Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday confirmed that he authored a document committing him to step down for his counterpart Musalia Mudavadi for the Jubilee alliance presidential ticket.
Uhuru told his TNA party delegates that he had made the decision to back out of the presidential race after being coerced by some powerful forces whom he only referred to as ‘the devil’.
“He (devil) came to me and told me that if we are elected, the West will not give Kenya money; that our tea can’t be sold abroad and that Kenyans are not ready for another Kikuyu president as this will cause more bloodshed. Given that I love peace, then I decided to quit and support Musalia,” Uhuru told delegates at the Multi Media University.
However, the DPM said the Monday night TNA parliamentary group had forced him to rescind his decision, adding that he was ready to face Mudavadi.
“You as party members and MPs have spoken and I have had your voice. I am ready to face off with my colleague at Kasarani and if wananchi say its him I will not contest any seat but rather work with him in any capacity he so wishes,” he added.
The DPM took delegates through his political journey that began in 1997 when he was defeated in the Gatundu South parliamentary election, his failed presidential bid of 2002, his campaign against the 2005 referendum, supporting Kibaki in 2007 and now. He said that records have proven he was not hungry for power but someone who accepts the people’s verdict having conceded defeat in 1997 and 2002.
Uhuru’s speech was preceded by angry outbursts by TNA MPs led by Minister Naomi Shaban, MPs Walter Nyambati and Danson Mungatana and party secretary general Onyango Oloo.
Mungatana sensationally claimed that Uhuru authored the document at gunpoint while Oloo claimed the agreement was done through coercion, force, black mail and intimidation.
“As a party, we are saying that an agreement reached by two or three gentlemen in boardrooms though blackmail and intimidation cannot be recognised by the party,” Oloo added.
Mungatana told off Mudavadi, saying he bolted out of ODM due to the clause that made party leader and Prime Minister Raila Odinga the automatic presidential candidate.
“This gentleman left ODM due to that contentions clause, how come now he wants to be nominated in board rooms? Let him be man enough and face Uhuru at Kasarani,” Mungatana added.
Minister Shaban told Uhuru to his face that he only held one vote and if he wanted to support Mudavadi, he can go ahead and do so but should not purport to make an individual decision on behalf of the party.”
Nyambati said dropping out of the race for Mudavadi due to the Hague case was like allowing a friend inherit your wife just because you have a leg injury or flu.
“Even in law, a document signed under duress is null and void,” the Kitutu Masaba MP said as he led delegates to shout null and void repeatedly.
On Tuesday morning, things appeared not so rosy as TNA delegates plotted to pass a resolution severing ties with UDF. However, when Mudavadi convened a press conference, where he was expected to announce his exit from the alliance, TNA beat a hasty retreat and announced that they are ready to work with him but only through a delegates conference.
Source:standardmedia.co.ke
