UDA downplays power deal as criticism grows

Deputy President William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula during Kenya Kwanza Alliance rally at Bungoma Posta grounds on January 28, 2022. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Details of how the Kenya Kwanza Alliance of Deputy President William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula plans to share power have caused disquiet within the political circles.

The Saturday Standard yesterday reportedly on the pact between United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Amani National Congress (ANC) and Ford Kenya.

But UDA yesterday downplayed the reports, saying the details will be revealed at a later date.

“The details of the cooperation between UDA, ANC, Ford-Kenya and any other political party if at all, will be formally unveiled by the principals at an appropriate time. In the mean time, I wish to urge the public and supporters to ignore such misrepresentation and treat it with the contempt it deserves,” read a statement by UDA Secretary General Veronica Maina.

“Our cooperation has and continues to create earthquake tremors across the political scene and our competitors are sponsoring such fake or speculative headlines to achieve a certain narrative, she said.

The Secretary General went ahead: “We remind our competitors that “Hatupangwingwi” na “Tusidanganyane”!,” she added.

She said the cooperation was aimed at bringing all Kenyans together, driving Kenya towards economic prosperity by adopting the “bottom up economic model na pesa mfukoni model”. She insisted that the pact was not intended for sharing of positions at the expense of the common man.

According to sources within the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, the deal spells out how the three parties would share out Cabinet positions and insulate partners from cannibalising each other’s political bases.

The deal indicates that if Ruto wins, Mudavadi will be appointed chief minister, a position similar to prime minister and would run the Finance docket alongside other two ministries, including Devolution.

Wetang’ula’s party will be allocated two Cabinet slots and a number of appointments to government. 

Yesterday, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth criticised the power-sharing formula accusing Mudavadi of settling for less. “I can see Musalia Mudavadi is after CS Fred Matiangi’s seat. He should have come to Raila and asked for the position when Azimio forms the next government,” said Peter Kenneth.

He spoke during the Azimio la Umoja rally in Muranga at Ihura stadium. “When Raila was campaigning for the BBI Bill, there were those who opposed it and accused Raila and Uhuru of trying to create new positions for themselves. We, however, read in the papers today that it is them who want positions,” he added.

Lugari MP Ayub Savula, the former ANC deputy party leader, accused Mudavadi of betraying the Luhya community. “It is shameful that Mudavadi is seeking to be a Cabinet Secretary at the age of 62. He should let the youth take up such positions. We wanted to make him president,” said Savula who has since joined Raila’s Azimio camp.

Further details from the secret agreement show ANC will produce a candidate for Nairobi governor’s seat with the running mate coming from UDA.

Mudavadi’s party plans to field Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja as the alliance’s governor candidate.

In other elective seats, the three agreed UDA will not field candidates for governor in Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties.

In the deal, Senator Cleophas Malala has been designated as the coalition’s candidate for Kakamega governor while ANC will get priority in Vihiga.

In the deal, Wetang’ula’s Ford-Kenya party is expected to produce governor candidates in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties while UDA will have the senatorial candidate for Trans Nzoia County.

Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka has been mentioned as possible governor aspirant for Bungoma while Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa could fly the Ford Kenya flag in the Trans Nzoia County battle for governor.