PM meets Atwoli in bid to win back Musalia’s support

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday met Central Organisation of Trade Unions secretary-general Francis Atwoli in his bid to consolidate western Kenya vote by winning over UDF leader Musalia Mudavadi.

Mr Odinga, in the company of ODM and Ford-Kenya ministers, held a closed-door meeting at the home of Mr Atwoli, who has been working to unite Luhya leaders ahead of the poll.

Although Mr Odinga maintained that his meeting with the trade unionist was just a lunch date, Mr Atwoli utterances after the meeting were an indication of shifting alliances.

Mr Atwoli urged Mr Mudavadi  to reconsider with working with Cord alliance leader ahead of the election

“I want to urge my brother Musalia that it’s not too late to renegotiate with the PM so that he becomes part of the team that will form  the next government,” he said.

Mr Atwoli last month met Mr Mudavadi, Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula and Cyrus Jirongo of Federal Party of Kenya in a bid to reach consensus of backing one of them for the top seat.

Joined other leaders

The PM flew from his Bondo home at 2pm in the company of ODM Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo to Mr Atwoli’s Khwisero home, where they joined other leaders who were already waiting.

Among those who attended the meeting were ministers Noah Wekesa (Forestry and Wildlife), Otieno Kajwang’ (Immigration) and Dalmas Otieno (Public Service).

Although an earlier dispatch from the office of the Prime Minister had indicated that media was invited to cover the function, journalists who turned up were escorted out of the compound by police.

Mr Atwoli termed Mr Uhuru Kenyatta’s assertions that he was pushed “by the demons” in to signing a coalition agreement with Mr Mudavadi as reckless.

“If we elect him the President then he may sign treaties with other countries only to turn his back on them,” he said.

In Nairobi, former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo urged Mr Mudavadi to shelve his presidential ambitions and support Mr Odinga.

Mr Ndolo warned that Jubilee coalition would lose in the next elections without the UDF leader on board.

He urged Mr Mudavadi to save the country from a run-off by backing Mr Odinga.

“Opinion polls are predicting a tight race between Mr Odinga and Mr Kenyatta and I want to urge my brother Musalia to throw his weight behind Mr Odinga to enable the PM win in round one,” he said.

Kanu secretary-general Nick Salat said the exclusion of Mr Mudavadi would weaken Jubilee’s battle against Cord.

Speaking for the first time since Mr Mudavadi’s fallout with Jubilee, Kanu— which has signed a coalition deal with UDF—in a statement said the alliance was at risk of losing.

Mr Salat said UDF and Kanu would chat their way forward if Jubilee alliance leaders fail to address their grievances.

“We cannot hold indefinitely to uncertainty,” Mr Salat added.