Musalia Mudavadi‘s take on UDF, Uhuru and 2017 election

Q: There have been reports of wrangles in UDF with talk to discipline errand members including chairman and senator. What is your take on this infighting?

A: I am a firm believer in democracy and the rule of law in political parties.  I believe in internal democracy. I believe one must fight for what is right and just, not for the sheer political expediency of it. Not all members have ill motives. There are governors, senators, MPs and MCAs who were elected on UDF ticket and have unwavering support for reform in the party. By re-branding the party, there are fundamental party ideals that we want to protect. My philosophy is for leaders to support each other for the good of the country, despite divergent views. Diversity is wealth, but I am keen on putting the country first and not personal political survival. Nonetheless, we are in transition and change has many elements to it.

Q:  You want to re-brand UDF and make it more vibrant. Are you doing away with Kanu, New Ford Kenya (NFK) and other partners?

A: UDF, Kanu and NFK exist as independent parties in our pre-election Amani Coalition. UDF organs discussed re-branding with our partners and they have no problem with renaming the party Amani New Coalition. Re-branding includes restructuring, inclusion and widening members’ participation in party organs and making the organs work.

Q:  Why now?

A: We decided to change officials to make the party more focused, vibrant and inclusive. The decision was arrived at after members raised the issue that the party is run by a close knit group in National Executive Committee (NEC). As part of the changes, some organs of the party like the Parliamentary, Youth and Women groups were deliberately rendered moribund. The County Representative Group made up of MCAs were resisted after they were constituted. The fear was that, if they were to be functional, some officials at NEC would lose clout. Frankly speaking, the party was grinding to a halt. Members read sabotage in the functioning of the party.

Majority of NEC officials deserted the party immediately after the elections. They have only resurfaced to cause fracas. If they are honest, they would confess the external forces they are working for.

Q:  Why did UDF expel Senators Bony Khalwale, Martha Wangare (Nominated) and MP Hassan Aden Osman?

A: The party acted according to the law. Section 14 (5) of the Political Parties Act is very explicit that, “A person who, while being a member of a political party in any way or manner, promotes the ideology, interests, or policies of another political party (is) deemed to have resigned from the previous political party”. For others, there were equally weighty charges of indiscipline bordering on sabotage and misdemeanour.

Q:  The Political Parties’ Dispute Tribunal, stayed the expulsion of four members whose membership had been cancelled by the party. What next for the four members?

A: The Tribunal is an arbitration organ. Its role is mediation. It is barred by law from interfering in internal disciplinary mechanisms lest it is seen as micromanaging political parties’ affairs and activities. There is no dispute that the NDC, the highest decision-making organ, cannot handle. The tribunal came in as a result of failure by NEC to convene an NDC as petitioned by members. Including Mudavadi in this matter is a posture to exploit my stature for cheap publicity.

Q:  Observers have said expulsion of Khalwale from UDF will cost you a chunk of support within the Luhya community because the senator represents the most populous county in the region. What’s your take on that?

A: Normally, I don’t discuss individuals. I have tremendous respect for Dr Khalwale and the support he gave me back then. But now that you have asked the question, please allow me to set the record straight. I am not in any competition with him. Khalwale assumes that because Uhuru Kenyatta betrayed me by reneging on an agreement to support me, I must hate him. Though the betrayal was painful, I moved on. But he wants to ride on the disappointment to cause paranoia and demonise me.

Q:  Are you suggesting hypocrisy and betrayal?

A: Yes. The criminalised tag that I am “friends with Uhuru” as a way of demonising me is scripted from prenatal politics of setting an ethnic group against an imagined enemy to win votes. This ethnic profiling of Uhuru is recycled from what he did against Raila during our campaigns. People should not forget Khalwale was buddies with Uhuru under the coalition government while I deputised Raila. I am a political friend to Uhuru as I am with Raila. The pendulum in the adage that there are no permanent enemies or friends in politics has swung in favour of Khalwale himself too. A fervent pro-Uhuru turned zealous pro-Raila now anti-Mudavadi crusader. I wonder who could be next should Cord implode.

Q:  Expelled party officials claim they reversed the decision made by the National Executive Council meeting you chaired and have threatened that they will instead, expel you and your deputy Jeremiah Kioni. Who exactly owns UDF?

A: Recognition of officials is through members’ legally constituted organs. An inferior organ like NEC, cannot reverse decisions of a superior organ that is NDC. The so-called reversal and threats is posturing. The extent of impunity in the party is amazing. Rumour has it that a senator has been promised a seat if they continue the infighting.

This is a mentality of “brokers” out to earn a commission. How do you auction a political party like that? You cannot force yourself on members and claim to be democratic. What you are seeing is resistance to reform the party. Under the current constitutional order, political parties are public institutions owned by members, not officials.

Q:  In reference to the case in ODM-K, Daniel Maanzo ran away with the party forcing Raila to form ODM and Deputy President William Ruto was unable to get UDM party documents, forcing him to form URP. Why didn’t you form a new party knowing that you did not have custody of party documents instead of renaming UDF to ANC?

A: Custody of documents was a vexing issue under the old constitution where the law did not provide for it. That was why the culture of a political vagabond “running away” with party certificates was prevalent. Today, the law provides to whom custody of party documents is vested. Anyone else holding them for purposes of extortion is doing so illegally.

Q:  Various UDF party officials have accused external forces for being behind wrangles within the party. Who are these forces and why are they fighting you?

A: UDF supporters are everywhere and have access to crucial information. I treat subversion in UDF as attempts by external forces to exploit imagined or provoked rifts. The nature of our opportunistic politics is to either provoke or take advantage of innocent scuffles. Any party’s problems is healthy hunting ground for its opponents. As we all know, a revamped, organised and focused party is a threat to the hegemony and that’s why they will try whatever means possible to sabotage it using elements within the party.

Q:  Voter registration is going on. While some regions have registered a high number of voters, Western Kenya still lags behind. What are you doing to boost voter registration in your county?

A: There are too many prophets of doom within and without the Luhya community who do not want the region to thrive politically. They sell the message of despondency, dependency and worthlessness all the time. This dents voter confidence. In an ethnically negotiated election like 2013, you saw the propaganda waged against me. Our people almost lost faith in the power of the vote. I am constantly told “mwana weru”, had we put all our votes in your basket, we would be better off today as a community”. That part of reawakening is required. We must keep hammering the value of the vote. We must demand that registration for IDs and voters is done fairly and expeditiously. In light of that, I have had crucial discussions with leaders who manage funds such as Constituency Development Funds that they need to set aside monies for sensitisation of voters and registration for IDs.

Q:  UDF allied MP Ayub Savula, is on record saying you and other Luhya leaders should sit together and nominate a flag bearer for 2017? Can this be achieved?

A: Unity is important. But how many times are we going to sit and talk? We did that in the run-up to elections last year and you know what happened. Fixation with leaders’ meeting must be devoid of hypocrisy and selfish agendas. What is important now is for voters to decide whom they want to be the flag bearer. By the way, if I don’t win my party nomination, I would support the winner. Remember I’ve a history of subordinating my ambition for others. In 2002, I supported Uhuru and in 2007 when Raila won the ODM nominations, I supported him. I am not a recalcitrant fellow.

Q:  In the last General Election you were accused of being a Jubilee mole used to divide Luhyas and denied ODM overwhelming support among Luhya community. Were you given UDF party by former President Kibaki?

A: That propaganda denied the community a strategic choice. It was cheap ethnic profiling that cost the community. What did it achieve? Some leaders still continue to whip ethnic emotions to remain relevant. I notice regret all over. And no, I was not given a party by the former president. That has been the smear campaign. I joined UDF voluntarily and consciously after being locked out of ODM nominations.

Q: Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula has declared he will vie for presidency under CORD. Is it another ploy to deny you the Luhya bloc should you vie?

A: If that were to happen, he would be labelled a spoiler the way they did to me. You don’t run for presidency merely to block another person. You must want to be president because you want to make a difference.

Q: You are a strong supporter of President Uhuru? Why?

Uhuru is the President of Kenya, why do you want me not to recognise him as such? Is it because he is Kikuyu? I don’t have to like him as a person to accept that he is president. I hold strong opinions against his, but that does mean I demonise him.

Q: Why are you opposed to the push for more funds in the counties spearheaded by CORD and governors? Don’t you think the move will make you unpopular in Western?

A: Really? Your question is mischievous. Remember, I am the one who put the architecture of devolution in place. I would be the last to sabotage it. However, my issue with that project is the cheap politics it is laced with. I haven’t seen a genuine thrust to address devolution as referendum question. I am the last person to want to play double-standards with such a critical promise to Kenyans in the name of advancing my political career.

Q: Will you vie for presidency in 2017? If yes, on which party?

A: Yes, I will. I have missed one penalty at my first stab. We are re-branding UDF in preparation for 2017 and that explains why we are causing jitters in some quarters. By re-branding, we are creating a wider political movement.