Mudavadi: I don't owe post to Raila Odinga

Amani coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi (left) addresses the Press at party headquarters in Nairobi, Tuesday. [PHOTO: DAVID NJAAGA/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi has refuted claims that he owes his position in the Grand Coalition Government to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Mudavadi cited Raila's recent statement that he (Raila) gave Mudavadi the position of deputy prime minister in the Grand Coalition government, saying the ex-premier had no office through which he could dish out positions.

The Amani party leader added the deputy prime minister post was created by the law, establishing the grand coalition government to which he was lead negotiator on behalf of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Mudavadi's response comes after Raila asked him and former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende to rejoin ODM ahead of the 2017 polls.

He further dismissed claims that the ODM party leader was responsible for Marende's win as the National Assembly's speaker.

The Amani leader also stated he was not ready to join ODM and instead told Raila to join ANC.

"I am not shifting from ANC to ODM...ANC would be much richer if he (Raila) joined us," said Mudavadi during a press conference at the party's headquarters Tuesday.

He wondered why Raila found it difficult to allow politicians to enjoy the right of political participation despite him claiming to have fought for democratic freedoms.

Mudavadi said it was ironical that the CORD co-principal had been rallying against Jubilee about lying on the county's wage bill while he was not being honest on other issues.

On the impeachment motion against President Uhuru Kenyatta by the Opposition, Mudavadi said it would flatly fail since the Opposition coalition lacked numbers in both the National Assembly and Senate.

"Who has the numbers in both the National Assembly and Senate?" he posed.

"The main issue is to sort out the teachers' strike".

He said the move by CORD was singularly convenient and an "opportunistic hoax meant to hoodwink the public".

DIVERSIONARY RUSE

"One, to the extent that Okoa Kenya has stalled, the impeachment is merely a diversionary ruse for CORD to remain anchored in publicity," he observed.

Mudavadi continued: "Two, it is meant to test the stability of the Jubilee coalition at a time reports indicate dissent within it. They hope to exploit the alleged disenchantment by URP."

The tersely worded statement by the Amani leader could just set the stage for a gruelling political duel between the one-time political allies ahead of the next General Election, which is in not more than two years away as both attempt to be the darling of the region's voters.

Raila received overwhelming support from the former Western Province and he is still keen on retaining the region.

But Mudavadi now says neither CORD nor Jubilee are options for the Luhya community.

"It is important to note that Raila is aware of the resurgence of Luhya nationalism and his desire is to bottle it under fear-mongering of Jubilee."

Mudavadi once again weighed in on the teachers' strike which has since paralysed the education sector, sending candidates into a panic mood ahead of the national examinations.

He prevailed upon involved parties to give room for dialogue in seeking for solution to end the stalemate.

"Time is running out and the Government should now engage the teachers' unions."

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