By Vitalis Kimutai
Musalia Mudavadi on Wednesday resigned as Minister for Local Government after ditching Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)
Mudavadi however said he will continue to serve as Deputy Prime Minister and announced that he will vie for presidency in the next general elections on a United Democratic Front (UDF) party ticket.
He made the announcement at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in a ceremony attended by former Tourism Minister Najib Balala, Fisheries Assistant Minister Abu Chiaba and Mandera Central MP Abdukadir Mohammed.
The DPM had on Wednesday morning told the media at a breakfast meeting at a Nairobi hotel that he was no one's project and that his candidature was not meant to block Prime Minister Raila Odinga from succeeding President Mwai Kibaki at State House.
"I had ambitions for the Presidency even prior to joining ODM which I am quitting due to failure to amend the nomination and election rules which makes the party leader the automatic flag bearer in a general election," Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi said that he had chosen not to challenge in court the failure by ODM to amend the constitution as agreed by National Executive Council (NEC) before the registration documents were forwarded to the Registrar of Political Parties because he did not want to frustrate the party with protracted legal issues.
"In politics, one has to be prepared to take challenges, risks and move on. The level of patience and tolerance I have displayed in the believe that changes in the party constitution is important and should be acknowledged," he said.
Musalia said that he was ready to work with other like minded politicians including Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto who are in the G7 alliance.
He denied that he had received discreet backing from former President Daniel Moi in his bid for the Presidency.
"We should leave Moi to rest, he is in his 90s and we respect him as an elder statesman. I find it absolutely strange that people keep making such claims. There is serious lack of imagination among those coming up with such theories as Moi's name would not be in the Presidential ballor," Mudavadi said.
He added: "It is part of a classic propoganda machine of disinformation from my opponents who are trying to paint me as a project," he said.
The Local Government Minister said he had a wealth of experience to serve the country as the next President having served in various ministries including being a Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Local Government Minister, Transport and Communication, Agriculture.
