Why Mudavadi and Wetang’ula skipped prayer meet

The absence and silence of Musalia Mudavadi, the Amani National Congress leader and his Ford-Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula in the national arena has left Kenyans guessing on their next course of action.

This comes as Nasa co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka joined in the handshake and expressed willingness to work with President Uhuru Kenyatta for the sake of the country’s unity. The two missed the National Prayer Day breakfast on Thursday.

The Wiper leader who reportedly fell out with Nasa chief Raila Odinga for sidelining them after the gruelling presidential campaign, however, called on Mr Odinga to extend the hand of forgiveness to the Nasa colleagues who have since joined in the calls for Luhya unity.

But ANC secretary-general Barrack Muluka downplayed the absence of Mr Mudavadi from the National Prayer Day terming it a “ritual” which has no place for the common man.

“Kenyans are not interested in drama but want a meaningful peace and reconciliation that involves them from the grassroots as opposed to a few leaders meeting in high-end hotels,” he said.

BUILDING BRIDGES

Mr Muluka also faulted the gazettment of 14-member Building Bridges initiative task force, saying the process neglected key requirements of the Constitution.

“The task force is against the law as it left out representatives from institutions like the Attorney General’s office, National Cohesion and Integration Commission, the Law Society of Kenya among others,” said Mr Muluka.

The ANC official also noted as mischievous the requirement that the task force is expected to submit a comprehensive report to one person within one year.

“Where does this leave the other party?” he asked.

He disclosed that the ANC leader is currently focused on achieving the unity of the Luhyas which he hopes to ride on to ascend to State House in 2022.

“The merger is not an instant coffee like most people think. It is a complex, legal, social and economic process which we have committed to attain to achieve a solid block unlike in the past where leaders took advantage of the community for their own gains,” he told Nation.

For his part, Bungoma Senator’s aide Mandu Mandu indicated that the Ford Kenya leader deliberately skipped the function to avoid sharing the platform with some leaders he did not name.

SERIOUS ISSUES

Instead, he challenged the country’s top leadership to focus on serious issues facing Kenyans.

“We did not offend anybody and don’t see any reason we should ask for forgiveness. If anything, I doubt whether the problems Kenyans are facing can be solved through such a forum,” he said.

Mr Mandu Mandu however revealed that the delay to craft a unified western alliance is due to the push-and-pull by some people who are for and against the coming together.

“We have to embrace democracy amidst all this and we can assure our adversaries that something is in the offing,” he said.

Mr Wetang’ula has openly expressed opposition on Mr Odinga, accusing him of being behind the plot to oust him as the Senate Minority Leader and replacement with Siaya counterpart James Orengo.

ETHNICITY

But Mr Odinga has hit back blaming Mr Wetang’ula of forming political alignments based on ethnicity.

This comes as some of the Nasa supporters have linked Deputy President William Ruto to the plot to merge Ford Kenya and ANC for a possible alliance ahead of 2022.

Mr Wetang’ula who spoke in Navakholo Sub-County on Sunday asked Kenyans not to believe “in the much hyped TV comedy in the name of handshakes.”

He dismissed the agreement between Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga and called on them to substitute it for real action to address the underlying, fundamental and systemic issues.

“Deals between politicians end up satisfying their short-term ambitions while the people’s issues remain unaddressed,” said Mr Wetang’ula.