• Mudavadi is married and has three children; the best time is quiet time chatting and laughing with them.
• During his scarce free time he plays golf, supports the AFC Leopards and Manchester United.
Image: ANDREW KASUKU
As the saying goes, do not get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.
For Amani National Congress boss Musalia Mudavadi, striking a balance between politics and family is a must, but difficult.
As he tries to edge out his rivals in the 2022 presidential race, Mudavadi still finds time to be with his two sons and daughter, Michael, Moses and Maryanne.
“Though as parents we play different roles in our children’s lives, my wife has always been the disciplinarian," he said, laughing during a wide-ranging interview on Wednesday with the Star.
His wife is Tessie Shangatti Mudavadi.
The former vice president admitted that pressure from his political work sometimes occupies his mind long after he leaves office.
“It is not easy to juggle between politics and family. If you are not careful, politics just ends up taking more of your time unintentionally,” he said.
Mudavadi said once in a while, he gets away with his family to spend undisturbed time together.
“I am with my family physically but my mind chooses to remain at work. Sometimes, I am away too long or working many hours and come home exhausted,” he said.
He said his family is very understanding and supportive.
In what little spare time he has, Mudavadi plays golf or watches football.
“I am an ardent supporter of AFC Leopards. I am a Manchester United fan in the English Premier League,” he said.
Mudavadi turned 61 on Monday.
Grinning, he said he awoke to a great breakfast with his wife and three children. And there was a surprise cake at work.
“As you grow older, you appreciate more the value of integrity and looking at things realistically in this life,” he said. “It is dangerous to lead people on with falsehoods. Give them a proper diagnosis and on that basis, find solutions together."
Joking that how none of his children takes after him, Mudavadi said he would support them if they got into politics.
Though his children take an interest in his political career, he said, as a father he would never push them to enter politics unless they really want to take the plunge.
“If they have their own interests then I would like them to make the decisions they believe in. I would support them if they were to go into politics but if they pick a different career path, they have my full backing as well,” he said.
For the presidential hopeful, nothing defines a perfect family time as much as sitting together with his wife and three children, telling stories and laughing.
The former deputy prime minister grew up in a Quaker family and emphasised the importance of integrity and honesty.
Quakers are known for speaking truth and are recognised worldwide for their pacifism and belief that war and violence are not justified.
If he is elected president today, Mudavadi said he would begin by giving people hope and plan to ease their economic burden.
“I would tell them the truth about the situation of the country. As it stands now, for instance, the country is broke and some measures need to be taken urgently to reduce the burden that has been placed on the shoulders of mwananchi,” he said.
Mudavadi was born September 21, 1960 in Sabatia, Vihiga county. He served as the seventh vice president of Kenya in 2002 under the Moi regime and as deputy prime minister from 2008 to 2013.
As a youngster, he played rugby for Mean Machine RRD. He schooled in Nairobi and later attended the University of Nairobi.
(Edited by V. Graham)