Eugene Wamalwa to support Uhuru Kenyatta after Round 1
JUSTICE Minister Eugene Wamalwa is likely to rejoin Jubilee Alliance if there is no winner in the first round. Wamalwa, according to multiple sources, has held several meetings with different confidants of Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto.
He has given a firm commitment that he will cross over soon after the first round and in return has been promised a cabinet position, or Speaker of Parliament, if Jubilee wins.
“We have met him and he has given us all the assurance that will join us after the first round,” said a senior TNA official. Yesterday Eugene’s telephones were switched off for most of the day and his direct line at the Ministry went unanswered.
Some of his supporters have however been pushing him to join Uhuru before the first round to strengthen his bargaining power. Wamalwa has been supporting Amani coalition candidate Musalia Mudavadi but has not been seen campaigning aggressively for him for the last few days.
Yesterday Mudavadi denied that Eugene was planning to ditch him for Jubilee. “That is a rumor. I am not aware of any information that Eugene is set to join Jubilee Alliance. If he has to do then it is on his own volition. We in Amani coalition are now immune to such rumors doing the rounds,” Mudavadi said.
UDF Secretary-General Dan Ameyo also dismissed the reports. “We are now focused on our campaigns. It is not within our mandate to know who is joining what and when. It doesn’t affect our political movement,” he said.
Before settling for Mudavadi, Eugene, who is not running for any elective position, had flip-flopped and held fruitless meetings with all presidential candidates.
Two years ago he joined hands with Uhuru and Ruto to form the G7 Alliance but quit when he was offered the position of National Assembly Speaker in a power sharing deal between TNA, URP and his New Ford-Kenya parties.
He then unsuccessfully tried to form the Pambazuka alliance with Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo which collapsed after the two disagreed on who should be the presidential candidate.
He then teamed up with Kanu and former Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwott’s National Vision Party which also collapsed. He tried ally with Eagle Alliance’s presidential candidate Peter Kenneth. Eventually he was left with no choice but to join Mudavadi who had dumped Jubilee in December after Uhuru backtracked on a promise to make him the presidential candidate.
In the last few weeks Wamalwa has been battling claims of working for Uhuru in western Kenya. “We have also always known that both Mudavadi and Eugene are doing Uhuru’s bid in Amani to divide Raila’s vote in the region. The people have seen this scheme and will hand them a resounding defeat and things will even be worse for them if there is a second round,” said Sports minister Ababu Namwamba yesterday.
Eugene then tried ally with Eagle Alliance’s presidential candidate Peter Kenneth. Eventually he was left with no choice but to join Mudavadi who had dumped Jubilee in December after Uhuru backtracked on a promise.
Source:the-star.co.ke
Eugene Wamalwa to support Uhuru Kenyatta after Round 1
