Mudavadi joins Uhuru and Ruto

Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta, Musalia Mudavadi and Eldoret North MP William Ruto teamed up in a new coalition Tuesday night as presidential aspirants fought to beat the deadline of alliances.

On a day of heightened deal making, Mr Kenyatta (The National Alliance), Mr Mudavadi (United Democratic Forum) and Mr Ruto (United Republican Party) altered the earlier deal between the Gatundu South MP and the former Higher Education minister to bring on board the Sabatia MP. (Read: Uhuru and Ruto first to sign pact)

The fresh deal, in effect, reduces the fight to succeed President Kibaki to a two-horse race between the TNA-UDF-URP axis and Coalition of Reform and Democracy (Cord) of Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka. (Read: Raila, Kalonzo seal pre-election coalition )

Sources said the amended deal stated that Mr Kenyatta and Mr Mudavadi will fight for the coalition’s presidential ticket while Mr Ruto retains the running mate position.

Officials of the two parties last evening deposited a new coalition agreement with the registrar of political parties.

The presentation was done by the chairmen of the three parties Johnson Sakaja (TNA), Francis Kaparo (URP) and Hassan Osman (UDF).
Kaparo said that they are presenting an addition to the earlier agreement present on Tuesday.

“The earlier agreement allows us to enjoin other parties. We have formed a coalition of TNA, URP and UDF and its friends,” Mr Kaparo said.

Kenya, he added, needs less parties in order to deal with issues such as tribalism.

Mr Osman said the coalition was in the interest of the country.

Earlier in the day, Mr Mudavadi’s presidential campaign team sent invites to media houses indicating that he was to sign a coalition with Kenya National Congress’ Peter Kenneth, Kanu and UDM at Uhuru Park’s Freedom Corner.

About an hour later, the invite was called off as sources said Mr Mudavadi was involved in fresh consultations with other political parties.
Unknown, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto had driven to the UDF presidential aspirant’s residence in Kileleshwa for talks.

In the afternoon, his spokesman Kibisu Kabatesi sent an email to media houses indicating that Mr Mudavadi will announce his coalition by the end of the week.

“In the past week, UDF held talks with other parties with a view to reaching a pre-election arrangement. There are many areas of agreement and consensus with these parties. Other parties have asked to join this broad national people’s coalition hence the delay in hosting the ceremony at Freedom Corner today to accommodate the signing and meeting the filling of agreements deadline. A public announcement of the national people’s coalition will be made before the end of the week,” he said.

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto who launched their coalition in Nakuru on Sunday, had left the door open for other political parties to join their alliance.

The TNA-URP coalition agreement signed on Monday says that willing parties can choose to join in before or after the elections.

Before the signing of the agreement, TNA and URP had expected Water Minister Charity Ngilu’s Narc and Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa’s New Ford Kenya to join them.