Keep off, Musalia Mudavadi tells critics as discontent simmers in UDF

Infighting in the Musalia Mudavadi-led United Democratic Forum (UDF) has intensified despite efforts by the former Deputy Prime Minister to stem discontent within his party.

Fresh squabbles have emerged after a recent purge that saw the ouster of UDF chairman Hassan Osman, followed by an announcement that he would be removed from Parliament as the UDF Nominated MP.

Mudavadi has also dismissed criticism that the party did not follow due process in suspending some officials. He says they adhered to the UDF constitution.

“It is not the Parliamentary Group (PG) that suspended anyone. It is National Executive Committee acting on its powers and on a petition by the PG as provided for in the party constitution that resolved to suspend them,” said  Mudavadi.

He referred the group opposing removal of the officials to the party constitution, which stipulates that a suspended member is entitled to fair hearing through a disciplinary committee. 

Disciplinary committee

The party has notified the suspended officials to appear before the committee to defend themselves against the charges preferred against them. Should the committee find them culpable, the matter will proceed for endorsement by the National Governing Council and later, ratification by the National Delegates Council.

After months of inactivity since Mudavadi’s unimpressive run at last year’s presidential election, UDF  has been back in the news since it was reported that some politicians from the Jubilee Alliance were seeking to control it. However, those suspended have challenged the disciplinary measures meted out by the party.

Nevertheless Mudavadi  insists that their troubles have been stirred by external forces. 

“Outsiders must keep off UDF affairs and there is no reverse-gear in our re-branding because the party needs fresh leadership,” said Mudavadi.

In an interview in Nairobi, Mudavadi said UDF was a ‘shell’ before he opted to run for the presidency on its ticket and that he has the right to strengthen the party. “I imparted political life into the party and we managed to get 12 MPs, three senators, a governor and 89 MCAs but we must build on that to turn UDF’s fortunes around as we prepare for 2017,” said Mudavadi.

Mudavadi chaired a UDF NEC meeting last Wednesday despite a Political Parties Tribunal order barring him from conducting party affairs until a dispute filed by the Hassan team is heard and determined. However, Mudavadi said Hassan’s removal was a party matter and that he had nothing personal against him.  

“No one served us the court orders. We are are a pragmatic party and if Hassan decides to apologise and rejoin us, we will welcome him back,” added Mudavadi.

Although Mudavadi did not name the forces allegedly wrecking the party, new UDF Secretary General Justus Kizito accused some United Republic Party politicians of wining and dining with senior UDF party officials to weaken the part leader’s hold on the region.

“I cannot be certain, but I am aware of such insinuations. When you hear a dog bark, the master is right there somewhere. We know lots of money are doing the rounds,” said Mudavadi.

He insists that the need for change arose from a study that showed that UDF’s fortunes were waning even in its strongholds due to inactivity of some party organs.

“We agreed to formally restructure our branches from February in preparation for elections this October but that decision was never implemented due to sabotage by some members of NEC. The idea is to take the party back to the members as the owners. So we are basically trying to catch up on lost time.”

The Hassan group has sought the intervention of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal over the suspensions and Mudavadi has acknowledged that it is within their right to do so, although he insists they must exhaust the internal mechanisms as provided in law.

The former Deputy Prime Minister explained that they have proposed to change the name of the party from the United Democratic Front to the Amani National Congress as part of its re-branding.

“That proposal came up through party organs as part of re-branding. I cannot understand why someone who has been presiding over the same can turn round and disown it. And I don’t see why the Registrar of Political Parties would refuse a genuine desire by party members,” said Mudavadi.

For the first time, Mudavadi spoke   about the proposed disengagement with the Jubilee Alliance.  After the elections, UDF announced that it would cooperate with Jubilee. However, UDF members resolved at a retreat in Naivasha that they should disengage from the ruling coalition.

“It is in public domain that our constituency as a party feels the expectations and results of the co-operation agreement have not been satisfying. Why pretend? There could be other fruitful ways to engage rather than pursue a dormant agreement,” said Mudavadi.