By ISAAC ONGIRI

The whittling euphoria previously generated by Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi is causing concerns as his backers who precipitated his six-month national drive begin to withdraw.

A dismal show at a much-publicised rally in Nakuru two weeks ago is further killing the momentum the DPM generated as he took on his former ally Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Today, Mudavadi will hold his second public rally since he quit ODM at the Tononoka Grounds today where former Tourism Minister Najib Balala is to play host.

Coupled with pockets of rivalry now emerging in his Western backyard, Mudavadi usually known for his less confrontational ways, must engage high gear to survive the political terrain ahead on his journey to State House.

Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa is cobbling a new political front bringing together Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo and Cabinet minister Wycliffe Oparanya in a move aimed at dismantling the Mudavadi wave in Western.

Signs the International Criminal Court may postpone the Kenyan trials until after the March 2012 elections can only mean Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto could run.

The participation of the two elections could cause a major impact on Mudavadi’s national tally and dismantle plans to benefit from protest votes against Raila if the two are barred from running on the account of the ICC cases.

On Thursday, ICC prosecutor Moreno Ocampo said he is not opposed to the proposed extension of the trial of the four Kenyan cases. Inside sources also revealed Raila is now fully in support of Uhuru and Ruto being allowed to run to block opportunistic candidates from reaping in their absence.

“The PM now feels the two should be allowed to run so that Kenyans can decide their fate at the ballot,” said a close aide to the PM who declined to be named.

The PM enjoys wide international respect and a foreign diplomat confided in The Standard On Sunday that Kenya’s struggle for deferment would have won credence if Kibaki took advantage of Raila’s international reputation to ask for the same.

Two weeks ago, the PM made a detour trip to Britain from an official trip in the US where he met the UK’s Minister for African Affairs Henry Bellingham in London where it is believed the ICC issue may have been discussed.

Konoin MP Julius Kones told The Standard On Sunday that the borrowed moral support Mudavadi relied on as he battled the PM may now be over and it is time he began to learn how to stand alone.

“The reason we wanted him out of ODM is now accomplished. I don’t think we are interested in borrowing our support any more,” Kones said.

Kones also revealed there was caution among Ruto’s supporters on how to engage with the DPM with the majority feeling he should be left to fight his own battle instead of heading to his calls for political aid.

Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Paul Otuoma warned Mudavadi may find himself wasted beyond repair if secret allies who helped pull him out of the ODM did not lend their support. “He overrated himself. I have been waiting for him to come up and tell Kenyans what he stands for.

Other than his big tribe, he may have nothing really to talk about. It will be important those who pulled him out remain with him because if they don’t, then he is finished,” Otuoma said.

The minister said the anticipated Mudavadi excitement in Western Kenya was fading away as quickly as it came. “His exit from ODM has failed to create the wave its plotters thought they would have benefitted from. In fact in Busia, it hasn’t been felt at all,” the Funyula MP said.

Political tricksters
Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo said the DPM might have fallen pray to one of the biggest political tricksters and predicted doom on Mudavadi’s political future.
“It is a sad thing for him. We knew all along he was being sponsored to leave ODM and we knew those who plotted it had nothing good in store for him. It is likely he may not even be a presidential candidate all together,” said Midiwo.

But Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu dismissed as foul talk, claims Mudavadi’s presidential bid was not making impact.

“Mudavadi is not like Raila who makes noise all over. He has been strategising and when we get back on route, Kenyans will appreciate the substance of his candidature,” he said.

He said last weekend, Mudavadi and allies spent time at a secluded venue to strategise on how to move his campaign forward.

One MP from Central Kenya said a section of supporters from the region were warming up to Mudavadi as a compromise but they had been taken aback by the DPM’s inability to excite home support.
“Even if we are going into a partnership, we can only do so with someone who will bring bloc votes. Our fear is Mudavadi now looks very shaky and no one wants to put his money in something that can flop,” said the legislators.

Nakuru Town MP Lee Kinyanjui, who though confessed he is not a Mudavadi supporter despite attending his rally in Nakuru two weeks ago, said the DPM had a lot of time to prove his political worth.
“He has a lot of time to prove his worth. As for the Nakuru rally, I only attended after he invited me as the area MP and there was no need to disappoint him,” Kinyanjui said.

He also confirmed there was no direct engagement between Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Mudavadi, insisting the Gatundu North MP was concentrating on his own campaigns.

And Belgut MP Charles Keter, commenting on Mudavadi’s political drive, described the political situation as very confusing, adding it was becoming difficult to predict.

“Mudavadi has his own people and we also have ours. What I can tell you is that politics has become so confusing. I think Raila, Uhuru, Ruto and even Mudavadi...one of them will become President but things are not clear yet,” said Mr Keter.

He said Mudavadi and Ruto were working on their parallel campaigns, adding the DPM is yet to formally approach the Eldoret North MP for political partnership.

Nyakach MP Polynce Ochieng’ said some nasty people who played a role in the Mudavadi and Raila fall out are now out to humiliate the Sabatia MP, warning that it will not be long before the DPM begins to regret. “We are shocked some of the MPs who were previously very excited when he joined UDF are now supporting the idea of kicking him out as DPM,” Ochieng said.

A renowned Nyeri political activist and a top policeman are said to have funded the recent political drama that saw Raila and Mudavadi go their separate ways.