Being Musalia Mudavadi: The Political Frustrations and Little Faith Revealed

“Great expectations versus little faith”. That is how Amani National Congress (ANC) leader sums up the political frustrations of being a Musalia Mudavadi.

Yet he is the political pointman of his populous Luhya community, and has to shoulder great expectations of a community whose leaders do not even believe one of their own can ever be president of Kenya.

Unlike some of his political contemporaries, including President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, ODM leader Raila Odinga and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who enjoy fervent political support from their communities, Mr Mudavadi lacks solid backing in his backyard.

It hurts him the more, considering that his community is the second largest in the country.

And never mind that Mudavadi himself is a political heavyweight to boot, having served as vice-president, deputy prime minister and Cabinet minister from as early as 1989, when he was only 28 years old.

And, while his political competitors are busy consolidating their bases, Mudavadi’s is leaking with kinsmen, Dr Boni Khalwale (Ford Kenya’s deputy party leader), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili MP) and Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa, leading campaigns for Deputy President William Ruto instead.

ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and Nominated MP Geoffrey Osotsi, who are allied to Mudavadi’s ANC party, are on the other hand drumming up support for Mr Odinga.

“Ideally, a Mudavadi of our times has to compete against betrayal and sabotage from within,”

Although Mudavadi is neither enthusiastic about projecting himself as a Luhya candidate nor mobilising politically along ethnic lines, his backers are alive to the reality that support from the community is a boon for his political ambitions.

He is consistently barraged with inquiries from friends and peers on why his people cannot support him as a bloc.

Speaking last month during the Maragoli Annual Cultural Festival, Jubilee’s David Murathe, for instance, urged western Kenya leaders to unite and “give central Kenya someone they can work with in 2022”.

It still remains to be seen whether the Luhyia Nation will finally join forces and speak one political voice

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