By Peter Atsiaya
Vihiga, Kenya: Former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has said he will now focus on strengthening his United Democratic Forum (UDF) party to remain politically relevant.
He said failure to win the presidency does not mean his thirst for the top seat is over.
Mr Mudavadi said he would work closely with UDF’s 12 MPs, two Governors and party officials to make the party stronger and push for the interests of Kenyans.
“UDF is among four political parties qualified for funding from the Registrar of Political Parties and this is an indication that we are not pushovers,” he said.
Other parties that would be funded by the Government include ODM, TNA, URP and Wiper. The former presidential candidate was addressing Vihiga County representatives who had paid him a courtesy call at his Mululu home, Wednesday.
Review performance
“We have held UDF retreats to review our performance in the last elections and chart the way forward,” he added.
He said UDF was a national party although a lot of its support was from his Western home turf.
Mudavadi dismissed claims by his detractors that he was not in charge of the party.
Some party MPs met at Senator George Khaniri’s home in Hamisi during the recent Khaniri’s homecoming where they said there was need for leaders in Western to leave UDF to ‘owners’.
Control of the party
But Mudavadi said he was in control of the party.
“The challenge bestowed on you as county leaders is immense and you should not let voters down,” he told the leaders.
He noted need for the county government to involve experts in assisting county representatives put in place proper legislations.
He noted that most of them were newcomers in politics and would not effectively carry out their responsibilities unless guided.
“I am impressed that voters elected competent and well educated county representatives who would live to the expectations of residents,” he added.
Mudavadi asked the county representatives to support Governor Moses Akaranga.
