Mudavadi defends Ruto against Uhuru attacks

ANC  leader Musalia Mudavadi on Thursday tore into President Uhuru Kenyatta's development legacy and appeared to defend Deputy President William Ruto from repeated attacks by the head of state.

Mudavadi castigated Uhuru for indirectly rallying Kenyans to back the candidature of his handshake partner Raila Odinga, dismissing the President's counsel on the 2022 presidential contest.

The move appears to dash any hopes of Musalia-Raila unity that Uhuru has been pushing behind-the-scenes. His point-by-point rebuttal of Uhuru's criticisms of the DP also raised questions of Mudavadi gravitating towards Ruto.

Mudavadi took a swipe at Uhuru over his remarks in Nakuru on Wednesday when he warned Kenyan youths to seriously think about the 2022 contest and avoid acting in haste.

“If people are worried that the young people are running fast, then they should realise that young people are tired of us going too slowly,” the ANC party leader said in apparent response to Uhuru.

The President had also said the campaigns of discrimination including age were backward and that leaders should be elected on their intellectual ability.

"People are elected on their intellectual ability, not physical strength. Leadership is the brain, it's not a football match," Uhuru said in apparent defence of Raila, aged 76.

But on Thursday, Musalia suggested old people should exit the scene.

“Even me, I am under pressure...the young people in ANC are saying finish quickly and exit,” he stated.

Musalia reiterated calls for free and fair elections and defended the IEBC's exit from the multiagency task force on elections.

“We want free and fair elections, elections that will reflect the will of Kenyans. We do not want anybody, even at the lowest level, to feel intimidated when making their 2022 choices,” Mudavadi said.

Unlike his partners in the One Kenya Alliance, Musalia has rarely attacked Ruto in his campaigns.

However, the ANC boss and his troops have trained their artillery on Raila.

In his address on Wednesday, Uhuru described what it takes to be a leader, noting that rising to the top takes time, in a thinly veiled reference to Ruto. He also alluded to a possible presidential election victory by his handshake partner.

“Leadership is not a sprint, it is a marathon. You will be busy running fast and by the time you are done, you run out of breath but mzee who has been walking slowly by slowly comes and passes you and wins the race. Go slowly,” he said.

But Mudavadi defended Ruto saying it does not matter how one runs in a race since the purpose is to win.

“Changing the economy of this country is now no longer about a marathon. It's about swift action.”

Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala said Uhuru had betrayed Musalia after standing with him for many years.

“Mudavadi stood with Uhuru, sacrificed and lost his Sabatia  parliamentary seat...Raila Odinga has never supported Uhuru,” he stated.

Malala said since Musalia started being “independent minded”, a lot of mud has been thrown at him.

“We have started seeing certain things in newspapers. Oooh, Musalia is not paying taxes, Anglo Leasing. We want to tell them we shall not be cowed by anything,” Malala said.

There are allegations Musalia has been slapped by a heavy tax bill. However, Musalia is yet to speak publicly about it, only talking about leaders being cajoled to make certain political choices.

“Do not be intimidated. Let them come with tax arrears or the Anglo Leasing but stand your ground. We will fundraise to clear you KRA bills,” Malala said.

Speaking while launching the party's revamped digital platforms and unveiling of the youth charter at ANC headquarters in Nairobi, Mudavadi further poked holes in Uhuru's State of the Nation Address. It was delivered to a joint sitting of Parliament on Tuesday.

“It may be statistically correct that the GDP could have hit Sh11 trillion but one statistic that was missing from the President's speech is that out of the GDP of Sh11 trillion, about Sh7.5 trillion is public debt,” he pointed out.

Mudavadi also asked why the head of state had indicated the economy had performed well yet the cost of living and unemployment are high.

“How do you explain high costs to farmers? There has been good progress in infrastructure development but it is not yet translating to money in our pockets,” he added.

The ANC party leader also supported the move by the elections agency to pull out of a crucial polls preparedness committee.

He further warned against intimidating commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

“The genesis of tensions in the country has always been botched elections. The move by IEBC to assert its independence is critical. Their role must not be hijacked anywhere along the road to 2022,” he said.

“We do not want Msando revisiting us,” he stated in a reference to Chris Msando, an electoral commission IT manager, who was murdered shortly before the 2017 polls.

In a letter to Interior PS Karanja Kibicho dated November 22, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said the commission had consulted widely before deciding   to withdraw from the National Multi-Sectoral Consultative Forum on Election Preparedness and Technical Working Committee.

The IEBC boss, the committee would undermine its mandate and interfere with its independence. 

Mudavadi also appeared to sustain his attacks on Raila over the ODM leader's election promises. “There is no dignity in poverty. When people can fend for themselves, that is stability,” he said.

Raila has promised Sh6,000 monthly stipend to needy families if elected president next year. The do ability1§ of that has been widely questioned.

(Edited by V. Graham)