Mudavadi: Why Uhuru owes me

By Francis Ngige and James Munyeki

Even as uncertainty grows over Uhuru Kenyatta’s chances of securing the presidency should there be a run-off in the General Election, Musalia Mudavadi has cast himself as the best option for Central Kenya.

At the start of his whirlwind three-day tour of the region on Thursday, the Sabatia MP reminded the people of central Kenya that Uhuru was former President Moi’s choice to take over State House.

The development came after it emerged that Uhuru, whom opinion polls have consistently painted as the strongest challenger to Prime Minister Raila Odinga, is unlikely to be available for the possible run-off vote against his bitter rival and Langata MP.

The Standard reported on Thursday that Uhuru is likely to be in The Hague to attend his trial for crimes against humanity on the day a possible second round of voting in the presidential election takes place in April.

This puts pressure on Uhuru to win the State House race in the first round; something most analysts have said is mathematically impossible.

Mudavadi has been asking Kenyans during his whistle-stop campaigns around the country to make their votes count in the first round, and avoid a presidential run-off, and he repeated the same on Thursday.

Mudavadi lost his Sabatia seat in the 2002 General Election and only returned to Parliament in 2007 on an Orange Democratic Party (ODM) ticket. He also had the shortest stint in Kenya’s history as Vice-President, having held the position for just two months under Moi.

Echoing Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s call in 2002 for Kenyans to endorse Kibaki to take over from former President Moi, Mudavadi asked Uhuru and the people of Central to declare him “Tosha!”

The DPM dangled the image of him and Uhuru creating a formidable political force to counter Raila and ODM, and said he is reaching out to his colleague Uhuru, and the people of central Kenya to “return the favour” he did to Uhuru in 2002.

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

Also targeted in the envisaged coalition are “like-minded” leaders, who will ensure they get victory in the first round.

Mudavadi addressed well-attended rallies in Nyahururu, Ndaragwa, and Wiyumiririe in Nyandarua County. He held similar rallies in Mweiga, Kimathi, Chaka and Naromoru in Nyeri before addressing his final rally in Nanyuki.

He is expected to continue with his rallies in Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties on Friday.

“I have heard what you have told me. I’m going to call Uhuru tonight so that we can discuss a game plan that will ensure that victory is ours,” said Mudavadi.

committed

He said having worked with Uhuru in 2002 when the latter vied for president, he was sure things would work out.

Mudavadi committed himself after MPs from his United Democratic Forum (UDF) exerted pressure on him to form an alliance with Uhuru, arguing that no party can win the elections alone.

Speaking in the local Kikuyu language, Mudavadi said he would talk to Uhuru to see if they would work together.

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

Uhuru recently said if the time came, he would make a decision he believes is in the best interests of central Kenya, even if it means supporting a compromise presidential aspirant.

But it is also not clear whether Uhuru would be willing to enter into a working pact with Mudavadi having recently dismissed the talk as “blatant lies” being peddled by Ndaragwa MP, Jeremiah Kioni, and his counterpart, Nderitu Muriithi.

In a statement his spokesman Munyori Buku, issued a fortnight ago, Uhuru dismissed the notion that Kioni and Muriithi were representing his interest in UDF.

“In the recent weeks, Muriithi and Kioni have had this fixation, and falsely so, that TNA will give way to UDF and that they are joined at the hip,” Buku said in the statement.

The statement added: “These are blatant lies! No such thing exists. The two are not in TNA and therefore are not qualified to speak for Uhuru. They should stop pretending they can (speak on behalf of Uhuru).”

He said the two MPs, who have been working with Mudavadi, had made a choice to support UDF.

“They must stop running with the hare and hunting with the dogs. They made their choice to be in UDF,” Buku said.

Mudavadi said he is ready to work with any of the members of the G7 Alliance, as long as they shared the same ideas.

ready

“I have always said that I am ready to work with anyone in the alliance. The fact that you have told me to work with Uhuru is a clear indication you respect me. I will follow your wishes. Uhuru is my brother. I am sure we can lead the next government after President Kibaki retires,” he said.

Kioni was the first to call Mudavadi’s bluff, saying there is no way they can defeat Prime Minister Raila Odinga if they do not form an alliance.

Others accompanying the DPM were MPs Muriithi, Manyala Keya, Justus Kizito, and George Nyamweya.

On Thursday, Kioni said it was through unity that the people of the region would not be consigned to the opposition politics. He claimed that Prime Minister Raila Odinga had devised a trick to divide his opponents along tribal lines to force a run-off between him and Uhuru.

“When Uhuru is pitted against Raila in the run-off, it would be a repeat of 2007 elections. The rest of the country will unite against the Mt Kenya people,” said Kioni.

He added: “I can assure you that no single party will win the first round of the elections unless they unite. I’m sure that if you team up with Uhuru then there would be no second round and you two would lead.”

Kizito took the cue from Kioni and assured those who had attended the rally that their wishes would be considered.

“I’m the right hand man of Mudavadi, and why should we ignore your proposal if it would lead to better leadership? I can assure you that my brother can work with Uhuru, and provide better leadership,” he said.

The leaders also took the podium to declare Raila a non-reformer, quoting revelations by a former aide of the PM, Miguna Miguna in his book.

“The book has revealed possible corrupt deals in the Prime Minister’s office. We should always look for a future-minded leader, and not one who always fights for his selfish gains,” he said.

Kizito said Raila should prove to the Kibera people that he could deliver before seeking votes from other Kenyans.