Raila promises to accommodate Mudavadi in Azimio gov't as he tours Vihiga

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga has promised to accommodate the Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi in his government if he clinches power in next week’s elections.

Speaking on a campaign trail in Vihiga County on Thursday, Odinga said that he had mentored Mudavadi politically and would not abandon him even after he trounces over the Kenya Kwanza camp where the ANC boss is a co-principal.

Odinga wooed voters in Mudavadi’s backyard promising that he would protect their interests and absorb him in his government.

“Huyu Musalia Mudavadi ni kijana yangu; si mimi ndio nilimshika mkono akiwa kwa KANU akakataa na nilikuwa nataka kusema Mudavadi tosha, lakini akaogopa Nyayo,” Odinga said.

“Mara hii nyingine nimemwambia tuje pande hii, amekuwa mwoga akavutwa pande ile, lakini yeye ni kijana yangu tukienda kwa serikali nitaita yeye. Ninataka sisi tujenge serikali pamoja.”

The ODM leader at the same time downplayed the Deputy President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza alliance’s influence in the Western Kenya voting bloc saying the area had resolved to back his State House bid.

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli on his part said he would be tasked with bringing onboard Mudavadi if the Azimio outfit manages to win the presidency.

 “Amkeni mapema mkapigie Raila kura, Musalia ni mimi nitaenda kumleta. Ruto alikuwa anatukana na kudharau Musalia kila siku, even before joining his team, he was saying that Mudavadi only knows the bottle-up model instead of bottom-up model,” Atwoli remarked.

“Wetangula anajua Ruto hawezi kushinda ndio maana alienda usiku huko Bungoma akapeana makaratasi yake usiku. Si alikuwa apewe hii kiti ya Marende?”