Mudavadi Bites The Bullet, Decides To Vie On UDF Ticket

Musalia Mudavadi.

BY SAMWEL MAINA
SUNDAY, 30 DECEMBER, 2012

United Democratic Forum (UDF) dismisses those writing them off the race, saying they have a strong presence in 39 of the 47 counties and are sure they will win

Backers of Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi are optimistic he will still clinch the presidency even after parting ways with the Jubilee Coalition but political pundits believe that Mudavadi’s lifeline may be joining Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord), a possibility the DPM has publicly opposed. United Democratic Forum (UDF) chairman Hassan Osman has dismissed those writing off the party’s chances, saying it enjoys a massive following in the country as compared with other parties. Osman says of the 47 counties, the party has a considerable presence in 39. The DPM has resolved to go it alone on the UDF ticket after Jubilee Alliance’s Uhuru Kenyatta disowned an agreement to step down for him.

But political commentator and analyst Barrack Muluka differs, saying Mudavadi’s chance of being Kenya’s next president is zero. He says Mudavadi holed himself into a political abyss immediately after ditching the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for UDF. Viable lifeline “Mudavadi is a goofer, he likes free things,” said Muluka alluding to 2002 when Mudavadi ditch the Rainbow Alliance to return to Kanu on the promise he would become vice president, a position he was appointed to three months to elections. The Rainbow Alliance later joined the National Rainbow Coalition, which propelled President Kibaki to power. Muluka says the only viable lifeline that Mudavadi can has is to eat humble pie and join the Cord alliance in which Raila Odinga is the flag bearer.

“If Mudavadi wants to save his dying political career, he should reunite with Raila and apologise to his people for misleading them,” says Muluka. But Vihiga Member of Parliament Yusuf Chanzu says that Mudavadi is still the man to beat in the coming general election. He says that Mudavadi has the political muscle to ascend to power come 2013. The MP, who hails from Mudavadi’s home turf has already warned the Western leaders who are disloyal to Mudavadi that they will be swept by the UDF political wave.
Muluka seems to disagree with this analogy. He dismisses the claim the Mudavadi still holds the Luhya bloc. He advises that Mudavadi should be as wise as Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo who is possibly headed to the Cord alliance. “A careful observation can reveal that Jirongo if falling out with Wamalwa and Mudavadi, however, he carefully selects his words when talking about Wetang’ula, this is a clear manifestation that he is bracing himself for Cord,” said Muluka who also predicts Jirongo will ran for the Kakamega senatorial post and compete with UDF’s Bonny Khalwale.

The federal party of Kenya FPK party in which Jirongo heads has since aborted itself from the Pambazuka alliance which included New Ford Kenya’s Wamalwa and has not formally announced the next political move although Cord may be his likely option. Professor Egara Kabaji of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology feels the Luhya bloc has already decided whom to vote for in the next general election.

“I can for sure assert that the Luhya vote is decided and a majority will vote for Cord in the coming election,” said Kabaji, who is a keen follower of Western province politics. He says that the unity between Mudavadi and Eugene Wamalwa will not marshal the Luhya bloc to vote for them. “The Luhya people want to be in the government, they are not gambling, that is why they have banked their hopes with Moses Wetang’ula to put them there,” said Kabaji. There are reports some MPs aligned with the UDF are worried that they may be locked out in the next government if they stick with Mudavadi.

“Most members are planning to make an exodus from UDF if Mudavadi won’t bring a viable deal on the table,” said the source who requested anonymity. Ikolomani Member of Parliament Bonny Khalwale, a diehard of Mudavadi, who has toned down his strong oratory in public since Mudavadi decamped from Jubilee, has faulted Jubilee’s decision to dishonour an agreement they had struck. He says that Mudavadi’s absence from the Jubilee alliance might provide a leeway for the Cord alliance to victory in the March poll, agreeing that the coming race will be a two horse race. “Jubilee made a grave mistake throwing Mudavadi out of the alliance, it will be impossible for them to floor Raila,” said Khalwale in a rally at Malava. UDF party is expected to unveil its line-up January 4 by delegates who will converge at Moi Sports centre Kasarani. Already, former ruling party, Kanu has struck a deal with UDF and Kanu’s chairman is expected to be offered a position of leader of majority during the delegates meeting.

Hamisi MP George Khaniri told the Mbale rally Mudavadi’s reunion with Raila is a dream. “Anyone thinking that Mudavadi will re-unite with Raila, is mistaken,” said Khaniri.