Mudavadi: Over 2 million Western Kenya votes key to President Ruto re-election

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said it was tactical and strategic for the Amani National Congress (ANC) party to fold and join the ruling party United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 re-election bid for President William Ruto.

Mudavadi maintained that the decision to merge ANC with UDA is not a gamble, as he welcomed the move to work under the leadership of Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, who is also holding the mantle for ANC as the merger process takes shape.

He said the 2.2 million plus strong political bastion of Western Kenya, his backyard, is key to President Ruto’s re-election and as part of consolidating the region’s support it was deemed prudent to have a unified front moving into the 2027 elections.

“I want to tell off the critics that from where I sit, the decisions we talk about and the moves I take are always tough and extremely complex. I never go for populist decisions as many would imagine, and this one too holds water.” said Mudavadi.

“This merger is by amalgamation. Until the lapse of all steps in accordance with the Political Parties Act, each party shall still retain its identity as no party has been swallowed by the other. Thereafter, the Merger, by amalgamation, shall be deemed binding,” he explained.

Mudavadi, whom during the recent development tour of Western Kenya region by President Ruto acknowledged the Head of State as his party leader, said Kenya has to move along together as a united country irrespective of the regional leadership representation.

The Prime CS explained to the Western Kenya electorate in the counties of Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia that the broader decision is based on a long-term perspective and not short time gains.

“We had a conversation about elevating our partnership from a coalition point of view. The unity of parties therefore becomes important in trying to solidify crucial decisions for the benefit of moving the country forward and service delivery to the citizens,” remarked Mudavadi.

“Together as a people we must reflect on the shared and common ideals on the primacy of economic empowerment, peace and development.”

The Prime CS has called out on critics to break away from the notion that one has to be a party leader for you to be able to negotiate.

He said one can negotiate very effectively from a point of persuasion, identifying policies that will impact the lives of citizens and expounding on the plan that is realistic and achievable.

He said as his bandwagon joins UDA they have to give Kenyans hope for the future.

“We will be soon reaching out to all our supporters both in ANC and UDA, recruiting more members through our ideological approach and assuring them that we are forging a united front that will further deliver this country to a new frontier. Soon there will be no ANC and no UDA, we will have a new baby, with a new name, a new face and a new future,” said Mudavadi.

Mudavadi has said that from the new approach of the broad-based government, more political re-alignments will emerge factoring in the possibility of Raila’s African Union Chairmanship win as new matrixes to the political consolidation moving into the future.