THE Jubilee coalition is divided on whether former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi should be included in their government once Uhuru Kenyatta is confirmed as the President.
On Monday Mudavadi was mandated by the roughly 20 Amani coalition MPs and senators to negotiate on a possible post election deal after being contacted by Jubilee. Eugene Wamalwa was mandated to join Mudavadi in the negotiations.
However deputy president elect William Ruto and his UDF party, which makes up 50 per cent of Jubilee, appear very unenthusiastic about the prospect of being joined by Mudavadi.
Yesterday Uhuru and Ruto met some key coalition members, including Charles Keter, Aden Duale and Jamleck Kamau, to discuss a possible deal with the UDF leader.
Mudavadi was initially part of the Jubilee coalition but last year left to go it alone for the presidency. In December, he briefly returned after Uhuru promised him that he could be the Jubilee presidential candidate, an offer that was quickly rescinded. Mudavadi then formed the Amani coalition.
Uhuru's TNA believes that the Amani coalition would solidify their parliamentary numbers and give them a clear majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
"We feel that Mudavadi should be included in a post-election arrangement but since he did not contribute to the win, we want him not to make unnecessary demands and accept what is offered to him," a senior member of the Jubilee coalition told the Star yesterday.
However URP leaders think a deal would allow Mudavadi to reap where he did not sow. And they have made it clear that the deal would be even more objectionable if it included Kanu.
"Kanu has denied us some numbers and seats in parts of Rift Valley. So we have told our leader that he should not sanction Kanu's inclusion in cabinet," said a senior URP member.
The Jubilee coalition secured 135 MPs against 117 for Cord alliance, and also managed to get 23 women representatives against 21 for Cord. If five of the 12 nominated seats go to Jubilee, it will have 163 seats but it would need 175 seats for a clear majority.
The TNA side believes that Amani's 18 MPs would therefore give them the majority they need to ensure the National Assembly works in harmony with the president.
They are also looking at working with other parties such as Kiraitu Murungi's APK and Mwangi Kiunjuiri's GNU which supported Uhuru but fielded their own candidates outside the presidency.
Meanwhile, lobbying for posts in the 11th parliament has intensified prior to next week's swearing-in. Yesterday, MPs allied to TNA met at Jacaranda Hotel to strategise on how to fill the posts of Chief Whip and Speaker of the National Assembly .
The front runners are Rachel Shebesh, incoming Kieni MP Simon Mathenge popularly known as Kanini Kega, Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi, and Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando for Chief Whip.
TNA is supposed to get the Speaker and Chief Whip in the National Assembly while URP takes Leader of Majority and Speaker of the Senate.
“We are careful on who we elect once parliament resumes. We are aware that debate will be rigorous and we cannot afford to make mistakes on who we elect in various positions,” said a source who attended the meeting.
The MPs want to individuals who will not only be nationally acceptable but also get the nod from the Cord coalition. They concluded that Linturi may be a hard sell due to a court case that he was facing while Mathenge was too inexperienced to take up the new role.
"Kabando is seen as too abrasive and many of us are uncomfortable with him” said another MP who attended the meeting. The meeting resolved to lobby to support Shebesh who would then become the first woman MP to become Chief Whip.
"Though some MPs felt that she erred by almost leaving our governor candidate Ferdinand Waititu at the last minute, they felt they can work with her,” said another MP.
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