Mudavadi skips Jubilee rally as flag bearer impasse blows up

By Vitalis Kimutai and Paul Mutua

KENYA: A clearer indication of a deadlock in the mode of picking the presidential flag bearer in the Jubilee alliance emerged after Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi skipped a joint rally in Kitui town.

Though Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Water Minister Charity Ngilu and former Tourism Minister Najib Balala put on a brave face at the meeting, it was clear in the manner of tone and body language that all was not well.

Uhuru, Mudavadi and Ruto held a meeting in Nairobi before the Kitui rally and they were said to have scheduled another meeting for last evening. The leaders were told that they had no option but to sort out the nomination impasse in the alliance and agree on who would be the flag bearer.

Mutitu MP Kiema Kilonzo said that Jubilee alliance leaders had no choice but to unite and agree on a flag bearer.

“Uhuru, Mudavadi and Ngilu have no choice but to agree and by tomorrow, (today) they must give us a flag bearer,” Kilonzo said.

“We refused to go to Cord because Ngilu was barred from contesting the Presidency. It reeked of malice. We will leave Jubilee if Ngilu is not allowed to battle it out with Uhuru and Mudavadi for the Presidency.”

Uhuru’s take

He said boardroom deals in picking the presidential candidate is not allowed as the three candidates must be picked by the delegates who should have the last say on who becomes the flag bearer.

Uhuru said that it was not a must that he becomes the alliance’s flag bearer in the next General Election as the position could go to Mudavadi or Ngilu.

Uhuru said that leaders should not fear competition and that if he loses, it would not be the end of the world as he would go into farming and business. “If am beaten, I will support the winner after which I will go tend to my coffee farm,” Uhuru said.

Uhuru said that if he loses in the nomination, he would be willing to serve in another government position after polls if the Jubilee alliance delivers the presidency.

He said that voters should hold leaders accountable for the duration they have been in leadership as some had nothing to show despite being in key positions for long.

“Some are claiming that Jubilee alliance consists of thieves and tribalists when the public are well aware that the same leaders were being sought by Cord leaders for political partnership,” Uhuru said.

“When Mudavadi was Raila’s deputy party leader, he was described as a good leader, but when he bolted out of ODM, he was branded a thief,” said Uhuru.

Ruto sought to downplay Mudavadi’s absence, saying he was in the team and would be joining them later. But the Sabatia MP had not arrived by the time the meeting ended.

Ruto said that Ngilu and her Narc supporters were welcome to the Alliance and that she could contest any elective position during the nomination.

Ngilu’s confidence

Ngilu exuded confidence that Jubilee coalition would carry the day in the forthcoming polls.

Balala said the fact that Rift Valley and Central regions had buried the hatchet after perennially fighting in an electioneering period was reason enough for the country to shun tribalism.

The meeting held at Kitui Municipal Stadium was attended by Internal Security Minister Katoo ole Metito, assistant minister Kazungu Kambi, former Tourism Minister Najib Balala and Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo.