President Uhuru Kenyatta has reacted to the political coalition between Deputy President William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya's Moses Wetangula.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi on Tuesday, January 25, during a meeting with Western Kenya leaders, the President noted that Mudavadi and Wetangula should have stuck with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader and the Azimio La Umoja presidential hopeful, Raila Odinga.
Uhuru, who has been quietly backing Raila to succeed him when his term ends in August this year, is quoted as saying that the two leaders from Western Kenya would have benefited more had they gotten into an alliance with the former Prime Minister.
"They just are lost. They would have benefited had they stayed with Raila. Kenyans will be in good hands under Raila's leadership instead of those people that they are running to," Uhuru remarked.
On Tuesday, January 25, Lugari Member of Parliament, Ayub Savula, revealed what led to the fallout between Mudavadi and Raila.
During a radio interview, the vocal legislator stated that Cyrus Jirongo narrated to him that Raila backed Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya when President Uhuru asked him who his preferred successor was.
According to Savula, during a meeting at State House, the President told Raila that they should retire together and chose someone else to run for the presidency. The ODM leader picked Oparanya instead of Mudavadi and this reportedly made the latter angry.
"At one point during the State House discussions, Uhuru told Raila that they should retire from active politics and back a Luhya but Raila turned his eyes red and stated that they should give it to Oparanya. So Musalia became extremely bitter," Savula revealed.
On Sunday, January 23, in a rather surprising move, Mudavadi pledged to work with Wetangula and Ruto during a meeting that was convened at Bomas of Kenya.
The ANC leader, who was launching his presidential bid, noted that Kenya is broke because of President Kenyatta's insatiable appetite for loans, corrupt officials and the inaction on the part of government agencies.
Mudavadi also stated that the cost of living was at an all-time high and castigated Kenyatta for plotting his succession instead of addressing the needs of the ordinary Kenyans.
"They don't pay taxes. They are the biggest burden Kenyans have to carry. We must reject their political projects and their sinister schemes in this year's elections.
"I refuse to board. I will not be lying to Kenyans. I will not board a train of lies Where are the handshake partners? Why should we line up next to the president to beg for development," he remarked.
