Quit Orange party, Mudavadi told
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi was on Tuesday advised by MPs from his Western Province backyard to quit ODM and contest the presidency on the ticket of a different party.
Some of the leaders, who met the Local Government Minister in a Nairobi hotel, told him that he stood no chance of dislodging Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the Orange party presidential candidate, MPs who attended the meeting said.
But other MPs, led by Butere’s Wycliffe Oparanya and Webuye’s Alfred Sambu, advised Mr Mudavadi to pursue his presidential ambitions within ODM.
Mr Oparanya, the Nation learnt, also suggested that Mr Mudavadi keeps Mr Odinga in the picture even as he ponders his political future, a suggestion which was rejected by other MPs.
Housing Minister Soita Shitanda and Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale maintained that Mr Mudavadi must look for another party if he intends to contest the Presidency.
But they advised Mr Mudavadi to look for a party with a national outlook.
“We felt that he secures a party with a national outlook from where the rest of us can support him as corporate members,” one MP, who attended the Mayfair Hotel meeting, but who commented on condition he is not named revealing private discussions, said.
The meeting was attended by 16 MPs from Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma and Busia counties. Mr Chris Okemo (Nambale) was the only MP from Busia.
The first speakers, who included Mr Okemo, Dr Khalwale (Ikolomani) and Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga), asked Mr Mudavadi whether he was serious about running for the presidency and if so, on which party ticket, according to the MPs who spoke to the Nation.
Responding, Mr Mudavadi confirmed that he was determined to contest the presidency but was still holding consultations about the party, the MPs said.
Majority of those who spoke said ODM had put too many roadblocks in Mr Mudavadi’s way.
The party’s constitution has a clause which states that the party leader is the automatic candidate for the presidency.
Mr Mudavadi has been pushing for this clause to be changed so he can challenge Mr Odinga for the ticket.
The DPM has scheduled another meeting in Kakamega on Saturday, this time bringing together all grassroots leaders from the region. A follow-up meeting will be held at the Kilaguni Lodge in Tsavo National Park at the end of the month.
Speaking to the press after the two-hour breakfast meeting, Mr Mudavadi remained tight-lipped over his next move, saying he was consulting widely.
He promised to be make “systematic statements” on his political future in the coming days and maintained that his desire to lead the country was as “strong as ever”.
“...I believe Kenyans should have the option to choose the best individual from a list of those interested to lead this country,” he said.
