Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetangula have lashed out at leaders who claim they are out to create rifts between them and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Speaking during a Western leaders consultative meeting held at Lugari MP Ayub Savula’s home in Manyonyi village, Mudavadi said some of the leaders have been using the police to disrupt meetings organized by ANC and Ford Kenya leaders in the region and when put to task, they quickly invoke the name of President Kenyatta.
Mudavadi argued that such impunity could reduce the democratic space Kenyans have enjoyed in the past and it should not be allowed to continue.
“We must protect the democratic rights of our people and we should not allow such impunity to prevail,” he said.
Mudavadi said he personally called Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i after police tear gassed MPs who were meeting at the home of Malava MP Malulu Injendi barely three weeks ago.
“Mr Matiang’i was categorical that he didn’t issue the orders but the County Police office did with instructions from a Governor,” said Mudavadi.
The ANC leader denied claims that their meetings are meant to undermine the President reiterating that his focus was on the top seat and that nothing will distract his attention.
“Why does someone get worried when Mudavadi has a meeting yet other people meet elsewhere uninterrupted? Let’s not undermine democracy. I was surprised by police attempts to stop me from accessing the home of Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba on Saturday.”
Mudavadi said his competitors have no reason to get worried if they are confident and know they have a big following, “They have realized that they do not resonate with the people hence the reason they are targeting ANC and Ford Kenya,” he said.
“You should let me go out there to woo Kenyans in Rift Valley, Central Kenya, Coast, Nyanza and all other regions. I have vast experience, having served as the first vice President from Western, deputy prime minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local government.”
He urged Governors from Western Kenya to implement development projects with devolved funds they receive every fiscal year instead of running to President Kenyatta begging for projects.
“If you have the budget, implement the projects, at least I can talk because I don’t have a budget unlike our Governors,” said the ANC leader.
“Stop destructing the President by running to him demanding projects yet you have huge budgetary allocations, let the head of state focus on handling Covid-19 and fighting graft.”
Mudavadi said he was well suited to fix the ailing economy through job creation and clearing of huge debts the country has acquired over a long period of time.
“During my tenure as a minister, I traveled abroad to renegotiate the country’s debts, I streamlined the economy and formulated proper policies, the next government will have an onerous responsibility to fix the bad economy,” he noted.
“We cannot be a nation of handouts, I would like to see youthful parents live a good life, we want Kenyans to be proud, there should be no tension when others seek their democratic space.”
Lugari MP Ayub Savula and his Lurambi counterpart Titus Khamala said they fully support President Kenyatta’s development agenda.
“We ask the president to stop listening to propaganda perpetrated by Mudavadi’s critics,” argued Khamala.
Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula who accompanied Mudavadi, said they will be visiting all corners of Western Kenya to encourage locals to support their bid to ring fence the vote rich bloc before going out there to make friends.
“We must start from a solid background from home to be respected out there, Mudavadi and myself are not after being named Luhya kingpins, that is why you didn’t see us in Kajiado.”
He assured their supporters that they would start creating political networks outside Western “but while out there, both Ford Kenya and ANC legislators and MCAs must commit to doing ground work.”
During the meeting, the leaders unveiled a Western Presidency Alliance meant to popularise Mudavadi as the Presidential candidate.