UDF MPs divided on whether to join Mudavadi in ANC

Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) has been received with varied reactions as some members of his erstwhile United Democratic Forum (UDF) are not willing to jump ship. At least not yet.

Last month, Mudavadi moved houses after many unsuccessful attempts to stamp his authority. Speaking to The Standard on Sunday, the former Deputy Prime Minister said his efforts to re-brand UDF failed because some people in the party were playing games.

“People felt they wanted a party that they can be involved in. They also wanted a party that has a national outlook and ANC is the way to go,” he said.

The plan is for MPs, governors and senators elected through the UDF ticket to remain in the party and move to ANC before the 2017 elections.

National support

“Elected UDF leaders will serve until the end of their term. However, a recruitment drive will go on. We want to seek support nationally and must have a footprint in at least 23 counties,” said Mudavadi.

Before decamping to the new outfit, Mudavadi says he consulted other Amani Coalition partners — Kanu and New Ford-Kenya — and some UDF-elected leaders.

“Kanu remains a party on its own, the same way as others in the coalition. But we will all continue to be members of the same coalition. However, we will not join JAP,” he said in reference to the Jubilee Alliance Party, which was formed recently to be President Uhuru Kenyatta’s vehicle to seek re-election in 2017.

Opinion is divided within UDF on whether the party’s rank and file should follow him to ANC. But majority remained non-committal.

Apart from Alfred Sambu (Webuye East), other UDF MPs Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Benard Shinali (Ikolomani) and Sakwa Bunyasi (Nambale) said they would decide whether or not to follow their leader to the new party in 2017.

“I cannot join ANC because I was elected on a UDF ticket.  I am in UDF to stay,” said Washiali, who is also the National Assembly deputy chief whip courtesy of a post-election pact between the Amani coalition and the ruling Jubilee Alliance.

“We had resolved to change the party’s name from UDF to ANC without disrupting internal party delegates and members’ organs,” he said.

But even before the dust settles on the new developments, some senior UDF officials are already looking for a new party leader. Washiali said he has been asked to replace Mudavadi. “I have been asked by party members and senior party officials but the decision can only be made by the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC). There’s a vacuum that needs to be filled. If given the opportunity, I will take up the challenge,” he said. Washiali also feels Jubilee is gradually gaining a following in Western Kenya.

“Because of the development projects being initiated by Jubilee, people are now desperate for economic empowerment. They are now embracing Jubilee,” said Washiali.

However, Mudavadi asked Western leaders to join ANC so that they have a unified team ahead of the 2017 polls.

“For too long, we’ve rented our votes to others. It’s time we got a return on our investment. I am here to ensure we are no longer a desperate lot. We must get out of the culture of political dependants,” he said.

Sambu expressed optimism that all UDF members would join the new outfit. “We are all going to move to ANC. The future is in ANC. We will remain in UDF as elected leaders but when the time comes, we will all move to ANC,” he said.

Elusive unity

Chanzu, who has in the past declared he may want to vie for Vihiga governorship, said: “I will make my final decision going by the wishes of my people.”

The MP lauded Mudavadi’s decision to ditch UDF as a wise move, saying there were skeletons in the party’s closet.

“The frequent squabbles in UDF was hurting his political ambitions. If he markets himself well, he can get a good share of western region and national votes,” said Chanzu.

But Wangwe accused Mudavadi of  detaching himself from the people.

“If Mudavadi talks to people directly, he will get support and marshal his strongholds. But as long as he continues to talk to his people through his spokesperson, he continues to sever links with the masses,” observed Wangwe.

Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu (Ford Kenya), Bumula MP Paul Otsyula (New Ford-Kenya) and Mumias East Johnstone Naicca (ODM) all said Mudavadi will have a difficult job of consolidating the Luhya vote and ensuring that he controls the political direction of Western Kenya.

But to political analysts like Dr Martin Oloo, Mudavadi did not appear comfortable in UDF and his  move to ANC was largely anticipated.