Wamalwa seeks to secure political future

By Stephen Makabila

Justice minister and New Ford-Kenya (NFK) party leader Eugene Wamalwa set four conditions in a deal signed with Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

The four options are part of the deal signed between NFK and Mudavadi’s UDF/Kanu on Thursday night to form what has been dubbed ‘The Alliance Agreement” at Nairobi’s Serena hotel after two days of negotiations.

Given the December 4 pre-election coalitions deadline expired, the signed document is a post-election guiding document, which takes effect on March 5. “This agreement refers to alliance partners that shall  be referred to as coalition partners after March 5,” read the agreement in part.

The negotiation team chaired by former Agriculture minister Kipruto arap Kirwa looked at four scenarios and agreed that the supporting principal (in this case Wamalwa), be given first priority when it comes to nomination to Parliament, supported to be Speaker of the National Assembly, granted first priority in the nomination of Cabinet Secretaries or be either  Majority or minority leader depending on strength of MPs of the Alliance.

Wamalwa, who is also the Saboti MP, is reportedly not contesting for any elective position but will instead campaign for Mudavadi’s presidential bid.

The four scenarios that were examined by the negotiation team included a case where the Alliance wins the General Election on its own, the Alliance winning the General Election with the support of another political party/coalition, the Alliance supporting another political party/coalition to form government, and the Alliance failing to form Government.

“That in the event of any of the above scenarios, the Alliance partners shall share the positions equitably,” read the agreement in part.

Wamalwa’s team in the talks included Mr Kirwa, Nominated MP Musikari Kombo, political ally Kizito Temba, NFK Secretary General Benjamin Mwema and the minister’s Personal Assistant Ronald Chumbe.

Mudavadi’s side had Housing minister Soita Shitanda, Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat, Abraham Limo, UDF chairman Hassan Osman and Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni.

The DPM will have the prerogative to appoint  the running mate but in consultation with the other supporting principal (Wamalwa). The Saboti MP said he sacrificed his presidential bid for the sake of Luhya unity and for national cohesion following political polarisation between the Jubilee and CORD coalitions.

The position of the leader of the alliance and any other positions are to be determined and shared by the Unitary Council, which is the highest organ that has Mudavadi, Wamalwa and two other nominees from each side. Yesterday, NFK held its National Executive Council meeting at the party headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi, before attending the UDF/Kanu National Delegates Conference.