Mudavadi to support Wetang'ula if he wins Cord presidential ticket

Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi has hinted at working with his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula in the 2017 General Election if the latter clinches the Cord presidential ticket.

“It is true that there is competition in Cord over the choice of a presidential candidate. I have no issue with the competition,” said Mr Mudavadi at Tongaren in Trans Nzoia County during the burial of his uncle on Saturday.

He went on: “As they are competing on who should be Cord’s flag bearer, I am moving around. I will talk to Wetang’ula after he gets the ticket.”

Mr Wetang’ula is a Cord co-principal with ODM leader Raila Odinga and Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

Mr Mudavadi told mourners that he had already held initial talks with Mr Wetang’ula, who is also the Bungoma senator, and assured him that he was ready to offer him support once he holds the Cord ticket.

Mr Mudavadi’s sentiments come two weeks after controversy marred the launch of Mr Wetang’ula’s presidential bid in Kakamega.

Mr Odinga gave the launch a wide berth despite having said he would attend, a move that created cracks in the country’s opposition coalition.

Mr Mudavadi said: “Wetang’ula told me that they will pick their candidate through a closed-door session similar to the Catholic style of picking a pope.”

The former Deputy Prime Minister said he would be waiting for the smoke to come out.

“If I see it is white smoke and it is Wetang’ula’s, I will offer my support. But if it is black, I will proceed with the journey I started in seeking the presidency” he said.

Mr Mudavadi’s sentiments appeared to imply that he was ready to offer his support for another candidate from the populous Luhya nation for the top seat.

However, going by recent events in Cord and utterances made by senior coalition leaders, chances of Mr Wetang’ula capturing the ticket are minimal.