Mudavadi wants Mt Kenya voters to return ‘favour’

By Stephen Makabila                  

In last week’s campaign forays in Central Province, United Democratic Forum (UDF) presidential aspirant, Musalia Mudavadi, seemed out to accomplish a mission.

“You, the people of Central, have spoken and I have listened. I will give my brother a call, and I can assure you we will agree so that we can avoid a run-off as you have said,” he said.

Mudavadi added in Kikuyu dialect: “Ninguhurira Uhuru ithimu ndimwire anduaya moiga tunyitane, tunyitane, tunyitane (I will call Uhuru and tell him all you people have said we join hands.)”

A decade ago, Mudavadi lost his Sabatia parliamentary seat despite being Vice-President, for supporting Uhuru’s presidential bid.

And Mudavadi now wants Uhuru, a fellow DPM, to back him.

Said Mudavadi: “I made history for being the shortest-serving Vice-President. I did that while supporting Uhuru, who is your son. Will I be in order if I ask you kurudisha mkono? (Return the favour)?”

In seeking Uhuru’s endorsement, the DPM dangled the image of him and Uhuru creating a formidable force to counter Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Second fiddle

But the emerging question is how remote or realistic can a Mudavadi-Uhuru ticket be, and whether the latter was likely to agree to play second fiddle.

Peter Kagwanja, president of the Africa Policy Institute, says Mudavadi is increasingly becoming popular in Kikuyuland.

“Central Kenya people have a future in Mudavadi. It’s not even a sense of entitlement on the basis that he backed Uhuru a decade ago,” added Prof Kagwanja.

But political analyst Kipchumba Murkomen says Mudavadi has tactfully put Uhuru on the defense.

“It’s a good strategy he employed. He is telling Central it’s time they supported aspirants from outside the region, but it’s doubtful whether Uhuru would yield,” said Murkomen.

He argues the beauty of it is that if Central refuses to return the favour, then it would be interpreted to mean the region is selfish.

Political scientist Amukowa Anangwe says central Kenya is a traditional solid voting bloc, but as to who the votes would go to remains debatable.

There has been talk of Uhuru becoming Mudavadi’s presidential running mate, but Uhuru has in recent weeks dismissed reports he is out of the presidential race, and that he was still in the battle on The National Alliance ticket.

Intense talks

Uhuru, through his spokesman Munyori Buku, late last month denied there were talks between him and Mudavadi.

He described allegations to that effect by Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni and Laikipia West MP Nderitu Mureithi as blatant lies. “No such thing exists,” he said.

And while addressing a rally in Lamu last weekend, Uhuru again told off Kioni for allegedly claiming the Gatundu South MP would lose the presidential run-off vote to Raila because Kenyans would not vote for another Kikuyu candidate.

Kioni had urged Uhuru to support Mudavadi, but Uhuru told him only Mudavadi should negotiate an election deal with him.

But even amid Uhuru’s denial, some Luhya and Kikuyu elders met in Nairobi as Mudavadi was traversing Central.

The agenda of the strategy meeting, spearheaded by former Assistant Minister, Andrew Ligale, was to look into the possibility of a Mudavadi-Uhuru joint presidential ticket.

Another meeting between the elders is set for July 28.

The Musalia Mudavadi camp feels there are chances of the two striking a deal, and that direct negotiations between them have been ongoing.

“We are sure things are going to work out because Mudavadi is reaching out to key leaders to win the presidential contest in round one,” said Charles Walengai, an ally of the Sabatia MP.

Central Kenya Parliamentary Group chairman Ephraim Maina has also supported the working relationship. Maina says he welcomes the talks between the two leaders because it will result in unity of purpose.

Another boost is the backing Mudavadi received from the Meru Council of Elders Nchuri Ncheke in his last weekend tour of the Central region.

Kikuyu name

While concluding his presidential campaign in central Kenya on Monday, Mudavadi was tagged with a Kikuyu name ‘Macharia’, while Meru elders named him ‘M’Mukiri’ when he sought their blessings.

Nchuri-Ncheke Council National Secretary Pharis Ruteere led 170 elders in blessing Mudavadi and assured him they would look at him favourably in during presidential election.

But the fact that Uhuru was at the Coast with Mudavadi’s Western Province political rival, Eugene Wamalwa, also raises questions on their possible joint ticket (Mudavadi-Uhuru).

The Coast rallies also came after Uhuru and Wamalwa addressed another rally in Kisii in recent weeks.

Wamalwa was the chief guest at the launch of Uhuru’s TNA, while Uhuru was the chief guest at the re-branding of New Ford-Kenya.

There has been talk of the Justice minister becoming Uhuru’s presidential running mate in the coming elections, but the former maintains he will be on the presidential ballot through his rebranded New Ford-Kenya party.