Did Mudavadi err in joining Ruto's UDA party or is it masterstroke?

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi boasts 36 years of political experience, placing him among the senior figures in the country’s political landscape.

Mudavadi recently had a political party associated with him, Amani National Congress, dissolved and subsequently joined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which is associated with President William Ruto.

It will be interesting to see whether Mudavadi’s decision turns out to be a political masterstroke or a blunder that could overshadow his career as he positions himself to succeed Ruto when his second term ends in 2032.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary is currently tasked with consolidating the Western Kenya vote behind Ruto for the 2027 election, as the President seeks new allies following a fallout with the Mount Kenya region after the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Mudavadi had previously been a harsh critic of Ruto after they parted ways following the 2007 General Election, when they both supported former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s presidential bid. They later reunited in 2022, surprising both friends and foes.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Tribunal clears Justice Kullow of misconduct, recommends reinstatement
• 
  Ex-Treasury CS sues government, demands Sh3 billion compensation
• 
  Ruto, Kenyatta families business interests exposed by data breach
• 
  It was imprudent to entrust Chinese with State House refurbishment

Ruto’s fallout with Raila after the 2007 election is partly attributed to the belief that Ruto was overlooked when the position of Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government was given to Mudavadi, while Ruto was appointed Minister for Agriculture, despite his supporters believing he had contributed more to Raila’s votes.

Political pundits claim that when former President Mwai Kibaki and Raila formed a coalition government in 2008, Ruto expected to be named Deputy Prime Minister representing the ODM party.

Instead, former President Uhuru Kenyatta was appointed to the position representing Kibaki’s side of the coalition.

“What I have learnt over the years is that politics is not a matter of life and death. I have also learnt that in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies.

‘‘What we have are permanent interests. I have also learnt the importance of serving the interests of Kenyans at all times and the need to be patriotic to our country,” said Mudavadi.

During the 2013 General Election, Uhuru and Ruto teamed up to contest the Presidency and Deputy Presidency under the Jubilee Alliance, while both Raila and Mudavadi contested the Presidency.

Uhuru won, with Raila coming second and Mudavadi third.

Mudavadi, who contested the presidency in 2013 on the United Democratic Front (UDF) party ticket, had originally sought to run as ODM’s candidate but was effectively locked out of the nomination process due to a party constitutional clause that gave the party leader direct nomination as the presidential candidate.

After losing the 2013 presidential election, Mudavadi remained on the political sidelines and participated in the formation of the National Super Alliance (Nasa), which named Raila as its presidential candidate. Mudavadi chose not to contest any seat but served as Nasa’s campaign chairman.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary surprised both allies and opponents when he opted to support Ruto against Raila during the 2022 General Election, despite having supported the former Prime Minister in two previous elections.

“President William Ruto is a hardworking leader who means well for the country.

‘‘He is a hands-on leader who is well aware of what is happening in the country and is deeply concerned about the welfare of citizens.

‘‘I am confident that, by the end of his tenure, Kenyans will be proud to have given him the opportunity to serve as their fifth president,” said Mudavadi.

Interestingly, Ruto, Mudavadi, and Raila have found themselves working together again, just as they did in 2007, but this time with the objective of ensuring Raila’s election as the next African Union Commission chairperson later this month.