were all switched off.

The Saboti MP has lately been holding joint rallies with Uhuru and in some occasions he stood in for the DPM in TNA functions. ?

“I am concentrating on popularising New Ford Kenya at the ground, especially in Western region where we have seen a number of leaders, including former Agriculture Minister Kipruto Kirwa come on board and more will be joining in soon,” Wamalwa told The Standard recently. 

He maintained his name would be on the presidential ballot paper contrary to claims he will be Uhuru’s running mate.

Wetangula recently said the leaders seeking the presidency needed the support of their communities.

Jirongo has switched parties and in one year has moved from KADDU, UDM, URP and now Liberal Party where still he is involved in a leadership row with the registered officials. 

Kimilili MP Simiyu Esseli also said unity among the community’s members and their leaders were important as the clock ticks towards elections.

Mr Patrick Wangamati, chairman of the Luhya Elders Forum failed to unite the presidential hopefuls from Western region.

“If the leaders will not unite and back one candidate for the Presidency, then voters from the region would be split right in the middle and lack the bargain power in the election,” Wangamati said.

Prof Egara Kabaji, a Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology lecturer argued presidential contest among leaders in the region was a clear indication of “how democracy has been embraced in Western Province”. ?

Three months ago, while attending the burial of Bukusu “spiritual” leader John Manguliechi in Kimilili, Wetangula, Wamalwa, Jirongo and Assistant minister Bifwoli Wakoli announced a unity pact. 

Kabaji pointed out that Wamalwa had not been consistent in his presidential bid and appeared to play second fiddle to his?competitors. 

“He keeps jumping ship and entering into talks with all the?presidential contenders,’’ he said. 

Kabaji added: “He seems to be confused and is yet to reach the political ladder the late Masinde Muliro and Kijana Wamalwa climbed.’’