Efforts by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to control information sharing regarding its partnership with Amani National Congress (ANC) and Ford Kenya appear to be bearing little fruit.
This is after Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura divulged details regarding the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Deputy President William Ruto's UDA and Musalia Mudavadi of ANC and Moses Wetangula of FORD-Kenya.
Speaking during the Kiririmbi show on Sunday, January 30, Mwaura insisted that reports by the Nation and the Standard that Mudavadi will be a Chief Minister should Ruto take the top seat in the next General Election, were accurate.
Mwaura pointed out that the ANC party leader was the right fit to take charge of the Finance docket in order to resuscitate the deprived economy.
The Senator noted that one of Mudavadi's key highlights during the earthquake announcement was the importance of reviving the economy- hence the need to bring together the Kazi ni Kazi narrative proposed by the UDA outfit and Pesa Mfukoni slogan from ANC which results in the Kenya Kwanza movement.
Further, Mwaura affirmed that both Mudavadi and Wetangula were aware that the running mate slot would belong to the Mt Kenya region before entering the pact with DP Ruto.
"What Mudavadi and Ruto agreed upon is that Ruto will be the Presidential candidate while the DP slot will go to the Mountain. As stated in the newspapers, Mudavadi will seek the Chief Minister in charge of Finance. During his earthquake speech, he stressed the necessity of reviving the economy.
"The running mate slot still belongs to the Mt Kenya region through the UDA. Both Mudavadi and Wetangula came in knowing that there's no negotiation whatsoever. The only issue in contention is who will be chosen? I am saying this as the Chief Executive Officer of Mlima House and this is the decision that we agreed upon. We as Mt Kenya play a very critical role inside the Kenya Kwanza movement," he added.
Mwaura's revelation came hours after Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali also leaked the power-sharing deal within the Kakamega region.
He detailed that the decision arrived upon by both Mudavadi and Ruto is that UDA would clinch the County's Gubernatorial ticket through former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale while ANC would get the Senator seat through Cleophas Malala.
He added that a number of supporters had urged him to seek the Senator position in the 2022 General Election- a move that, he pointed out, was rejected by both Mudavadi and Ruto
"And some people asked me to go and be senator while Khalwale is governor. Mudavadi and Ruto disagreed with that point. I came later on and found out that they wanted ANC to get the Senate position in Kakamega while UDA takes the governorship through Khawlwale that is what they agreed," he stated.
UDA Secretary-General Veronica Maina had disregarded the power-sharing report that had been published by Nation newspaper- terming them as journalistic opinions and mere speculations.
Maina noted that a statement would be issued in order to reveal the actual information regarding the pact between the UDA, ANC, and FORD-Kenya.
Her sentiments were echoed by UDA chairman Johnson Muthama who disputed the media reports of the power-sharing deal by the three party leaders.
"I want to guarantee and assure our supporters that as a party, we stand by making sure that democracy takes place through the nominations phase. What was reported is not something that was discussed and agreed upon between UDA and the friendly parties who have joined to work with us.
"The reporter stated that there's a power-sharing arrangement in which certain positions were to be given to certain individuals. It was also reported that there would be zoning of the country, I wish to deny that in totality and state that it is not UDA's stand," he stated.
