Mudavadi reveals why co-principals are hesitant to quit NASA

File photo of ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi addressing the press at Convent international hotel in Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Despite several public declarations by a section of opposition leaders that the National Super Alliance is dead, its constituent political parties are yet to officially cease membership.

NASA comprised of five political parties namely ODM, ANC, Ford Kenya, Chama Cha Mashinani and Wiper which saw the leaders become co-principals.

Speaking during a morning show at  Standard Group's Spice FM, Amani National Congress party leader Mudavadi said that there are other aspects such as revenue sharing indicating that political parties get some benefits by staying under the coalition.

“There were some obligations, revenue sharing and so forth which unfortunately are not being adhered to,” he noted

He added: “But discussions are ongoing to resolve these issues if it becomes impossible then we will go to an arbitration process.”

One of the benefits came from the Political Parties Fund cash which parties share. This, however, led to a vicious war.

It was reported that other parties’ share is believed to be at the mercy of Opposition chief Raila Odinga, who decides how to share the windfall with his partners in the moribund coalition.

This was after Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu said coalition agreement did not contain any clause on the sharing of funds from the Exchequer as ODM was allocated Sh4.1 billion.

Mudavadi also noted that each party is hesitant to make the first move to walk out of the political marriage because none wants to be perceived as a backstabber.

“If they leave some of them are worried they will be seen as the ones who jumped ship,” he said.

The ANC party leader did not entirely rule out the possibility of the coalition remaining intact ahead of the 2022 contests but hinted of a new coalition.

“Politics is dynamic. If the issues are resolved we could still have NASA in 2022. Equally, we are now alive to the fact that there could be other coalition arrangements,” said Mudavadi.

A section of politicians have declared the coalition dead but Mudavadi who founded NASA is adamant the coalition is still intact.

“Nobody has quit NASA officially. It exists, it is a legal entity as a coalition,” he said.

In July 2018, Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang'ula said the coalition was dead.

“NASA is a moribund organisation that cannot be salvaged. It is history. I have suffered the pain of betrayal by NASA presidential candidate,” he said.

Afterwards, ODM politicians would openly confirm that NASA is actually dead.

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna accused the other parties in the coalition of joyriding.

"When you are tall and your friend is short, they do not tell you to kneel so that you look at the same height. They ask you to carry them,” he said.

Mudavadi, however, has challenged those who said NASA is dead to pull out of the coalition in writing.

“If they say it is gone, why aren’t they pulling the plug out? The agreement we signed was that if three political parties officially exit then NASA ceases to exist,” he said.

Mudavadi denied he was gullible when he was asked why it was easy for politicians to play him after the outcome of 2013 and 2017 elections.

“I do not think people find it easy to play me. I moved on from the 2013 incident. Now, I cannot be guilty as one person because we are five of us,” he said.