Mudavadi urges political tolerance in campaigns

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has challenged fellow presidential aspirants to embrace a culture of political tolerance in their campaigns.

Speaking while handing over the Local Government Ministry to his successor, Westlands MP Fred Gumo, Mr Mudavadi asked fellow politicians to avoid hurling abuses at their opponents as they go round the country campaigning ahead of the General Election.

“We need to have decent politics in Kenya even if we have divergent opinion. I have no ill feelings towards my brother Gumo even if we are now in different political parties,” Mr Mudavadi said Friday.

The statement was in reference to last weekend’s incident when Mr Mudavadi’s supporters clashed with those of Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the burial of Mzee Jason Omwera, the father of Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa in Sabatia constituency.

Following the incident, Mr Mudavadi accused ODM of ferrying “outsiders” to cause trouble in his constituency and said Mr Odinga should follow President Kibaki into retirement at the end of the Coalition's Government term.

But in a rejoinder, Mr Odinga’s campaign secretariat, through its spokesman Barrack Muluka hit back, threatening to expose Mr Mudavadi’s alleged involvement in the Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing scandals.

Not to take anything lying down, Mr Mudavadi’s spokesman Kibisu Kabatesi scoffed at Mr Muluka’s threats and warned that he would spill the beans regarding the role of the PM’s office in the maize and Kazi kwa Vijana scandals.

Commenting on the spat Friday,  Mr Mudavadi who has since joined the United Democratic Forum (UDF) termed the war of words as unfortunate and uncalled for.

“We will have to ask our people to take it easy and go slow next time,” he noted.

He was responding to Mr Gumo who had called on the PM and the deputy PM to prevail upon their aides to exercise restraint instead of resorting to public exchanges.

“It is very bad for them to go out there insulting each other because the ordinary Kenyan thinks that it is you and the PM who are telling them to say those things,” he said.

He lamented Mr Mudavadi’s decision to ditch ODM for UDF saying he commanded a lot of support in the Orange party.

“It caught me by surprise, I always thought he would not leave but now that it has happened, I wish him well. If you succeed, remember us,” Mr Gumo stated.