Musalia Mudavadi faults Opposition for seeking Barack Obama's intervention

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi has expressed displeasure at the practice of Kenyan leaders seeking the intervention of foreigners to resolve their local challenges.

Although he was not privy to what was contained in the memorandum that the Opposition presented to US President Barack Obama, he strongly feels the issues raised could have been handled through dialogue.

Asked what the meeting could have achieved, Mudavadi said: “We all have our own ways of dealing with issues but I strongly believe that seeking dialogue to deal with sticky issues is better than waiting for a foreigner to come so that he can assist us.”

Opposition leaders Raila Odinga (ODM), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) and Martha Karua (Nark-Kenya) presented the memorandum to Obama at Kasarani in Nairobi two weeks ago.

Last week, the four leaders revealed that they raised issues on lack of good governance, corruption, insecurity and electoral reforms, on which they sought the intervention of the US President. They addressed a press conference after President Obama criticised one of them for asking him to put pressure on the government when they had opposed intervention of the US government in the past.

Different position

“You kept on telling us not to interfere. To keep off, when you were in government. There are people who want us to interfere when they are not in power but want us to take a different position when they are not. They told us mind your own business,” Obama told a civil society meeting at Kenyatta University.

Mudavadi was quick to praise Obama for having been spot on in his hard-hitting remarks against the Opposition because the issues they raised could have been handled differently.

“It may disappoint some people but I think he was saying, sort out your own issues. We should not be raising issues with foreign leaders just because we want to get attention,” said Mudavadi.

The former deputy Prime Minister was however full of praise for Obama, describing his visit as “an opportunity for self reflection” because he raised issues that the country seriously needs to address.

Mudavadi challenged the jubilee coalition government to do more on building a cohesive country.

He singled out recent public sector and Cabinet appointments and asked the government to uphold the spirit of inclusion of all communities.

Although the government has made some steps in the fight against corruption, the former MP for Sabatia wants more done to stem the vice.

Other challenges that have captured his attention over the last two years include attempts to claw back gains of devolution. He described the government’s embrace of devolution as, “a bit hesitant and reluctant” when they should have taken advantage to boost it and endear themselves to the people across the country.

Challenged to explain why he quit the United Democratic Front (UDF) and if the party was a project of some powerful people in the President Kibaki administration, Mudavadi dismissed the claims.

Democratic space

“I met the constitutional requirement and I was not therefore a government candidate. Anybody who continues with that propaganda is propagating mischief and should know the democratic space has changed,” said Mudavadi.

So now that he has joined ANC, what happens to UDF members and elected leaders?

He explained that ANC was born out of the elections post mortem where members strongly felt there was need to re-brand UDF party but some leaders and officials moved to court to protect their own interests.

“They first rushed to the political parties tribunal to stop us from re-branding making us spend seven months sorting out the court process as they manipulated the tribunal,” said Mudavadi.

To avoid court battles, supporters, and other leaders decided to register ANC as an independent party, and allow MPs and MCAs to complete their terms on the UDF ticket.

Mudavadi claims all UDF branches in the country have changed over to ANC and they have so far registered 700,000 new members. So what is the message ANC championing as it fights for its space in the political spectrum?

“We are crafting our position based on championing devolution, which is a key plank in our 2010 Constitution, and the fact that we need good governance, respect for the rule of law,” said Mudavadi.