Mudavadi risks being partyless if his efforts fail

UDF leader Musalia Mudavadi may soon find himself without a party if his efforts to reconstitute the party leadership to get rid of “rebels” led by chairman Hassan Osman fail.

Mr Mudavadi’s private secretary Kibisu Kabatesi acknowledges that there are stronger forces outside the party that are pulling the strings with a view to edging the former deputy prime minister out of the party.

“I am telling you it is a bigger political plot by forces that are keen to cripple us, but they are in for a rude shock,” Mr Kabatesi said.

Mr Mudavadi has planned a National Governing Council for October 24 where he hopes to make a final push to regain control of the party.

UDF is said to have been registered by people close to retired President Mwai Kibaki like Prof Nick Wanjohi on hopes that President Uhuru Kenyatta would use it to run for presidency last year; they settled on Mr Mudavadi when Mr Kenyatta went for TNA.

Some in UDF, like Lugari MP Ayub Savula, have repeatedly accused Prof Wanjohi of having a hand in Mr Mudavadi’s woes, a charge the don has denied in the past. Those in his camp say his threats to reconsider the Amani Coalition’s support for the ruling Jubilee Alliance could be the genesis of his problems.

In the event Mr Mudavadi is kicked out of UDF, he could be in the same spot his Cord counterpart Raila Odinga was plunged ahead of the 2007 elections when he lost control of ODM-K to a camp led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka who like Mr Odinga was angling to be the ODM-K presidential torchbearer.

On Friday, the registrar of political parties Lucy Ndung’u presented the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal sitting at the Milimani Law Courts with what she considers as the bona fide National Executive members, a list which still includes Mr Osman who, according Mr Mudavadi, is no longer an official, having been suspended.

“Attached herein, please find a list of NEC members of the UDF Party which was filed with this office during political party compliance,” Ms Ndung’u told the tribunal.

Curiously, Mr Mudavadi’s name is not in the list which includes, among others, Nancy Gachoka as the vice chairperson, and Dan Ameyo as secretary-general, although he has since relinquished his duties after being appointed chairman of Mumias Sugar Company board. Mr Mudavadi has replaced him with former Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito.

The sitting also saw city lawyer Charles Kanjama enjoined in the case to act for Mr Osman, a matter Mr Kabatesi said his boss plans to contest.
According to Mr Osman’s camp, Mr Mudavadi is simply a ceremonial member of the party who cannot call the shots.

“Mr Mudavadi remains a ceremonial official in our party as far as we are concerned. His purported position of “party leader” doesn’t exist anywhere in our constitution and we never submitted any returns recognising the holder of such a position to the registrar of political parties’ Desk,” said Mr Abraham Limo who is listed as the second secretary-general.

But Mr Kabatesi maintains that Mr Mudavadi is in charge.

The stalemate has seen Kakamega Senator Bonnie Khalwale (UDF) informally switch loyalty to Cord. He has even advised Mr Mudavadi to leave UDF to its “real owners” and form a party that will unite all Luhyas ahead of 2017 General Elections.

His Vihiga counterpart George Khaniri advises the embattled leader to mend fences with Mr Odinga and join Cord.