Amani coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi agrees to reconcile with expelled UDF 'rebels'

Amani coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi has finally agreed to reconcile with three MPs he had expelled from the United Democratic Forum (UDF).

Mudavadi has also called on UDF members to embrace the spirit of inclusivity and stop wasting time in unproductive activities, because unity is the only way to build the potential of the party.

Sounding reconciliatory, Mudavadi said: “Now that the aggrieved have been heard, we hope lessons have been learnt and we will together ensure the party is strengthened as we had intended, without friction.

“I call for calm among party members as we explore the options available. A committee to forge unity in the party will be set up to begin the process of healing.”

Mudavadi’s move follows Thursday’s ruling by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT), which did not approve expulsion of Kakamega Senator Bonni Khalwale, Nominated Senator Martha Wangare and UDF chairman, Nominated MP Hassan Osman, among others.

“The PPDT made a ruling that reaffirmed that Mudavadi and Jeremiah Kioni are party leader and deputy, respectively. It also declared the suspension of former officials void. The ruling is a win-win outcome though this decision has the effect of creating two parallel lists of party officials.

“This is because the Tribunal did not invalidate the Special National Delegates Conference held on October 27, 2014. That NDC had been called by delegates and not the NEC (National Executive Committee),” Mudavadi said in a statement sent to newsrooms by his private secretary, Kibisu Kabatesi.

External forces

The three leaders had moved to the tribunal after the special NDC expelled them from the party, largely for being against re-branding and the change of name to Amani National Congress.

The PPDT ruling further ordered that since there was no dispute resolution mechanism in the party constitution, parties should seek reconciliation.

In his response yesterday, Mudavadi said: “We are also aware the alleged dispute may have been provoked by external forces intent on causing disrepute in the party. This should be a lesson that members and officials should not ever cede their allegiance to external manipulation.”

“Our position is that those members who took the party to the Tribunal had the right to do so in order to ventilate their grievances. However, this should never have happened had self-interest been withheld for the greater good of the party. We must admit that the party has faced problems in its management.”

He said there were many gaps in the ruling that will become clear when the Tribunal releases the certified copy of their ruling.