By Sarah Omondi
ANC Party Leader and Presidential hopeful Musalia Mudavadi has ruled out working with ODM Leader Raila Odinga in the coming election with presence of Deputy President William Ruto at the event sending signals that the duo could get into dalliance as the Presidential contest heats up.
Speaking during the ANC National Delegates Conference at Bomas of Kenya, the One Kenya Alliance principal said time had come for him to renew himself and find fresh energy and embrace greater national good and interests.
While accepting the blessings from his party, Mr Mudavadi said it was a major step in the direction he was taking towards economy restoration through wealth and job creation for the nation.
“While the road ahead might not be easy, I promise and commit myself because of the confidence and commitment to walk with me and we will surely get to the Promised Land of milk and honey,” he told the delegates and leaders who attended the event.
In a clear jab on Mr Odinga, the ANC Leader said Kenyans must reject political projects and leaders being imposed by the government.
“I have refused to board the boat of lies. I was never trained to be a liar and I will not lie to Kenyans,” Mr Mudavadi said.
While President Uhuru Kenyatta has never publicly declared Mr Odinga as his preferred successor, the ODM Leader has on several occasions been branded a State project, a tag that he has in recent past struggled to erase.
Dr Ruto’s camp has been capitalizing on the ‘State tag’ to present the DP as a Kenyans’ favorite.
In what was perceived to be directed to his OKA Principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Gideon Moi who walked out of the NDC meeting, Mr Mudavadi said Kenyans must be wary of leaders who can never be trusted.
“Trust issues have a special place in my heart and every person must be as good as their words. The moment of the change you have been yearning for is here,” he said.
While announcing that ANC will in coming days seek partnerships with friends of goodwill, Mr Mudavadi maintained that Mr Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja was not an option to him.
In what many believe signaled likely pact with Dr Ruto, the leader said they will not enter into pact with untrustworthy partners.
“We may not know who we will be going (this journey) with us but we know who they will not be. They won’t be those who cannot be trusted. It will not be those you trust at your own risk,” the Presidential hopeful said.
He said it was unfortunate that even after giving Mr Odinga a second chance despite their past differences, he went back to his old life.
Mr Mudavadi claimed Azimio la Umoja had no interests of Kenyans but a scheme for self-preservation of some individuals.
The leader lamented over the ballooning debt that is almost hitting Sh9 trillion ceiling, rampant graft and disregard to law by government officials.
“Kenya is broke. The truth must be told no matter how uncomfortable it is. We must tell Kenyans that the country is at risk of being auctioned by international money lenders. The public debt has become a matter of national security and a risk to the nation”.
He said the country risked losing its sovereignty because of “reckless borrowing to fund corruption”.
Mr Mudavadi rubbished government’s public private partnerships claiming they were conduits for government officers to siphon public funds with their close family members.
“The cartels do not even pay taxes. They are the worst burden of this country,” he said while popularizing his Uchumi Bora, Pesa Mfukoni agenda.
He said it was sad that Uhuruto government was subjecting Kenyans to excessive taxation on crucial items such as fuel, electricity and farm inputs instead of alleviating the suffering.
For lacking jobs, he said, majority of the youth had resorted to bodaboda business which was not sustainable.
“The labour sector is in Intensive Care Unit, education is collapsing, agriculture and security sectors are dead and health is in ICU as well,” he noted.
