By Peter Atsiaya
Prime Minister Raila Odinga says his deputy Musalia Mudavadi is among top politicians bound to return to ODM after ditching the party.
Addressing a rally at Muliro gardens in Kakamega on Sunday, Raila said Mr Mudavadi and other leaders whom he did not mention would pull a surprise soon by rejoining ODM.
“We had a small disagreement in ODM and they decamped but I’m telling you they are on their way back,” said Raila.
He added: “They got injured after a friendly match in ODM and they are on the touchline getting treatment. Soon you will see them back in the team playing.”
“Mudavadi atarudi hivi karibuni, hakuna mahali anaenda (Mudavadi will soon return. He is not going anywhere),” said the PM amid cheers from the crowd.
But in a quick rejoinder, Mudavadi laughed at Raila’s claims saying he cannot make such a political blunder.
irreversible decision
“I am going to answer Raila when I hold my rally at the same venue this coming Saturday but I want to assure my supporters that my decision to quit ODM for UDF is irreversible,” Mudavadi told The Standard on phone on Sunday.
He added: “I am aware of a scheme by Raila to blackmail me politically because he is bitter after I ditched ODM. I want to tell him that we parted ways and we meet at the ballot.”
There have been allegations that Eldoret North MP William Ruto was warming up to ODM, a party he ditched after a disagreement with Raila. Media reports have indicated that Mr Ruto declined to go back to ODM but was considering forming an alliance with the party.
But the United Republican Party (URP) has vehemently denied the allegations saying: “Tulihama ODM na mizigo zetu zote na haturudi (we quit ODM with all our luggage and we are not going back).”
At some point, heavy rains disrupted the rally and prevented more than 20 MPs who accompanied Raila from addressing the gathering.
misled
Among leaders accompanying Raila were Cabinet Ministers James Orengo, Dr Paul Otuoma, Prof Anyang Nyong’o, Wycliffe Oparanya, Fred Gumo, Otieno Kajwang and Dalmas Otieno, and Raila’s wife Ida Odinga.
The PM blamed Mudavadi’s exit from ODM on Housing Minister Soita Shitanda and Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale.
He noted that the leaders also misled Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa to join their party only to abandon him later for Mudavadi with the view of weakening ODM.
“If Shitanda and Khalwale meant well for Mudavadi, why did they not take him to New Ford Kenya that they own?” posed Raila.
2007 repeat
He noted that the race for presidency in the next General Elections would be a repeat of the 2007 Elections, pitting ODM against PNU.
“The battle will be between ODM and PNU just like in 2007, those other parties you hear are donkeys,” Raila said.
He once again dismissed demands by his opponents that he retires from politics along with President Kibaki.
“I will not retire now because I want to win presidency, shape up this country before handing it over to leaders who can move it forward,” he said.
The PM noted that the new Constitution provided solutions to myriad problems that Kenyans have been facing, pointing out that Kenyans should elect him so that he can fully implement it as he has always been on the forefront fighting for change of the colonial constitution.
“Fruits of the new Constitution will be received after the next General Elections. It is up to Kenyans to decide whether they want a president who can implement the constitution or one who will amend it to favour a few,” Raila said.
selfish interests
He noted that leaders who were regrouping wanted to block him from succeeding President Kibaki because they wanted the status quo to remain the same for selfish interests.
“Some of my opponents are like a snake that peels off the old skin to give itself a new look, but it remains a snake,” said Raila.
He added that he was ready to battle for any challenge including G7 and G47 alliances among other presidential candidates.
Raila noted that ODM has re-branded by bringing in youthful leaders to the forefront led by MPs Ababu Namwamba, Hassan Joho and Magerer Langat.
