Namwamba dismisses Mudavadi candidature

By FRANCIS ONTOMWA

Sports minister Ababu Namwamba has downplayed the Jubilee coalition’s perceived move to install Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi as the flag bearer.

Namwamba, a close ally of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, said the attempt to front Mudavadi is driven by what he called supra conservative status quo forces that are out to impose a puppet president on Kenyans.

“The scales should fall off the eyes of Kenyans; Kenyans must be vigilant and refuse to buy these cheap crafty machinations of a clique of anti-reformists who want to put in place a president that will dance to their tune,” said Namwamba in an interview with The Standard yesterday.

On Saturday, the Jubilee Alliance held their first rally in Western since the signing of the pre-election pact in Malava constituency, Kakamega County, where top leaders gave strong indications that Mudavadi would fly the coalition’s flag on March 4, next year.

Namwamba described Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North lawmaker William Ruto as desperate forces out to play poker with Kenyans for their own selfish interests. “The Jubilee is lying to Kenyans, what they are calling nomination contest is just a mirage to hoodwink Kenyans and in fact a plan to offer Uhuru a face-saving exit route and nothing more,” he stated.

He added, “This by all means is sickening and belittles the intelligence of Kenyans.”

He said Uhuru and Ruto wanted a pliant mtu wa mkono’whom they would easily control to advance their interests, saying Mudavadi had been lied to.

In a quick reaction, however, Lurambi legislator Manyala Keya said Mudavadi was a nationalist who deserved to take over State House after President Kibaki.

Mr Keya said Jubilee alliance believed in Mudavadi, adding that Namwamba would be forced to swallow his words next year when the coalition forms the Government.

 “There’s no point of debating the record and personality that is Mudavadi, he is a great leader, a man with the ability to unite all the 42 tribes of this nation, the likes of Namwamba are going to be shocked,” said Keya.

It is expected that Jubilee will name its presidential candidate tomorrow in a battle that pits Mudavadi against Uhuru.