Mudavadi calls off retreat as his plot dealt blow

By ISAAC ONGIRIFuture political plans including a retreat for Luhya MPs initially planned to take place at confidential tourist resort by allies of Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has been put on hold as rebellion over his flight out of ODM emerged.Confusing moments on Mudavadi’s political course began to rare as allies of Prime Minister Raila Odinga hinted that the ODM leader was matching on with the hunt for a political partner in preparation for life without the Sabatia MP.Luhya MPs led by Regional Development Minister Fred Gumo want Deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi to stay put in ODM. [Photo/Standard]Sources in ODM revealed that top Luhya leaders, senior politicians, and opinion shapers from Western have urged the PM to consider a political partnership with National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende to ward off uncertainties created by Mudavadi’s conduct.Investigations by The Standard On Sunday revealed Mudavadi was organising a retreat in which several Luhya MPs were to be invited to solidify his run and keep his pace, which was beginning to gain momentum. The meeting was to follow a major announcement Mudavadi was expected to make in Kakamega yesterday."Yes it is true a retreat was being organised so that we could brainstorm further on a number of political issues affecting our region and as a follow up to the Tuesday meeting, which did not agree on anything," said Mumias MP Benjamin Washiali.But several major things happened towards the weekend, killing the spirit and momentum of the Mudavadi drive.Cabinet Minister Charity Ngilu with whom the DPM has been negotiating for political partnership and a possible take over of Narc is said to have changed her mind after learning that the Sabatia MP was negotiating with a flurry of political brokers on which political party to take. Sources said Ngilu skipped a meeting with Mudavadi and instead travelled for an official function abroad without leaving a message, sending the DPM’s strategy team into a spin.Then there is pressure from Cabinet Minister Soita Shitanda and Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale that New Ford-Kenya would provide better accommodation for Mudavadi, a move his allies oppose. There were also proposals to join Peter Kenneth’s Kenya National Congress."There was feeling that Mudavadi was getting so excited and was not taking time to ventilate on the effects of his activities. He was moving on without consulting people like Fred Gumo, Martin Shikuku, and even ministers from the region who feel they should have a say," said one of the MPs from Western.Stock takingRaila also reacted by personally engaging a few MPs from the Western region to stocktake on his own support. Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa, who feared he was being edged out of New Ford-Kenya by allies to create room for Mudavadi, was uncomfortable and his staying away from the Tuesday consultations represented the Bukusu scepticism.Yesterday, it emerged Wamalwa disappointed by Shitanda and Khalwale’s leanings towards Mudavadi, was planning to quit the party for another outfit. "We are in charge of political parties and we are already having a plan even if they take New Ford-Kenya," said Wamalwa’s personal assistant Tony Gachoka.But when 12 MPs ganged up on Thursday, Mudavadi’s signs of discord in the Luhya unity he wanted to build on resurfaced."We realised that Mudavadi is taking advice from people from outside our party, who are enticing him to quit. What is shocking is that the party he is being told to join has a presidential candidate and that candidate is not saying whether he will step down. That is why we said no," said Washiali.Washiali, who said he is still supporting Mudavadi’s candidature, warned that the Sabatia lawmaker’s political future would be doomed if he continued to engage in political strategy with tricksters. Another meeting held by Luhya leaders before the press conference on Thursday also blamed Shinyalu MP, Justus Kizito, and an aide to the DPM for working with outsiders to engineer the Mudavadi rebellion.The two were also being accused of shoving off some MPs, denying them direct touch with Mudavadi to consult."These two are strategising to run for some positions in the coming elections and are desperate for his support. They think they have a better chance if Mudavadi is in an outfit they can control," said an MP from Western.Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba denied the 12 MPs, who signed a press statement and addressed journalists in Parliament to warn Mudavadi against leaving ODM, had a meeting with Raila earlier."That is nonsense. The idea of having a press conference was purely to communicate our resolution as leaders from Western. The PM has nothing to do with it. But anyway, what would be wrong for MPs to see their party leader?" wondered Namwamba.He said a breakfast meeting organised by Mudavadi last Tuesday, for Western MPs, did not resolve anything. Namwamba was not invited to the meeting."There was nothing wrong for him to call people and buy them tea. What we are advising him now is that if he attempts to leave ODM, he would be making a mistake," the MP said.

Mudavadi calls off retreat as his plot dealt blow

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