Mudavadi to announce next move on April 21

By Roselyne Obala

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi is on Saturday April 21, expected to officially announce his next move after ditching ODM, at a meeting in Kakamega.

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi. He will chair a meeting, in Kakamega Golf Hotel on Saturday April 21, whose outcome is meant to position Western region in the political landscape. (Photo:File/Standard)

The scheduled consultative meeting in 'Ingwe' land might seal ODM's fate in the region.

Mudavadi will chair the meeting and his declaration will open a new chapter in the vote-rich region.

Mudavadi, who is ODM deputy party leader, has continuously expressed his displeasure over the manner in which the party went ahead and presented papers to the Registrar of Political Parties before amending the constitution.

Mudavadi is reported to be holding talks with various party officials.

Wednesday April 11, a major announcement by Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa aborted at the last minute after he rescinded his earlier plan.

Wamalwa was expected to make known Mudavadi's defection from ODM to another party.

Legislators and local leaders are expected to meet at a local hotel in Kakamega to chart the way forward for the region.

Housing minister and New Ford Kenya party leader Soita Shitanda confirmed that preparations are in top gear for the meeting.

The meeting will bring together legislators, councillors, youth, Luhya Elders Forum and stakeholders from Western Province.

"Our meeting is scheduled on 21st April at Kakamega Golf Hotel. The outcome of this meeting will definitely position Western region in the political landscape," he explained.

Shitanda stated that Mudavadi will chair the meeting.

"We want our own spokesman. A leader we can all identify with and who will present the region's issues and initiate development," he said.

The minister reiterated that the outcome of the meeting will mark a new dawn for the region and the country as a whole.

"We want to discuss crucial matters affecting the people and our position as a far as politics is concern," he added.

The Malava MP noted that leaders from Western have for a long time been divided and therefore the need to come together and work as one.

"We have to identify our leader and coordinate regional affairs as a team and not as individuals," he added.

The meeting is expected to be the climax of another to be in Nairobi on Tuesday April 17.

"We have a meeting with legislators from this region on Tuesday. Already 20 MPs have confirmed their attendance," said the Minister.

Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale, Mumias Ben Washiali and Warengai are organising the two meetings.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been maintaining that Mudavadi will not quit ODM but things do not appears to but rosy for the two.

The DPM's has kept his supporters guessing his next move, though he promised to issue a comprehensive statement over the matter.

A lobby group in Western Province, Operation Musalia Ikulu (OMI) has since joined the fray and asked Musalia Mudavadi to name his next party.

OMI said the DPM should not to keep his supporters in suspense and urged him to make a stand and bolt out of ODM.

The group's chairman Burton Richard said their aim is to campaign for Mudavadi to go to State House.

"We want to see Mudavadi in State house. We kindly request him to quit ODM the soonest," he stated.

Richard noted that there was no point in his (Mudavadi) continued stay in ODM when it's obvious democracy will not prevail.

"It beats logic to still stick in the movement when going by all indications, he stands to be locked out of the presidential nominations," he added.

The group argued that Mudavadi stands no chance for fair and transparent elections to win the partyfs presidential ticket.

"We are going to support Mudavadi in every move he decides to make. Mudavadifs name must be in the ballot," he explained.