[SIZE=6]DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD[/SIZE]
[SIZE=7]Musalia: I’ll ask Uhuru if he’s supporting Raila[/SIZE]
[SIZE=5]ANC leader says he won’t back down or play second fiddle to anyone[/SIZE]
22 October 2021 -
ANC boss Musalia Mudavadi has reiterated he will not back down in his 2022 presidential bid and dismissed claims the contest is a two-horse race.
The former vice president said he is not aware President Uhuru Kenyatta is backing ODM’s Raila Odinga in the general election.
In an exclusive interview on Tuesday— just a day before Mashujaa Day celebrations where the bigwigs met— Musalia said he would be seeking answers from President if indeed he supports Raila.
Musalia described a presidential endorsement as a double-edged sword that can either be a blessing or a curse.
The ANC boss spoke just days after Deputy President William Ruto started branding Raila Uhuru’s project. Musalia, however, insisted he is not having any talks with Ruto or Raila
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2021-10-22-musalia-ill-ask-uhuru-if-hes-supporting-raila/
Here are excerpts from the interview:
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ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi during an interview with The Star on October 19.
Image: THE STAR
What is the status of the One Kenya Alliance?
We need to let people know the deadline for any formal registration of a coalition is next year. We have technical teams systematically charting the way forward for Oka. We are reaching out to other political players … [such as] the leadership of Kadu Asili. We also met a team led by Martha Karua and had a conversation about the way forward. She said she will consult her team to see if she would partner with Oka. We are sending a very clear message we are open to dialogue with other players. We are moving and working as individuals while popularising the One Kenya Alliance countrywide.
Has Oka stalled?
[INDENT]I don’t agree it’s a two-horse race…Politics takes direction four to five months to voting day. [/INDENT]
[INDENT]The Narc coalition was just a three-month wave in 2002[/INDENT]
Musalia Mudavadi
Personally, I have been moving and my partners in Oka have also been moving across the country. Very soon you will be seeing more collective activity as Oka partners. For instance, we were in Ukambani together and we intend to have more of these and step up collective engagements across the country. The Oka approach may be different from what some people think. We saw Gideon Moi being endorsed by his Kanu party; my ANC party also endorsed me not long ago as the presidential candidate.
There is nothing wrong for an individual candidate within Oka to launch a presidential bid. Remember, when we were in Nasa, individual candidates were propelling themselves; eventually, we converged and settled on a presidential candidate. We are conscious of the IEBC statutory timeliness.
Is 2022 a two-horse race between Ruto and Raila?
I don’t agree [it’s] a two-horse race. We have several months and a lot of things can happen. Normally, the country’s politics takes its actual direction about four to five months to voting day. The Narc coalition phenomenon was just a three-month wave in 2002 and it shook the country. Kenyans must be given an alternative.
Who created the narrative of a two-horse race? When I look back at history, I remember when Daniel Moi was there, Kenneth Matiba was there, Jaramogi Oginga was there and Kibaki was there in the 1990s. The media then gave all the presidential candidates a fair share of coverage to the extent that you would never talk about it being between this guy and that guy.
People were looking at those individuals based on what they stood for. For now, I would encourage Kenyans to see what all the candidates have for them and take time to digest their policies.
How united is Oka and are you battling a Raila factor?
Oka is holding very well. As of now, I cannot say I have seen anything that is suspicious, we are holding regular consultations. We have not been making Raila the subject of our discussions as Oka. Raila is in ODM and we are members of a different political formation with our own parties. Our focus is to grow the One Kenya Alliance and we are not focusing on Raila or focusing on Ruto.
Are you planning to team up with Ruto?
I don’t know where that is coming from because, for me, I do all my meetings in broad daylight. People talk but let us not be bound by rumors.
No one has empirical evidence that there are talks between me and Ruto. All I can tell you is I am very focused on where I want to go. I am focused on seeking the presidency of the country. If there was anything that would warrant a conversation, I would not shy away from telling Kenyans that, but as of now, that is just rumors.
How does a presidential endorsement impact an election?
The President has a lot of influence, both visible and invisible. It does not necessarily mean that his word will be taken. But he has influenced… in many different ways so you cannot underrate a sitting President. Ultimately, it is the Kenyans who will cast their votes. We have a history where open support from a sitting President can also be counterproductive. We saw in 2002 when President Moi came out strongly in support of Uhuru and that did not translate into votes.
In fact, Kibaki stormed into State House with a significant margin. To me, one ought to be very careful. I have acknowledged that a sitting President has got influence and it can be either visible or invisible. It can have ramifications either way. You could be branded a state project and that can have consequences. I am not aware the President has endorsed Raila but next time I talk to him (Uhuru) I will ask him that question.
[INDENT][/INDENT]
How influential is the Mount Kenya Foundation?
I see them in the context of stakeholder engagement. When you are seeking the presidency, you are likely to be engaged with different groups. You engage the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, you engage the small and medium enterprises and you engage farmers’ lobbies. You want to get a feeling about what they feel and what their concerns are. It does not mean we cannot engage others. If they (MKF) are to agree on the President’s successor, that would be their preferred position. Ultimately, voters. They can make pronouncements as they wish. I don’t pronounce them as people to be ignored, but as stakeholders who are important to be engaged just like Kepsa or the national chamber of commerce. Those stakeholders have their interests and you cannot underrate them. But it’s the votes that count.
What are your 2022 plans?
We are going for nothing short of the presidency next year. All our infrastructures are in place. That is how you are seeing us moving across the country from time to time. I am holding out to the best of my ability and I believe that I will offer much to the Kenyan people. I am looking at nothing less than being on the ballot. My target is that I want to offer myself to the people of Kenya so that I can serve them in the presidency.
What is your comment about the ‘deep state’?
If the will of the people is so resolute, the ‘deep state’ may not have the influence people imagine. In Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema defeated incumbent Edgar Lungu. The incumbent president, with all the state infrastructure, was voted out by the people. So, it can happen. It’s critical to make sure elections are free and fair. The IEBC must ensure that. If that happens, there will be a lot of stability. The ‘deep state’ is just amorphous.
These are individuals who may want to be somewhere because they want to maintain the status quo. They may be scared of change or losing positions of privilege if somebody else takes office. A lot of these issues are driven by fear. What I would say is it would be very dangerous if the will of the people of Kenya is disrupted. That would be risky for this country. Let us consolidate and build proper democracy. Let us conduct elections that can be respected; that is what is key.
(Edited by V. Graham)