Mudavadi, Wetangula warm up to each other

By Stephen Makabila

The Ikolomani by-election and recent council polls have in the recent past kept the vote-rich Western Province politically active.

Movers in the region have had their eyes set on the ball—the 2012 General Election, taking every chance to endear themselves to the electorate.

However, significant realignments are revolving around the now cosy political relations between Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and former Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula. Political observers say the two are in a ‘marriage of political convenience’, that only confirms there are no permanent enemies in politics, but only permanent interests.

Political Scientist Frank Matanga says Mr Wetangula, who is the Ford-Kenya party leader, is being forced to seek a working relationship with ODM because of the onslaught by youthful politicians, including Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa.

"For Wetangula to remain relevant, he has realised he needs a partner and that partner is ODM. That is why he is moving closer to the ODM Deputy leader," said Matanga, who lectures at Masinde Muliro University.

Wamalwa has presidential ambitions and has teamed up with Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto, among others in G7.

There has been talk of Wamalwa becoming the G-7 compromise candidate should Uhuru and Ruto’s ambitions of running for the presidency be curtailed by the ICC process.

Indications that there was an emerging working relationship between the Orange party and Ford-Kenya within Western emerged during the recent council elections, where the two parties joined forces to defeat candidates allied to New Ford-Kenya.

Bungoma County Council, chairman Julius Bakasa, who is a New Ford-Kenya supporter, lost his position to a Wetangula ally.

Turning tables

But the turning of tables against New Ford-Kenya in council elections came after the party had harvested the Ikolomani seat and the Kimilili North ward civic seat in the May 23 by-election.

Matanga says whether a combined ODM-Ford-Kenya onslaught could contain their perceived rivals remains to be seen.

Former Lugari MP Enock Kibunguchy, a close Mudavadi ally, told The Standard on Sunday that there was no formal working relationship between ODM and Ford-Kenya, and that it could be an informal alliance between Mudavadi and Wetangula.

Mudavadi and Wetangula attended a meeting initiated by elders a week ago in Kakamega, ostensibly to help come-up with a single presidential candidate from the region.

"Each of them speak well of the other but we cannot say there is any formal relationship between ODM and Ford-Kenya," added Kibunguchy.

According to Kibunguchy, Western can only vote as a bloc if it will have a serious presidential candidate, and not someone else’s running mate. At the Kakamega meeting, Mudavadi said the region’s unity was crucial.

Wamalwa allies include nominated MP Musikari Kombo, former Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi, former Assistant Minister Raphael Wanjala and former Webuye MP Joash Wamangoli.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Wamalwa met at Shitanda’s Malava backyard, with the premier dismissing the G-7 alliance, saying it would have problems in picking a candidate to face him next year.

David and Goliath

Wamalwa told politicians not to underestimate him, giving the biblical example of the battle between David and Goliath.

The Saboti MP and his team have embarked on rallies in Western region. "Our next stop will be Vihiga County, then Busia before we conclude with a major rally in Kakamega," he told The Standard on Sunday.

Chairman of the Luhya Council of Elders Patrick Wangamati says elders want not only Mudavadi and Wetangula to unite and work together, but also work with all Western MPs.

"We will be consulting this weekend to set another date for the next meeting," said Wangamati.

Lands Assistant minister Wakoli Bifwoli, however, said ODM and Ford-Kenya had different ideologies.

"Politics is like religion, we may be brothers to those in ODM but we are of different faiths. What matters for Western is to agree on a single presidential candidate irrespective of their party," added Wakoli.

But Kibunguchy feels a working relationship between Mudavadi and Wetangula would be good for Western, as it would help bring closer the Maragoli and Bukusu sub-tribes that have always been at bitter cross roads towards to Luhya unity.

Mudavadi has of late been a frequent visitor to Bungoma County and recently helped raise funds for Friends School, Kamusinga in Kimilili constituency.