Forget rumours, I voted for Mudavadi in 2013 - Running mate Jeremiah Kioni

Jeremiah Kioni, former Ndaragwa MP, was Musalia Mudavadi's running mate in the 2013 General Election on Amani Coalition. Their presidential bid came to monumental grief. With the 2017 election fever spreading, he spoke to DANIEL PSIRMOI about not voting for 'MaDVD,' funding the Mungiki and Dedan Kimathi schooling with his mother.

Which political seat are you gunning for in the 2017 General Election, Governor or Senator?

I won’t go for the Senate seat. I am on record calling for the scrapping of the position which I think should be taken by council of elders. I will not gun for any gubernatorial seat, it doesn’t put one on the national political radar. I will vie for my former Ndaragwa parliamentary seat. I still harbour Presidential ambitions. After I get to parliament in 2017, I will decide when to go for the top seat in the land.

In 2013 you were Musalia Mudavadi’s running-mate on a UDF party ticket under Amani Coalition. You ditched UDF for PNU last year, what happened?

Mudavadi and I desired to rebrand UDF, but majority of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) members were not for the idea. I jumped ship, Mudavadi too did and formed Amani National Congress (ANC).

You being a presidential running mate caught many people by surprise, as you were a first time MP. How did you make the decision?

A politician must make tough decisions in their lives and this was one of them. I had interacted a lot with Mudavadi as we had both led delegations of the coalition government in foreign trips. Him as the Deputy Prime Minister from ODM and myself as the PNU Chief whip. I wasn’t surprised when he chose me.

Did you believe you would win against Uhuru Kenyatta considering you both come from Central Kenya? 

As I said, the hallmark of a strong politician and a leader is one who makes a decision and sticks by it, even if it is wrong. I was convinced that we would win. At least, I believed in something and tried. Nobody goes for an election to lose.

There is talk that Mudavadi got zero votes at your polling station. You did not vote for him?

That is a bad rumour started by my detractors which I don’t like speaking about since the matter is still in court. They claimed my party leader then got nil votes at Ndururumo Primary School which is in Laikipia County, when I actually cast my vote at Kanyagia Primary School in Ndaragwa Constituency which is in Nyandarwa County!

So Mudavadi actually received votes at your polling station, how many votes?

I can assure you he got more than five votes at my polling stations, records are there for those who want to confirm. I would be a person of unsound mind not to vote for myself.

Why would someone start such a bad rumour?

Whoever who started the propaganda wanted to paint me as a traitor, never mind that I stood against the Kikuyu wave. I have been ridiculed and it even affected my children and close family members. The architects of the rumour hit me where it hurt most-the core of what drove me to politics. They managed to paint me as deceitful individual and made people speak the worst of me. Luckily, Mudavadi and other friends understood it was a rumour.

During your stint in the 10th parliament you were the first MP to call for the scrapping of KCPE and KCSE. You stood out as the only MP from Central Kenya who took the issue of Mungiki sect to the floor of the house and was on record opposing the creation of Senate and the taking of the Kenyan cases to the Hague. What makes you go against the grain?

I always support the cause I believe in. I do not go with the masses. It does not matter to me if I cross swords with anyone. I was accused of funding the Mungiki after I protested the brutal killings of their members. I lost my seat because of what I believed in.

Looking at track-record, you come out as a bold politician who has no qualms paying any price for what you believe in. Who inspires you and why?

Dedan Kimathi is my role model. Unknown to many Kenyans, the liberation hero grew up in my grandfathers’ homestead in Nyandarua and schooled with my mother. I was brought up and regaled by his stories. Retired President Kibaki too is my hero, he is courageous and always remains focused and steadfast even during times of crisis.