I was planning NDC, Mudavadi says after skipping OKA meeting

Amani National Congress Leader Musalia Mudavadi during a service at Redeemed Gospel Church, Liberty Christian Centre in Nairobi on Sunday January 9, 2022.  [David Njaaga,Standard]

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi has not bolted out of One Kenya Alliance (OKA) or betrayed his colleagues in pursuit of a winning team for the August General Election.

Mudavadi, who has been under heavy criticism over his perceived lukewarm attitude towards OKA, said he could not attend the Naivasha meeting where Wiper leader Kalonzo Musoka, Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula, had gone to receive a report prepared by a joint technical team.

Yesterday, Mudavadi spent the better part of the day in his office and said he had excused himself from the meeting and alerted his colleagues that he would be preparing for next weekend’s National Delegates Conference.

“I have not bolted out of OKA. This is misinformation. It is also a misrepresentation of facts that ANC was not represented in the OKA technical committee. The chairman Godfrey Kanoti is representing the party,” he said.

Kanoti is ANC party director of political affairs and head of protocol. Mudavadi added, “I informed the OKA principals of the pressure I am having in organising the NDC as I have to be available for quick consultations. We are holding the NDC on January 23.”

Mudavadi’s absence from Naivasha set the tongues wagging that he was not committed to the OKA cause and that he was gravitating towards forming a coalition with Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance. But he also explained that no concrete decision would be made at the Naivasha meeting.

“The technical committee will make a report and a draft of recommendations which will then be shared to the constituent parties,” said Mudavadi.  

The emerging political formation has splintered ANC with the party’s deputy party leader Ayub Savula publicly supporting ODM leader Raila Odinga who is rooting for Azimio La Umoja movement. On the other hand, Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala, an ally of Mudavadi has traded his ODM royalty to UDA, where he has been attending rallies.

Yesterday, as Mudavadi talked of betrayal and backstabbing by some of his members, he was at pains to explain why the party could not crack the whip.

“It’s true ANC has a structure to deal with rebels. But during this period we have given members the right to exercise their freedom of expression, movement and association. Members are free to move where they want and we will not hold anybody hostage,” Mudavadi said.

He said those leaving should also not hold the party hostage by dictating which side other leaders should support.

“We better have a few members who are loyal rather than have many members who are not committed to ANC. There are many people waiting to join ANC,” he added.

The party leader said he has not shelved his presidential ambition. “I see myself leading a country and fighting corruption where institutions and structures work. I see a future where public debt is tamed and Kenyans have freedom of expression, movement and can invest in any region,” said Mudavadi.