'The Earthquake', a phrase Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi coined when he dumped Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister, to join President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza coalition, was seemingly birthed at a dinner date.
This revelation was made by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula on Sunday, August 27, in Bungoma County during Ruto's Western Kenya tour.
Wetangula disclosed that alongside Mudavadi, he met Ruto's handler and personal assistant, Farouk Kibet, on four dinner dates before they were convinced to cross over with their parties, Ford-Kenya and ANC, respectively.
The duo, who were previously allied to Raila's defunct National Super Alliance (NASA), first joined the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) as they weighed on their next moves.
However, they switched from OKA to Kenya Kwanza as other OKA co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Martha Karua (Narc-Kenya) and Gideon Moi (KANU) joined Azimio.
Speaking during a church service in Bungoma County, Wetangula revealed that it was not easy for them to choose to work with Ruto, especially after he supported Raila in both the 2013 and 2017 General Elections. Conversely, Mudavadi supported Raila in 2017 after both contested for the presidency in 2013.
Were it not for Ruto’s personal aide, Farouk Kibet, Wetangula, and Musalia would have remained loyal to Raila Odinga. Kibet endorsed and conveyed Ruto's vision to the duo.
“This is my brother (Mudavadi). Musalia and I ate Farouk Kibet’s dinner four times before we met you,” Wetangula told the Head of State amid applause from the audience.
“We were meeting to plan and discuss the pros and cons. We had struggled in 2013 and 2017 and wanted to know what next.”
Wetangula revealed that the choice to join Ruto was vindicated after Kenya Kwanza won the 2023 general election.
“We are having the last laugh. He who laughs last laughs best and longest,” he taunted his political opponents. In particular, he accused Raila Odinga of causing their loss to former President Uhuru Kenyatta in both 2013 and 2017.
Musalia Mudavadi, taking to the podium, supported Wetangula's sentiments and lamented their challenges in the opposition.
“In 2017, we were in National Super Alliance (NASA) and when the Supreme Court called for a repeat election, our candidate (Raila Odinga) boycotted making us lose,” he narrated.
He affirmed his commitment to working with Wetangula to deliver the Kenya Kwanza and President William Ruto’s agenda.
“There is no supremacy battled Wetanguala and Mudavadi. Wetangula is the duly elected Speaker and I have been appointed by the President as Prime Cabinet Secretary. We all have our responsibilities,” he explained.
