Mudavadi seeking a voice in umbrella party

By Mwaniki Munuhe and Jacob Ngetic

Plans to bring leaders associated with the G7 Alliance under one umbrella could see United Democratic Forum presidential aspirant Musalia Mudavadi left out in the cold.

It was largely expected that Mudavadi would work with the group after he decamped from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). But the pledge made to Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa that he would be the group’s pointman and a possible running mate, remains a burrier to his inclusion.

Recent developments portray Mudavadi as a lone-ranger, who is yet to attract substantial endorsement from key players in the G7 Alliance. This despite his strong showing in a recent opinion poll, as the person most voters Mudavadi or his representatives in the talks. Last week, Mudavadi was said to be seeking to have a voice in ongoing plans to forge an umbrella party.

He even appeared to be endearing himself to TNA’s Uhuru Kenyatta and URP’s William Ruto, saying he would prefer local trials of post-election violence suspects. Mudavadi’s spokesperson Kibisu Kabatesi, however, said DPM’s position was not meant to endear himself to anyone, but a stand he has held consistently.

“Mudavadi was reinstating a position he has always held,” said Kabetesi. “He gave the statement in reaction to concerns by leaders in the United Nations meeting over whether there would be peaceful elections.”

Sources privy to G7 strategy claim that Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto are now likely to back WDM’s Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, if courts stop their bids.

The challenge of selling this strategy to voters was made clear on Friday when Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi’s Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) resolved to support Uhuru’s bid.

The Gatundu South MP won overwhelmingly taking 195 votes against Kalonzo’s 58 when APK delegates went to the ballot to decide who, among the two, the party would back.

Mudavadi did not even get a mention as a possible option.

This came a day after Uhuru, Ruto, and Kalonzo met at a Nairobi hotel to discuss modalities of going into a coalition ahead of the March 4 General Election.

Neither Musalia nor his representative from the party was present. But reached for comment, the DPM’s confidant and nominated MP, George Nyamweya, told The Standard On Sunday the meeting involved parties in the G7 Alliance, and that UDF is not among them.

“Going forward, I know there would be need to talk to each other,” Nyamweya said.

He added that UDF was more likely to be incorporated into the talks at a later stage to create a winning team.

“I am sure they would want to consolidate their thinking, as we do ours. If the developing thinking goes to conclusion, then this election would be over in the first round.”

UDF has also suffered defections by some of the MPs who welcomed it at inception. Sports Assistant Minister Kabando WA Kabando’s memorable exit was one of them.

“I have severed links with United Democratic Forum,” he said on his way out. “It has no grassroots support; it is limping, staggering, and stammering and has become an ethnic trumpet.”

Kabando says the party suffered credibility issues that led to many leaders decamping or keeping a low profile.

“Sixteen youthful MPs were actively engaged during its nascent stage,“ he says. “Thirteen of them currently aren’t (engaged). I presume UDF agenda got mixed up, raising credibility issues. Many of us felt unsafe with the unfolding drama. Politicians trust known routes. Not conspiracies. TNA is obviously a national party. It’s a national alliance. TNA is predictable.“

Other people who defected include businessman, Ben Mulwa, who had wanted to vie for president on a UDF ticket, but is now in TNA.

“I felt my stay in UDF was not tenable because of endless party wrangles,” he said. UDF Director of Communications, Mundia Muchiri, dismisses the losses as insignificant.

“The defections we have had, if we can call them that, are by people who only appeared to support us at the beginning,” he says.

“They were never mainstream members. The chorus of the party they are singing has been influenced by the realities of their political survival.”

Another pointer that political dynamics in Mt Kenya were slowly edging UDF out of the arena, were the recent pronouncements by political activist Mary Wambui.

Widely believed to have been a major financier of the party, she has since denied any links and revealed that she would instead work with Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta. UDF officials also say she has never played any role in their activities.

UDF’s political crisis in central Kenya, thanks to the TNA wave, has forced the party to turn its focus on Western and Coast provinces.

The party is already in talks with various leaders from the two regions with a hope of convincing them to join UDF and announce their defections between now and next week.

Muchiri confirmed this, saying: “The harvest for UDF begins this weekend at the Coast. It is going to continue next week in Western. Every dog has its day, and TNA has had it.

Mundia also denied UDF was involved in unity talks under way among parties in G7 Alliance. Some MPs from Mt Kenya region are still supporting Mudavadi.