ODM: Mudavadi considers quitting Orange party

By Vitalis Kimutai and Roselyn Obala

It is not clear if Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi is contemplating leaving the Orange Party, or is preparing for a showdown with Raila Odinga, but he dropped a hint something is in the offing.

"Mudavadi wishes to appeal to ODM members and Kenyans that he is making a considered

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi [Photo: File/Standard]

assessment of the situation and will soon issue a comprehensive statement on the matter,’’ ran the telling statement from the DPM’s press secretary Kibisu Kabatesi.

The statement was grounded on the fact that Mudavadi, too, had taken note of the frustrations in the party that climaxed in the Tuesday presentation of ODM documents for registration before the amendment of the clause guaranteeing the party leader automatic presidential ticket.

Two words stood out in his statement on the state of affairs in ODM, where he is fighting for the nomination ticket with Raila: "Uncertainty" and "apprehension" over the future of the Orange party.

ODM Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o filed the papers, which he said had been signed by chairman Henry Kosgey against Mudavadi’s call for the amendments of nomination rules first.

Skipped meeting

In doing so Prof Nyong’o simultaneously put out notice of amendments he told the Registrar of Political Parties would follow, but he did not give a timeframe.

"We intend to amend Article 6.2.1 of the constitution on election and nomination rules. The proposals shall be submitted to the National Governing Council and National Delegates Convention for ratification," Nyong’o said on Tuesday.

But what appeared to worry the Mudavadi side more was the fact that the PM’s side skipped the meeting of a key legal committee drafting the proposed changes, crippling it by causing lack of quorum.

Only three members of the committee sympathetic to Mudavadi turned up for the meeting at Orange House, Nairobi, on Tuesday, the same day Nyong’o filed the papers.

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