The forces behind Mudavadi’s move

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s departure from ODM to the United Democratic Front party can, politically speaking, be described as his ultimate political rebirth.

However, who was behind the aura of confidence exhibited by the emboldened Sabatia MP of late?

We can now reveal that President Kibaki and former President Moi played a key role in Mr Mudavadi’s latest move.

Mr Mudavadi’s deal to join UDF was sealed surprisingly quickly, there was no time for public speculation.

The choice of the UDF was quite telling. The party was formed by State House operatives. It is not a secret that one of the senior operatives guides the party and is its major resources mobiliser.

Prior to Mr Mudavadi’s announcement, he met the senior operative at least twice — at his Kileleshwa home in Nairobi and at his rural home in Mululu, Vihiga County.

UDF was formed as a potential vehicle for Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta to seek the presidency.

It is unlikely that State House operatives would craft such a political strategy without the full approval of President Kibaki.

On the other side of the coin, Mr Moi was involved in egging on the DPM to make a serious statement.

During Mr Mudavadi’s visit to Rift Valley, where he said he had gone to consult, he lent his ear to well known Kanu loyalists.

One of the most remarkable statements was by Mr Mark Too, a political broker in the Rift Valley. Mr Too said: “I know Musalia is the right one to be president. We want him to take the leadership from President Mwai Kibaki.”

He went ahead to ask for support from the Luhya community as “we in the Rift Valley will fully support him.”

In the meetings, Mr Mudavadi was referred to as lakwet nyo (our child). Instructively, Mr Mudavadi’s step mother comes from the Kalenjin community.

The DPM capped his Rift Valley forays by visiting former Mr Moi at his Kabarak home in Nakuru.

The three men are not new to each other. Musalia’s father, Moses Mudavadi, a career educationist in the 1950s, was a close friend of Mr Moi.

And many years later in 2002, Mr Moi would craft his succession with Mr Mudavadi as his Vice-President and eventually a running mate of his preferred candidate, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mr Too was a key strategist in the Moi succession plot.

Curiously, Kanu was “heavily represented” at Mr Mudavadi’s defection event this week with secretary general Nick Salat one of the notable guests together with a horde of overly excited Kanu stalwarts.