TWO agreements were signed between Deputy Prime Ministers Musalia Mudavadi and Uhuru Kenyatta on December 4.
The first was an addendum to the coalition agreement between Uhuru's TNA party and William Ruto's URP party that now added Mudavadi's UDF party.
But a private agreement between Uhuru and Mudavadi was signed just before that addendum was deposited with the Registrar of Political Parties at 7.30pm on the deadline of December 4. In the agreement Uhuru surrendered his candidacy for the presidency to Mudavadi.
"The agreement was signed by Uhuru's private residence on Dennis Pritt Road witnessed by Ruto in the presence of two lawyers - for Uhuru being Desiderio Oyatsi and for Mudavadi being Dan Ameyo. The only other persons being witnesses were Hon Beth Mugo and Hon Ngengi Muigai, who are both first cousins to Uhuru, and Jomo Gecaga, his nephew," said a close associate of Musalia Mudavadi.
"The question then arises, which of these immediate family members were the 'Shetani' who put pressure on him?" asked the high level UDF political analyst.
Earlier this week, Uhuru reneged on the Mudavadi presidency agreement after coming under pressure from hardline Central Province MPs and TNA delegates. Uhuru told them on Tuesday that he had been forced to sign the deal by "dark forces" and "Shetani" (Satan).
It was widely believed that Uhuru was referring to State House and NSIS. They allegedly believe that Mudavadi would be a safer candidate than Uhuru because of the complications of having a president who is absent on trial in the Hague.
The close associate, who was involved in all the negotiations, explained why Mudavadi felt so bitter about the turnaround by Uhuru. "Over the last six months, Uhuru, Ruto and Mudavadi have been consulting about a joint coalition for purposes of running a joint coalition candidate, and during that period Uhuru had consistently hinted at supporting Musalia," said the associate.
He told Mudavadi that he remembered his political sacrifice in standing by him when Uhuru stood for president in 2002.
"When they met at the funeral of Saitoti, Uhuru leaned off and said to Tessie, Musalia's wife, "you can see your husband is going through this difficult challenge. Don't worry I will be there to protect you when he has to run into the den of lions when seeking the presidency," he said.
"About two months ago, when the moves to support the ethic communities over the ICC matters started growing up, they slowed down the consultations they had been having with Musalia. Uhuru and Ruto announced they were going to form a coalition with a joint ticket for president and deputy president. And they prepared to formalise the coalition with just two parties," he said.
"Musalia got in touch with Ruto about what was happening. Ruto's explanation was that 'this thing is more than politics for us, it's life and death and we are bonded together like we are joined at the hip,'" he said.
Musalia and UDF leaders then started looking for other groups "to have an alternative coalition to Uhuru and Ruto, to bring together people who are a force for stability," he said. The main potential partner they negotiated with was Perter Kenneth and his KNC party.
On the night of December 3, the day before the legal deadline to file coalition agreements with the Registrar of Political Parties, Peter Kenneth met Raphael Tuju of the PPP and Eugene Wamalwa of New Ford Kenya.
He advised them that it would be advisable to have as many parties in the 'third force' as possible. "The completion of the coalition agreement between UDF and KNC which was under preparation was then deferred to the next day, December," said Mudavadi's associate. The coalition was due to be announced at Freedom Corner in the morning.
However the Mudavadi team failed to make contact with Kenneth on that Tuesday morning while Eugene announced he was going to hold a press conference at the Norfolk.
"Meanwhile from about 11.30am, Ruto and Uhuru were trying to call Mudavadi who refused to take their calls. His lieutenants advised him that these might be delaying tactics to lock him out of the new coalition," said the associate.
"By midday, Mudavadi had still not got any response from Kenneth. At 12.45 he agreed to take the call from Uhuru who said that he and "my bother Bill' urgently needed to see him and were coming to his residence."
Kenneth then called Mudavadi to apologise for not returning his calls because he had been at a Rotary lunch and had left his phone outside. "But it was already too late," said the associate.
At around 2.30pm Gideon Moi and Nick Salat arrived at Mudavadi's home in Riverside in Nairobi. They said they were willing to sign the UDF draft for a coalition. They were shown to a side room.
"A blue Range Rover then arrived chauffeured by Bill Ruto and his only passengers were Uhuru Kenyatta, (Chirau) Mwakwere, and (Najib) Balala," said the associate.
"Uhuru asked Mudavadi 'are you ready to be president? Will you be ready to share power with the colleagues if they support you?" "I have reflected on my situation, consulted with my people, and I have made my personal decision to reinstate the discussions that you and I had been having," Uhuru said, according to the associate.
"Bill and I are ready to offer you to join the coalition formed by the two of us. We will make an addendum offering 1/3 of all portfolios in government to your party and offering you to be the presidential candidate," Uhuru continued.
The only condition was that "since Bill remains the Deputy President", both UDF and URP should cede a percentage of their seats to TNA "as a gesture of goodwill". "MM was reflecting is this a joke, or is this real?" said the associate.
Uhuru suggested that the addendum could be signed by the chairmen and secretary-generals of the three parties. "Then we will sign a second agreement by which I surrender my candidature for the presidency to you, but only submit the addendum to the Registrar of Political Parties after that has been signed," the associate reported Uhuru as saying.
Mudavadi walked out, consulted his lieutenants, and then returned to agree to the deal and stop his other negotiations. The chairmen and secretary generals of UDF, URP and TNA were then sent to Laico Regency to work out the final details of the addendum.
The three principals and their lawyers left Riverside and drove to Uhuru's home on Dennis Pritt road. Party representatives also went to the Registrar's office at Anniversary Towers to make certain she did not close the office before the addendum was submitted.
"Word was passed to UDF representatives at Laico and Anniversary Towers to drag your feet until the presidential agreement is signed and sealed. That is why the submission was only done at 7.30pm after the second agreement had been signed," said the associate.
On Wednesday morning on Citizen TV, Ruto confirmed that he had been present when Uhuru signed the deal promising the presidency to Mudavadi.
Source credit: The Star
