Raila Allies Downplay Ruto-Mudavadi Political Pact

Leaders allied to ODM leader Raila Odinga’s ‘Azimio La Umoja’ movement have dismissed the partnership between Deputy President William Ruto and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi.

Led by Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) secretary-general Francis Atwoli, the leaders accused Mudavadi of betraying his One Kenya Alliance (OKA) co-principals by entering into a deal with Ruto’s UDA party behind their backs.

The leaders maintained that Mudavadi’s newfound union with the deputy president was not a threat to Odinga’s State House bid.

On Sunday, OKA co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Gideon Moi (Kanu) walked out of Mudavadi’s meeting at Bomas of Kenya following the surprise arrival of Ruto, who announced his partnership with ANC ahead of the August 9th elections.

Atwoli has termed Mudavadi’s alliance with Ruto as an embarrassment to the Luhya community and the people of Kenya.

“Befriending Ruto is not the key to the Presidency. He has ashamed the Luhyas by allowing Ruto to fund his NDC,” said Atwoli.

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu accused Mudavadi of hypocrisy and hailed Musyoka and Moi for walking out of the ANC National Delegates Conference.

“Kalonzo Musyoka is such a wise and mature man for what he did yesterday because here is this cunning person whom they have been working together with but has kept secrets from the others until they realized it at the last minute,” Ngilu said on Monday.

“He and Moi did very well walking out of the trap. What I saw yesterday was a Youth for Kanu '92 reunion and they were very happy because they are birds of the same feather,” added Ngilu.