DPM welcome to join Eagles team, says Kenneth

PHOTO | JACOB OWITI Kenya National Congress party presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth addresses the congregation at Oyugis Central SDA Church in Homa Bay County on December 23, 2012.

What you need to know:

  • Aspirant reveals how talks with Mudavadi failed before he was lured to Uhuru-Ruto alliance

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi was on Sunday invited to join the Eagles Coalition but with a reminder that he would not be the group’s automatic flagbearer.

Presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth announced that Mr Mudavadi’s UDF party was free to join the Eagles alliance but the Sabatia MP should not nurse hopes that “he will be our flagbearer.”

“We are ready to accept him in our team but let him not assume that we will hand him the presidential ticket,” said Mr Kenneth.

The Gatanga MP revealed that Mr Mudavadi had gone to his residence for talks about forming an alliance on December 3 but he later learnt that the Sabatia MP was at the same time involved in negotiations with the Jubilee Coalition.

The Gatanga MP said he unsuccessfully tried to persuade Mr Mudavadi to sign a deal with him.

“My friend Mr Mudavadi came to my residence on December 3 at midnight and we discussed at length how we could forge an alliance but before we could conclude the talks I learnt he had been approached by his friends in the Jubilee Coalition,” said Mr Kenneth.

Mr Mudavadi has since parted ways with Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto who are in the Jubilee Coalition over a controversial secret deal that was not honoured.

Mr Kenneth was addressing aspirants and party supporters in Kakamega after attending a church service at the Christ Church ACK cathedral.

He was accompanied by Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa and POA party leader Raphael Tuju.

NATIONAL AGENDA
  • ISSUE 1 - Job Creation
  • ISSUE 2 -Food Security
  • ISSUE 3 - Healthcare
  • ISSUE 4 - Education
  • ISSUE 5 - Energy
  • ISSUE 6 - Water & Environment
  • ISSUE 7 - Social Protection
  • ISSUE 8 - Public Infrastructure
  • ISSUE 9 - National Security & Foreign Policy
  • ISSUE 10 - Boosting Exports
  • ISSUE 11 - Devolution
  • ISSUE 12 - Ethnicity

Speaking later in Bungoma, Mr Kenneth said negotiations among the three of them on a possible line up were based on honesty and were for the good of the country.

“We are not going to dupe anyone. We are putting all our cards on the table,” he said.

Mr Wamalwa said he had promised to support Mr Mudavadi if the Jubilee alliance picked him as the presidential candidate and challenged the UDF leader to join the Pambazuka alliance.

Mr Wamalwa, Mr Kenneth and Mr Tuju pledged to work together “to provide alternative leadership that would hold the country together ahead of the elections”.

They called for honest negotiations and leadership ahead of the coming elections.

“What Kenyans want is an honest leadership that will deliver on its promises,” said Mr Kenneth.

They said they are ready to offer alternative leadership that is responsive to the needs of Kenyans.

“We want to work for Kenyans unlike others who want to play politics and that is why we put Kenya ahead of everything else,” said Mr Tuju.

The three leaders urged Kenyans to reject politicians who want to cluster the country into tribes for selfish gains.