ANC boss Musalia Mudavadi has launched a battle against President Uhuru Kenyatta and told off the head of state for allegedly "forcing" him to fight Deputy President William Ruto.
In a no-holds-barred assault, Mudavadi trashed ODM chief Raila Odinga's political machine as a "stalled state project" and Raila himself as a state "project".
He claimed Uhuru is a failure and said Kenyans are disappointed in him.
“We don’t want someone to choose for us our friends. If you differed with Ruto, please do not force me to hate him,” Mudavadi told a charged rally at Eldama Ravine, Baringo.
He spoke hours after Uhuru on Tuesday told a group of Western leaders at State House that the ANC leader disappointed him by joining Ruto.
"You have a right to be disappointed, but Mr President, Kenyans are even more disappointed. Kenyans are hungry, Kenyans have a huge debt, Kenyans are overtaxed, Kenyans are jobless...Tusidanganyane," he told the gathering.
The ANC boss when he joined Ruto and Ford Kenya boss Moses Wetang'ula to unveil their August 9 general election machine.
In show of might, the trio traversed Baringo county, the home turf of Kanu boss Gideon Moi, before assembling at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru, for a major rally.
However, at all the stops, the presence of ANC was minimal with most attendants wearing UDA outfits and sporting yellow colours.
At one point at Eldama Ravine, when Musalia said "Harambee", the crowd responded "UDA"!
Ruto had to step in and tell the mammoth gathering to say "Kenya Kwanza".
However, the leaders pledged to build a people-centred vehicle reflecting the face of Kenya.
In Nakuru, they signalled the birth of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
We are united for the things that bother our nation, and that is our bond. We are a people united for a mission to transform the country, we are unstoppable
The KKC outfit will face off with the Azimio La Umoja Movement led by Raila and backed by Uhuru.
"We are united for the things that bother our nation, and that is our bond. We are a people united for a mission to transform the country, we are unstoppable,” Ruto declared at Afraha.
Buoyed by his deal with Mudavadi and Wetang'ula, Ruto fired up his base, saying their unity is meant to end a return to "politics of tribalism, divisions and violence.
"We have not come together to seek positions and power but to save the country and resist the temptations to return us to tribal divisions and violence," the DP said.
He went on, “We have not just united so we can each benefit selfishly as individuals but so that we can benefit all Kenyans."
Daring the President to a political duel, Mudavadi warned that the KKC machine will sweep away "state project Raila".
“We will not accept a state project, Azimio is a stalled project, it is a white elephant, it is a useless project,” an angry Mudavadi fired at the President.
The Azimio La Umoja is a political movement driven by Raila and backed by the President as a pillar of his succession plan.
Ruto and his camp have insisted the move is a ploy to block his ascension to power.
Initially, there were signals the President was working on a formula to reunite Raila with Musalia, Wetang'ula, Kalonzo and Gideon.
However, the dimmest of hopes were dashed by Sunday’s events in which Mudavadi and Wetang'ula agreed to work with Ruto.
I have no problem with Ruto, but some people wanted to choose for me the guests at the NDC. When Ruto arrived, some took off but Wetang'ula stood firm because that day was a defining moment for our country
KKC will stick together not because the leaders are interested in sharing political power but to transform the country and entrench democracy. Mudavadi said.
“Mambo ya kupangwa kama mahindi kwa silo tumekataa, hapana. (We have said no to secret political machinations),” he said.
A bitter Musalia revisited the events leading to his Sunday NDC and said he rejected pressure to block Ruto from attending the jamboree at the Bomas of Kenya.
“I have no problem with Ruto, but some people wanted to choose for me the guests who would attend the NDC. When Ruto arrived, some took off but Wetang'ula stood firm because that day was a defining moment for our country,” he said.
The former VP asked why Gideon and Kalonzo, both his former co-principals in the One Kenya Alliance, stormed out yet he had no problem when they invited Raila to their NDCs.
"Those who had been fearing jail and avoided associating with Ruto are all free now because the Azimio Project will fail as the Kenya Kwanza Coalition will vanquish it.
"We shall stick together and walk side by side because we have been united by our ideologies that focus on economic liberation,” he said.
Wetang'ula told his partners the path ahead would not be an easy one as they are coming up against "crooked" people likely to steal their votes.
“It is not over until it is over. Let us ensure we don’t just vote and go home. Let us protect our votes to ensure they are not stolen,” he said.
The Ford Kenya party boss insisted the country’s fifth president will be elected democratically by Kenyans and not "a few individuals assembling at hotels in Nairobi".
He was referring to the Mt Kenya Foundation, an elite club of tycoons from the President’s Mt Kenya turf. They endorsed Raila after interviewing candidates at the Safari Park Hotel.
However, the meetings were marred with confusion in messaging as Ruto's camp struggled to align their message with those of Musalia and Wetang'ula.
For instance, while Ruto outlined the achievements of the Jubilee government in the infrastructure and energy sector to woo voters, his partners trashed them.
I urge the civil servants not to enter into contractual obligations that will haunt them after the next government takes over
Mudavadi said infrastructure is not enough to change the lives of Kenyans for the better.
"It is good to have roads and power but that is not enough to put food on the table for poor Kenyans," Mudavadi said, attacking what has been a key plank of Ruto's campaigns.
Ruto had said the Jubilee administration has built more than 10,000km tarmacked roads and connected more than eight million Kenyans to electricity since 2013.
Wetang'ula also campaigned to allocate at least 35 per cent of revenue to counties, a proposal Ruto had previously opposed.
The leaders on Wednesday warned civil servants to be cautious when committing the country to more debts during the transition period.
"I urge the civil servants not to enter into contractual obligations that will haunt them after the next government takes over," Mudavadi said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
