Musalia Mudavadi- Detractors have preyed on me like ticks

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The statement you made at Fidel Odinga’s funeral has created a lot of debate. Are there discussions going on quietly between you and Raila Odinga regarding working together in future?

The answers to these questions were published by your sister Sunday Standard publication. Anyhow, I made a factual statement that I’ve worked with Raila before and we can work together again. I could’ve made it about anyone else. Uhuru and Raila have made numerous similar statements about the desire to work with each other. No one has raised hullabaloo about it. But when Mudavadi does, the whole social media goes on fire. You must also look at history to know there are no permanent enemies in this thing called politics. Nelson Mandela worked with his Apartheid tormentors. The USA is talking to Cuba today. There is therefore nothing new to my statement that should attract debate unless it’s admission I’m taken more seriously. And no, there are no quiet discussions going on. “Quiet discussion” would be deception which I abhor.

You were slighted and practically hounded out of ODM by Nyanza politicians close to the former PM. Why would you consider going back?

Who said I am going back? It is misleading and schemed propaganda. To use a popular phrase, I’ve moved on. I lead UDF and Amani Coalition. In any case, nothing that forced me out has changed within ODM to allow such contemplation.

Raila has Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula and former VP Kalonzo Musyoka and both have presidential ambitions. Is there space for you in Cord?

You should ask that question to those spreading the misinformation that I’m “going back”. Going back to what? In any case, why should it scare anyone that another has presidential ambitions?

What is your relationship with Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale?

I haven’t had a chat with him for quite a while. He is supposed to belong to UDF, the party I lead. I see him galloping all over in Cord. But he wears UDF colours to those events. Even then, he still says UDF is not my party and I should leave it to the owners. When that happens, will he follow me to the new party or will he remain in UDF? Maybe you need to get clarity from him.

When you formed a coalition with Jubilee, there were expectations that you would get something in return. There were even rumours that you would be appointed Interior minister. What really happened?

First, I’m not in a coalition with Jubilee. There are three main coalitions in the country – Amani, Jubilee and Cord. A coalition can’t form a coalition with another. What exist are post-election agreements on cooperation with Jubilee in Parliament by Amani coalition parties. And as you correctly state, don’t believe in rumours. Of course Amani supporters had expectations and when the outcome is thin, you expect grumbling. I have said before that if there are any public appointments, I’d be glad if they went to other people within the Amani Coalition. Personally, I’m comfortable where I am.

You left ODM, formed your own outfit, seemed to work very closely with central Kenya politicians, got left in the cold and still went ahead and formed a coalition with Uhuruto after the election. Now it is being suggested that you have no problem working with Raila. Does this make you an indecisive leader?

Again, don’t believe in rumours. Who has not worked with whom in the Kenyan political landscape? Are there no-go areas for some of us? Is it abnormal or heresy for some leaders to work with others and Mudavadi is derided for advancing national cohesion? What is indecisive in saying let’s all work together for the good of the country?

There were suggestions that you should have run for Nairobi governor. Or that you should have remained in Jubilee and become leader of majority in Parliament. Any regrets?

Again, when was I in Jubilee to remain in Jubilee? Some people are stuck with electioneering propaganda. I’d only heard about the governor thing when those in ODM were preparing to short-change me over ODM presidential nominations.

You’ve been described as a moderate, the gentleman of Kenyan politics. Why have you found it difficult to galvanise this goodwill into votes?

There is a time for everything. Detractors have preyed on me like ticks. Ethnic chauvinism has taken its toll too. Maybe I’m not good at ethnic engineering. But I am confident experiments in leadership based on ethnicity that are the norm today will come to end. Sooner rather than later, Kenyans will shun ethnic coalitions for coalitions of the willing that we are building through Amani movement.

Former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo seems to spend a lot of time fighting you. He fought you hard during the Kanu days. He fought you hard during the last election. Is there something personal between the two of you?

I’m least aware of any personal issue. Politics is about interests that could be short or long-term. I’m focused on the long-term.

Your father, the late Hon Moses Mudavadi has gone down in the annals of history for being the pre-eminent Luhya leader. What did he do right that you or your peers seem unable to do?

He lived and worked in a different time. He worked under the one-party political system. The clout he held was facilitated by that system. I came in at the end of one-party rule at the dawn of the multi-party era of competition. You can’t compare and duplicate the two political environments.

How much, in your view, does it cost to make a successful bid for the presidency in Kenya? What is this money spent on?

It’s not cheap! I wouldn’t even know how much one spends. You raise your own money, well-wishers chip in, and individuals to make time and resources available. It’s difficult to quantify all these. The money goes towards transport, publicity, mobilisation, payment of agents, supporting other party candidates and other logistics.

Does this mean that an average broke ‘Obama’ cannot make it to State House?

Not in Kenya.