‘DP Ruto Is Not Courting Us,’ Mudavadi, Wetangula Say

One Kenya Alliance (OKA) co-principals Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula have dismissed claims that Deputy President William Ruto is courting them in the hopes of forming a coalition agreement ahead of the August polls.

Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, ANC leader Mudavadi insisted that he was constitutionally free to converse with any politician but clarified that neither DP Ruto nor his camp have approached him contrary to what is being purported by the media.

“I have been more in the media lately for what I have not said rather than what I have said. As far as I am concerned I am free to meet anyone and if I meet that person I will not shy away from telling Kenyans,” Mudavadi said.  

“The freedom of association should not become a political ventilator for the people of Kenya.  When I meet anybody I will tell you but no formal invitation has come to me yet from Ruto. If it comes I shall deal with it then.”

His sentiments were shared by Ford Kenya party leader Wetangula who underscored that no contact had been made between himself and any rival presidential aspirants and that OKA  was going to go the distance despite what critics might say.

“I have not received any formal or informal invitation from anybody in regards to my political activities. I am a member of OKA a coalition of the willing,” he said. 

The duo consequently rebuffed reports from rival politicians who have recently gone on record to claim that OKA’s main intention of vying for the presidency in August was solely to force a run-off.

“You go into an election to seek the people’s views and mandate to serve them. We do not go to an election because we want to create a run off. That would be the most flimsy reason to go into an election,” Mudavadi said.  

“I want to urge the media not to engage in shaping opinions that it is a two horse race and that OKA is coming in to force a run off. There is nobody in their right frame of mind that will join a race to precipitate a situation. We have only joined the race to win and that is what it should be,” added Wetangula.  

Speculation on Mudavadi’s and Wetangula’s political future were put in the spotlight after DP Ruto’s surprise appearance at the Cleophas Malala tournament in Bungoma on New Year’s Eve where he labelled OKA co-principals as the only Luhya leaders he can work with to form the next government.

“Mudavadi and Wetang’ula are the only legitimate leaders of the Mulembe nation and as a community, you should support them. Tell them that they should join the ‘Hustler’ nation so that we can form the next government together,” Ruto said then.