• Some of the leaders who attended the recent meeting are close Ruto allies, who also paid courtesy to Mudavadi at the Musalia Mudavadi Centre.
• These are Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa aand Webuye West’s Daniel Wanyama.
Deputy President on Friday met Western leaders, further fuelling speculation of a possible alliance with ANC leader in 2022 polls.
“Held fruitful discussions on the development of the country with leaders from Western Kenya who were drawn from
@JubileePartyK, @anc_party and Ford Kenya parties,” DP Ruto tweeted soon after the meeting.
Some of the leaders who attended the meeting are close Ruto allies, who also paid courtesy to Mudavadi at the Musalia Mudavadi Centre few weeks ago.
They are Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa aand Webuye West’s Daniel Wanyama.
When Wanyama visited Mudavadi on May 26, the ANC leader said they discussed issues “ affecting the region and the ongoing political realignments in the country amongst other matters.”
Two days later, Barasa was the guest to which Mudavadi said, “We discussed among other things the unfolding political events in the country, matters of elementary democracy and lastly, strategic and visionary plans to revive the ailing economy”.
Other Ruto allies who met Mudavadi include Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and Sirisia MP John Waluke.
In another indication of reading from the same page, Ruto and Mudavadi met European Union Ambassador Simon Mordue this week.
“I had a productive virtual meeting with 19 European Union ambassadors hosted by EU Ambassador to Kenya Mr. Simon Mordue. We deliberated on a number of issues on the current developments in Kenya, in addition to feasible solutions to reviving and boosting the Kenyan economy,” Mudavadi said on June 10.
The two had also met on October 31, 2029. when Mudavadi paid him a courtesy call.
The following day, Ruto said held talks with the EU Ambassador to Kenya in his Karen office in Nairobi.
“Kenya appreciates the Sh22.2 billion assistance extended by the EU in efforts to combat Covid-19 disease, cushion the vulnerable and assist flood victims in different parts of the country. The support is a pointer of true partnership and nourishes further our cordial relationship,” Ruto said.
These developments come days after Mudavadi met Nark Kenya’s Martha Karua – who has said she can’t work with Ruto ‑ former Head of Public Service Ambassador Sally Kosgei and former presidential candidate Peter Kenneth.
They discussed the challenges facing the country and “agreed to jointly with other like-minded Kenyans put our heads together in search of sustainable solutions”.
Analysts speculated the formation of an alliance ahead of 2022 out of this meeting, a Third Force sort off.
Asked by a local paper about the warming of Ruto allies towards Mudavadi, Malava MP Malulu Injendi, one of the DP’s fiercest defenders in Western, could not deny or confirm he intends to shift only saying, “We are watching the space.”
ATTACKS ON RAILA AND JUBILEE
Mudavadi’s political moves and incessant attacks on ODM leader Raila Odinga early in the year triggered speculation he could be plotting to team up with Ruto.
Mudavadi has also been acting as the lone voice in the opposition, accusing the Jubilee government of over-borrowing and messing the economy.
Barasa has also been on record saying most leaders in Western region allied to the DP have no problem accommodating Mudavadi.
“We don’t feel threatened that he will take our positions. We want him to come because we have only one enemy and a common goal. Our enemy is Raila Odinga who has taken our community for a ride for many years,” he said.
Mudavadi also defended the attempt to remove Wetang’ula as Ford Kenya leader, accusing Raila of being behind the internal coup.
Mudavadi has also intensified his media engagements both mainstream and digital in readiness for 2022 showdown.
By meeting the European envoys, the duo are seen as seeking acceptance at the international level.
