Keep off succession, Mudavadi tells Uhuru

Kenya Kwanza principals William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula address residents in Nambale town, Busia County. [Mumo Munuve, Standard]

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi has told President Uhuru Kenyatta to retire honourably and to stop influencing his succession ahead of the August 9 elections.

Mr Mudavadi said President Kenyatta Uhuru should prepare to go home with ODM leader Raila Odinga when his tenure ends.

“He should stop imposing Raila on us but allow Kenyans to elect a leader they want to succeed him. Kenya has no deficiency of leaders to the extent of imposing people on us,” he said.

Speaking in Busia town yesterday during Kenya Kwanza Alliance’s day two tour of Western, the ANC leader likened President Kenyatta to former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Joseph Kabila who helped President Felix Tshisekedi to ascend to power and then started micro-managing his government.

“When you retire as president, just go home the way Kibaki did...your time is over. Azimio la Umoja is a project of those people who do not want to leave power and that is why Uhuru wants to choose who will be president and deputy president,” said Mudavadi.  

“In 2002, Uhuru was a state project and I was deputising him, we lost to Kibaki and at the same time I lost my parliamentary seat. Raila should also prepare for defeat in the August 9 polls as no state project has ever ascended to power,” he added.

He claimed that the president tried to coerce them to support Raila and when they refused; they were branded enemies of change.

The Kenya Kwanza leaders, Deputy President William Ruto, Mudavadi and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula addressed rallies at Malaba border, Nambale town, Ogalo market, Bumala shopping centre and Budalang’i. 

Mr Wetang’ula said time for Raila to be president expired long time ago and that despite having state machinery on his side, he would lose.

“Such leaders when they get power end up being puppets of those who helped them ascend to power and cannot make informed decisions. As Uhuru retires, he must retire with his handshake brother,” he said.  “As Kenya Kwanza, we are not gambling with the presidency, but determined to form the next government and save the country from economic sabotage and plunder,”  he added.

The Ford Kenya leader blasted Uhuru for allocating Sh100 billion towards the revival of Kenya Airways, saying the move has no economic value since the airline collapsed long time ago.

Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula and ANC's Musalia Mudavadi during a past event in Luanda, Vihiga County. [File, Standard]

He said the government should have instead allocated Sh20 billion for revival of Mumias Sugar Company. 

The Ford Kenya leader promised that Kenya Kwanza government would ensure free education from primary to university to ease pressure from parents.

Wetang’ula further pledged that Kenya Kwanza government will construct a dry port at Busia and Malaba borders to create business opportunities and jobs.

Dr Ruto said Mr Raila should retire from politics since he is part of the problems the country is facing after he (Raila) sabotaged the Big Four agenda.

The DP pledged to continue implementation of the Big Four agenda; food security, affordable housing, universal healthcare, and strengthening of the manufacturing industry.

Ruto claimed that the ODM leader does not have the interests of Kenyans at heart but is serving the interests of a few individuals.

“We came together as Kenya Kwanza leaders since our ideologies are the same. We want to save the country from oppression and economic sabotage occasioned by leaders who do not want to hand over power to the next generation,” he added.

Others who attended the rallies are Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Sakwa Bunyasi (Nambale) and Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East).