Mudavadi and Wamalwa reach new alliance deal

Presidential aspirant Eugene Wamalwa (left) and UDF party presidential aspirant Musalia Mudavadi (right) held a press briefing at the Norfolk hotel on January 02, 2013.

What you need to know:

  • Two leaders agree to work together after bolting out of other political coalitions

The United Democratic Forum (UDF) party and Pambazuka Alliance on Wednesday announced that they had reached a deal to form a pre-election alliance to be unveiled on Friday.

UDF leader Musalia Mudavadi, said his party which had already entered into a deal with Kanu, held several meetings with Pambazuka — associated with Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa and that they held useful discussions that gave birth to a deal.

He however said the deal would be announced on Friday, when the parties hold a joint national delegates conference.

The two leaders are emerging from a fallout in their respective alliances, Mr Mudavadi having bolted out of the Jubilee Alliance, and Mr Wamalwa’s union with Lugari MP and presidential aspirant Cyrus Jirongo, under Pambazuka, having collapsed.

Mr Mudavadi, said the UDF council had met with the Pambazuka team to brief them on their programme, and the two teams had agreed on the details of the union.

Useful discussions

He said the two presidential candidates had held a series of meetings, and useful discussions that had led to a deal between them.

“We have held several meetings and I am pleased to announce that we have reached a deal,” he said.

The leaders held a brief press conference at the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi, saying the announcement would end anxiety among Kenyans on the direction their parties would take, in the quest to form the next government.

Mr Wamalwa said the agreement had been endorsed by the councils of the two parties, and all that remained was endorsement by delegates from the three parties that were engaged in the discussions.

Representatives of the three parties led by Mr Mudavadi, Mr Wamalwa and Mr Nick Salat of Kanu, as well as former cabinet minister Nicholas Biwott, whose party is part of the Pambazuka alliance, attended Wednesday’s press briefing at the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi.

The Justice minister said the discussions also involved other like-minded partners, and that he was pleased with the talks that led to great progress.

“We have made great progress. A deal which has already been endorsed by the parties’ full council has been reached, the details of which will be announced in the next few days,” he said.