ANC hands Mudavadi muscle ahead of 2022

Amani National Congress (ANC) yesterday handed party leader Musalia Mudavadi sweeping powers to appoint key officials, laying ground for his presidential bid in 2022.

The party unveiled a new constitution that created a crucial organ, Amani Council, whose composition would largely be determined by Mudavadi, with authority to run all the political affairs of the party under the new ANC Constitution.

The party leader becomes the automatic chair of the National Delegates Congress (NDC) and Amani Council (AC).

It becomes the second most powerful party organ after the NDC under the new structures of the ANC Party and shall exercise any power conferred upon by the NDC, which decisions shall take effect immediately.

During its first and inaugural meeting of the Amani Council, Mudavadi assured party members of transparency and vibrancy going forward, as he sought for more time to consult before the vacant position of the secretary general occasioned by the resignation of Barrack Muluka is filled.

“Ground work has been made and the political decision is the ANC Council. It is going to be a very serious institution with the framework of the ANC new constitution,” he told delegates.

Mudavadi stated: “You will see in the next few months as we do the process of the National Election Board (NEB), which will help us fulfill the requirements of the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP). You will see the excitement it will be generating around ANC in all our counties.”

Mudavadi spoke after he was officially sworn in as the ANC party leader under the party’s new constitution.

This comes just two days after he lost Muluka and Eliud Owalo. The latter contested on the party’s ticket for the Kibra by-election after ditching Raila Odinga’s ODM.

“I will take some time, consult and when it’s the appropriate time, I will give indication that now we have the two names to be brought to the ANC Council for consideration and then now we can formally elect our new SG,” the ANC leader said.

“So, whoever will be there will be holding temporarily pending the process to be concluded successfully.”

Muluka took over from nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi, who the party expelled for not advancing its agenda.

The Amani Council will be the body tasked with electing the SG of the party from a list of two persons nominated by the party leader for the election.

It will also consider, review and if satisfied, approve the organisational structure of the NEB as proposed by the SG, as well as consider, review and if satisfied, ratify the list of party candidates for general elections and of nominees to the party list.

The Amani Council will also consider, review and if satisfied, ratify the terms of any mergers, coalitions and or cooperations with other political parties.

“Be strong knowing that the challenges are going to be many and equally there will be temptations but don’t falter, don’t waiver, let us all be strong,” he said.

The changes are a shift from the previous constitution where the NEC was the centre of political activities in the party.

Mudavadi will serve for a period of five years as the ANC boss as from the date of the commencement of the new constitution.

Mudavadi has emphasised that ANC now becomes a grassroots-based political party with a nationwide outlook under the new constitution.

“I want to encourage you to become spokesmen in your branches; don’t be shy to talk to the press. Nowadays, whether the news is good or bad, one thing that has come out clearly is that every other day you will find there is a story about ANC in the papers, and that is significant,” he told the delegates.

Getting publicity

He added: “Because if we were just like that, we won’t be getting publicity. Sisi ni watu wa maana, if not, nobody would bother about us. But the fact that every other day, there is an article somewhere, either they are criticising, trying to demoralise or praising ANC, or they are saying something about ANC, that is the message.”

Mudavadi said the polling centre committees now become one of the most basic and powerful entities in ANC’s hierarchy. 

The Amani Council’s key role will be to promote, monitor, and keep under constant review the implementation of the policies and programmes of ANC party and ensure the proper functioning.