Musalia Mudavadi

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After the 2017 General Election, the NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga decided to swear himself in. Mudavadi refused to be part of the swearing-in, terming it unconstitutional. [11] On March 9, 2018, Odinga had signed an armistice with President Uhuru Kenyatta. Since 2018, Mudavadi chose to remain in Opposition. [12]

In March 2021 Mudavadi strategically aligned with the other two NASA Principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula, and KANU Chairman Gideon Moi, to form the One Kenya Alliance (OKA). [13]

Mudavadi supported the presidential candidature of the Deputy President William Ruto and they won the August 9, 2022 General Election against Raila Odinga who had the support of incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, with a majority under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance (KKA) that he had formed while still in OKA.[ citation needed ]

On September 27, 2022, President William Ruto issued and signed a Presidential executive order establishing the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Kenya, [14] [15] and nominated Mudavadi to the position. [14] During President Ruto's live address to the nation, he stated that the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) is the most senior office in the executive arm of the government after that of the President and Deputy President. [16] Mudavadi was officially sworn in as PCS at State House, Kenya on October 27, 2022. [17]

On October 4, 2023, President Ruto transferred the functions of Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, consequently expanding the portfolio mandate of Mudavadi's office.

Scandals and integrity

Musalia Mudavadi
Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. on February 1, 2024 (cropped).jpg
Mudavadi in 2024
Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya
Assumed office
27 October 2022

Graves plot scandal

In March 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi faced investigation by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) over a Sh283 million cemetery land fraud. KACC officials said the fraud involved the City Council of Nairobi buying land valued at Sh24 million for nearly Sh300 million. Mudavadi protested his innocence and said KACC was being unfair by accusing him without giving him a chance to be heard. In June 2020 according to court records as reported by the Daily Nation, Mudavadi did not benefit from cemetery land deal thus was not culpable in the scandal. It later emerged that Mudavadi did not receive any funds from the scandal neither was he involved in any way in the conspiracy to defraud [18] [19]

LSK blacklist

In January 2012, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) listed Mudavadi as one of the public officials mentioned adversely in various reports on issues ranging from corruption to economic crimes. The LSK advised voters not to vote those mentioned in the report as they had previously been compromised. According to LSK, the time Mudavadi was blacklisted was a time of a veiled blanket allegations against the Kibaki administration officials such as former President Mwai Kibaki, William Ruto, Charity Ngilu, but without specific allegations levelled against any of them. Thus, the LSK listing was found to have no specific accusation that Mudavadi was culpable to warrant the blacklist. [20]

Personal life

Mudavadi is married to Tessie Mudavadi and they have three children; Moses, Michael and Maryanne. Mudavadi is a fan of English premier league football team Manchester United and Kenyan premier league side AFC Leopards. He once served as a patron of AFC leopards. In addition, he is also a golf and rugby enthusiast. He has an autobiography published in 2019 entitled “Musalia Mudavadi: Soaring Above The Storms of Passion”. His nickname in the Kenyan political arena is Mdvd aka Earthquake. In addition, Mudavadi is an ardent fan of old school country music with Kenny Rodgers and Dolly Parton being his favourite musicians.

See also

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References

  1. Twaweza Communications; Heinrich Böll Stiftung (29 December 2015). Njogu, Kimani; Wekesa, Peter Wafula (eds.). Kenya's 2013 General Election: Stakes, Practices and Outcome. Twaweza Communications. doi:10.2307/j.ctvh8r0bc. ISBN   978-9966-028-72-3. JSTOR   j.ctvh8r0bc.
  2. "Mudavadi didn't hold the Bible while taking oath because of his Quaker faith; Here's why". Citizen Digital. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  3. Daily Nation, 3 September 2002: Why Moi is Uncomfortable With Musalia's Candidature
  4. "'From Saitoti to Mudavadi': Vice Presidents who served under Moi". The Star. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  5. "Mudavadi: Why I supported Uhuru despite assured loss". Nation. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  6. "Mudavadi: Defer referendum talk". Daily Nation. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  7. Digital, Standard. "Mudavadi, the leading light of Western politics". The Standard. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  8. Eric Ombok, "Kenya's Raila Odinga Sworn in as Prime Minister, Ending Crisis", Bloomberg.com, 17 April 2008.
  9. "Odinga sworn in as Kenya PM", Al Jazeera, 17 April 2008.
  10. "Betrayal, mistrust blamed for ODM party 2013 fallout". www.pd.co.ke. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  11. "Mudavadi: Kalonzo, Wetangula and I didn't support Raila 'swearing-in'". Nation. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  12. Inyanji, Nathan Ochunge and Jackline. "Mudavadi says he will remain in opposition". The Standard. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  13. "Moi, Mudavadi, Kalonzo, Wetangula now unveil One Kenya Alliance". Citizen Digital. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Ruto signs executive order organising his government". The Star. 13 October 2022.
  15. "Executive Order No. 1 of 2022 – The President: Organization of the Government of the Republic of Kenya". 14 October 2022 via theelephant.info.
  16. "Ruto appoints Mudavadi Prime Cabinet Secretary". The Star. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  17. Kihiu, Njoki (27 October 2022). "Mudavadi formally assumes Prime Cabinet Secretary post". Capital News.
  18. "Mudavadi did not benefit from cemetery land deal, court told". Nation .
  19. Munguti, Richard (27 April 2016). "Mudavadi did not pocket millions in Nairobi cemetery saga – witness". Nairobi News .
  20. "LSK Blacklists Leaders Over Integrity". Citizen Media. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Finance
1993–1997
Succeeded by
Vice President of Kenya
2002–2003
Succeeded by
New title Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya
2022–present
Incumbent