Is Musalia Mudavadi's political gamble to support William Ruto about to pay off?

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi speaking during a political rally at Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Should the Supreme Court uphold the victory of President-elect William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi is poised to be the third-most influential politician in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government. Mudavadi has been in the political cold for 10 years having last served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government between 2007 to 2013 in the Grand Coalition Government. The former vice-president to former President Daniel arap Moi albeit for only three months in 2002, he has been nominated by ANC to be Prime Cabinet Secretary in Ruto's government based on their pre-election agreement. In the Kenya Kwanza political deal, within 30 days after General Election, Ruto is expected to introduce into Parliament legislation that gives clarity to Mudavadi's position. In the deal, article 21, the position would entail, helping the president and his deputy in the coordination of the government ministries and State departments. "Coordinate and supervise National government functions and oversee the implementation of policies and programmes and as such the ministry of interior and coordination shall be placed under the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary," read the Kenya Kwanza Deal. Expected role Mudavadi will also chair and coordinate the Government legislative agenda across all the ministries and State departments in consultation with and transmission to the coalition's leaders of parliament. Before joining Ruto's team, Mudavadi who ran for the presidency in 2013, had planned to make another stab at the presidency and was campaigning on a platform of Uchumi Bora, Pesa Mfukoni. "I am patriotic, I shelved my ambition to support Ruto because I believed he had a better plan for Kenya. Our vision was in sync, we are on the verge of changing the lives of our people, from the different positions that we will be in," said Mudavadi in an interview with The Sunday Standard. He said he refused be part of the appendage that would support President Uhuru Kenyatta's third term through Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga. On the campaign trail, Mudavadi made an energetic case for Ruto's hustler narrative and said this is time to empower Mama Mboga, boda boda riders and people in the informal sector. He also faulted President Uhuru Kenyatta's excessive borrowing, which he blamed on the rising cost of living. A one-time Finance minister, Mudavadi promised that a Kenya Kwanza government would prioritise revamping the economy and lowering cost of basic items. On Tuesday last week, in the Kenya Kwanza parliamentary group meeting at Ruto's Karen residence, the President-elect told the parliamentarians that Mudavadi was Prime Cabinet Secretary-designate. the ANC leader rattled the political scene when he bolted out of the One Kenya Alliance that brought together Principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Wetang'ula and Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi. In his so-called earthquake speech on January 23, during the Amani National Congress (ANC) National Delegates Congress, he made a scathing attack on President Uhuru's government and pledged to work with Ruto, who was the chief guest at the ceremony. Pundits have argued that Mudavadi's turnaround was surprising and but not unique. "Mudavadi has shown before that when he makes a decision, he exhibits passion championing its course, remember during Nasa hao chants, he was the fire behind the coalition. Even when he decided to support Ruto he did it wholeheartedly and the results are there for everyone to see," says Dismas Mokua a political risk analyst. During the 2017 elections, Mudavadi worked with Raila as a co-principal under the National Super Alliance (NASA) and served as his chief campaign manager. Lamu Governor Issa Timamy noted that Mudavadi has a good history and experience that has prepared him for the premier position. "Mudavadi has been in politics for 33 years and as minister for close to 20 years, Leader of Government Business in parliament and Deputy Prime Minister and all this has prepared him for the seat he is about to take," says Timamy. According to Kakamega governor aspirant Cleophas Malala, Mudavadi and Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula are poised to be influential in Ruto's government if the Supreme Court confirms his win. "Mudavadi will play a critical role in the Ruto government. He will be among the major cogs that will drive the Government to deliver on its pledges of bottom-up economic model and turning around the economy," says Malala. Knack for details According Micah Cheserem a former Central Bank of Kenya Governor, Mudavadi has a good track record in public perfomance and the passion for delivery. "He is a public servant with knack for details. He has good intentions and a performer, we had a cordial working relationship with him," says Cheserem. The former CBK boss says it is during Mudavadi's tenure at the Treasury that investors and international financial institutions that had shunned Kenya started trickling back. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said that the ANC leader will be a gem in the KKA government. "He comes with the experience and will be ready to hit the road on the first day," says Sakaja. "With Mudavadi working with Ruto and Rigathi, we have confidence that performance will be the key worrd, we are awaiting the Supreme court ruling in our favour for the three to begin turning around the delapidated economy," said Nyoro.

Is Musalia Mudavadi's political gamble to support William Ruto about to pay off?

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Is Musalia Mudavadi's political gamble to support William Ruto about to pay off?

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