Soft-spoken Musalia Mudavadi makes comeback to government after 10 years
He is among the few politicians in the country who hardly trades insults with opponents in the political arena. This man Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi can be described as a soft spoken or even a misunderstood man. He is also known for taking time to calculate his political moves.
Born in Sabatia, Vihiga District County, the 62-year-old holds the dubious distinction of having held the Vice President position for the shortest time in Kenya’s history. He was the second in command for just two months, towards the end of President Daniel arap Moi’s presidency.
However, Mr Mudavadi is now among the political heavyweights in the country who are likely to reap handsomely from William Ruto’s election victory.
He could actually be the first person to hold the office of Prime Cabinet Secretary, a position which the Kenya Kwanza Alliance team is expected to create the position in accordance to its agreement with the constituent parties.
Following his announcement as President-Elect by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati, Dr Ruto is expected to start forming his government, including making Cabinet Secretaries appointments.
Mr Mudavadi’s position appears to be a sure bet, and has he already started angling himself for a place in Dr Ruto’s government after 10 years of being in the political cold.
His last posting in government was as Deputy Prime Minister between April 2008 and May 2012, a post that was created following the formation of the Grand Coalition Government of President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The Grand Coalition Government followed a disputed 2007 election that led to violence across the country as Mr Odinga’s ODM protested the outcome of the presidential election.
Mr Mudavadi was appointed from Mr Odinga’s wing of the government while Mr Uhuru Kenyatta served as Deputy Prime Minister from President Kibaki’s wing.
In 2013 Mr Mudavadi ran for president with Jeremiah Kioni as his running mate. He finished third behind Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga with 483,981 votes.
In 2015, his Amani National Congress (ANC) party was part of political outfits that formed the National Super Alliance (NASA) which contested the presidency in 2017 against the Jubilee Party.
Mr Odinga, the leader of ODM, was fronted as NASA flag bearer with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as his running mate. However, NASA collapsed after Uhuru Kenyatta was elected president.
The ANC party leader was the first NASA principal to cite dishonesty within the coalition and expressed his displeasure with Mr Odinga, saying he would run for president in this year’s election.
Soon after NASA’s death, Mr Mudavadi joined forces with Dr Ruto, alongside Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula, with both leaders being assured of key government positions in the event Kenya Kwanza Alliance won the election, which they did.
So now Mr Mudavadi is threshold of making his comeback to government.