Uhuru accused of using, dumping Mudavadi, Wamalwa

President Uhuru Kenyatta with former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi [Photo:File/Standard]

The Jubilee government is shopping for new political alliances in western Kenya even as it faces criticism for dumping its former friends from the region — Musalia Mudavadi and Eugene Wamalwa.

Political leaders close to both Mr Mudavadi and Mr Wamalwa say the two leaders, who signed pre-election agreements to support a Jubilee government, have given up on the promises and are pursuing other interests.

Mr Mudavadi, a former Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential candidate on the Amani coalition ticket, has gone back to look after his businesses while Mr Wamalwa, who served as Justice minister in the Kibaki administration and was one time touted asUhuru Kenyatta’s possible running mate, has returned to his law firm.

“I am concentrating on my personal business and at the same time busy ?building my UDF party.” Mudavadi told The County Weekly.

Mr Mudavadi, who came a distant third in the presidential race after Mr Kenyatta and CORD candidate Raila Odinga, quickly conceded defeat and reached an understanding with Mr Kenyatta.

New alliance

But four months after signing the MoU, the two politicians appear to have been forgotten. Their supporters are now accusing the President and his deputy William Ruto of ‘use and dump’ tactics.

Analysts say Mr Mudavadi’s recent attack on the Government over the teachers’ strike could be an indication of a man who has lost hope of working with a man he was once accused of secretly working for.

Mr Mudavadi blamed the Government for the strike and urged President Kenyatta to personally take up the matter.

“Mudavadi, just like Wamalwa, has given up on the Jubilee Government. I think he wants to come out with his guns blazing,” says Dr Clement Khaoya, a political analyst.

Theories that Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto could be building a new political alliance among the Luhya can be explained by the Deputy President’s frequent visits to the region during which he has been urging MPs allied to both Mr Mudavadi and Mr Odinga to work with the Government.

Last week, former Cabinet minister Noah Wekesa attacked the Jubilee government and accused it of sidelining them.

Although he singled out Mr Wamalwa, some analysts say he may have been rooting for the two.

Dr Wekesa said that the former Saboti MP was instrumental in winning Jubilee alliance votes in Trans-Nzoia County and parts of the former WesternProvince and yet he had not been rewarded for his role.

“It is on record our son Eugene played a role inJubilee alliance but it is regrettable that he has been kept in the cold by his friends,” said Dr Wekesa.

Mr Wamalwa was a close ally of Mr Kenyatta before decamping to support Mr Mudavadi.

The former Forestry and Wildlife minister said it was not too late to consider Mr Wamalwa for a Cabinet Secretary slot.

Speaking at Muloki market during a mass service for five people killed by a gang, Dr Wekesa criticised the Kenyatta administration for giving the formerWestern Province a raw deal in appointments.

Representation

“Even if the people of Western did not give Jubileemany votes, the region deserves representation in the Government,” Dr Wekesa said during the event also attended by Mr Wamalwa.

Interestingly, Mr Wamalwa steered clear of the matter, an indication he may have endorsed Dr Wekesa’s plea for his case.

Although he campaigned for Mr Mudavadi in Western, pundits believe Mr Wamalwa’s heart was inJubilee given how far they had come with President Kenyatta.

Some analysts are however linking Mr Mudavadi’s displeasure with his Jubilee friends to Mr Ruto’s latest attempts to woo Western leaders to his side. It is said he is not comfortable with Mr Mudavadi in Jubilee because it could be a threat to his relationship with the President.

Last week, Mr Ruto caused a storm in Western when he attended the homecoming parties  for two URP MPs in Teso and used the opportunity to appeal to MPs allied to Mr Mudavadi and Mr Odinga to support the Government. The MPs at the function pledged to work with the Government.

Clearly alarmed by the MPs’ utterances, UDF Secretary General Dan Ameyo clarified that the party MPs willing to work with the Jubilee Government would be doing so as individuals, a statement that signalled that the party could be reneging on the MoU it signed with the Jubilee alliance after the elections.

UDF Luhya MPs refuted claims that they are warming up to Jubilee. They said their presence at the homecoming ceremonies for Teso South MP Mary Emase and Teso North MP Arthur Odera did not mean they were about to join Jubilee.

Leaders from various political parties accompanied the Deputy President in his tour of the region sparking speculation that they were endorsing him.

Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu said political campaigns were over and they had set aside their political differences for the sake of Luhya unity and development.

Chanzu termed allegations that they were supporting the Jubilee government as misinterpretation facts stating that the country cannot move forward if its leaders are divided along party lines.

Mudavadi and Wamalwa have been accused of failing to consolidate their team after losing elections and of failing to push a case for the community.

 -Reports by:  Grace Wekesa, Osinde Obare and Francis Ontomwa