Amani National Congress leader, Musalia Mudavadi, finally opened up on how President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto tricked him, after the three agreed on flanking Mudavadi as a presidential candidate in 2012.
People Daily were first to report that, Mudavadi, in his yet to be released autobiography, Musalia Mudavadi: Soaring Above the Storms of Passion, alleged that he was set to succeed retired president Mwai Kibaki in 2012, but that did not come to fruition.
Mudavadi alleged that Kenyatta and Ruto approached him in December 2012 while the duo was facing charges at the ICC. They went on to promise him that they would drop out of the race in his favour.
Mudavadi and Kenyatta were then Deputy Prime Ministers in the Grand Coalition government, under Raila Odinga as PM and Kibaki as president.
Kenyatta and Ruto made an impromptu visit at Mudavadi's Nairobi Riverside residence, while he was planning his presidential bid.
"They wanted to see me. I ushered them in at once. Soon they came to the point, breaking the awkwardness of their meeting at a critical time, ahead of the election. In short, they were to ask me to join them in their election effort. They were concerned that the ICC saga could come in their way.
"We deliberated over the matter for a while, after which I asked them to allow me to invite my close associates to this meeting. I reached out to Boni Khalwale, Mukhisa Kituyi and Dan Ameyo to witness the development," Mudavadi recalled.
The three signed a one-page Memorandum of Understanding, with a window for further negotiations and agreed to wait for a few days before making a formal address. However, the news word spread out and Mt Kenya warned Kenyatta that they would support Odinga if Kenyatta had pulled out of the race.
A few days later, Mudavadi was stunned to see Kenyatta on TV, during a rally at Kiambu town on December 8, 2012, reassuring his supporters that he was in the race to State House.
"There are people who are spreading rumours that I have dropped this presidential bid. I had just taken a rest. I am in the race," Kenyatta stated as Mudavadi claimed that he further went on to add that some demons had misled him to try to step down.
Mudavadi went on to run under United Democratic Front (UDF), falling third after Odinga (CORD) and Kenyatta (TNA).
