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After spending 10 years in the cold, Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi made a comeback into government in 2022 as the Prime Cabinet Secretary in the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Mudavadi, who now has over six decades of experience in Kenyan politics, last served in government in 2012 as the Deputy Prime Minister under the late former president Mwai Kibaki regime.

He has previously served in Cabinet for a cumulative 18 years under Agriculture, Finance, Transport, Information and Broadcasting, Supplies and Marketing as well as Local Government dockets. He has also served as Vice-President.

Being the gentleman of Kenyan politics as many refer to him, Mudavadi supporters describe him as a laid-back man who carefully considers his political movement and does not rush into making decisions and public pronouncements.

Mudavadi dumps Raila for Ruto [Earthquake]

Mudavadi pulled a surprise when he bolted out of NASA and declared that he would vie for the presidency only to later change and support the then Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential bid.

Ahead of the Amani National Congress delegates meeting at Bomas of Kenya on January 23, Musalia had promised Kenyans an “earthquake” that he said would shock the whole country.

He would later that day, in a surprise move, invite Ruto to grace the event and later endorse him for the presidency.

He took a big gamble in dumping Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga in favour of Ruto ahead of the August 2022 polls.

The gamble would pay off when Ruto was declared the winner in the hotly contested election.

Mudavadi’s marriage with Ruto officially began when the president confirmed that the nascent United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party would enter a partnership with Mudavadi’s ANC party and the Wetangula-led FORD-Kenya party at the ANC party delegates meeting at the Bomas.

The two agreed on the formation of the Kenya Kwanza alliance and sharing of power within the coalition.

This saw the position of the Prime Cabinet Secretary agreed upon by the founding party members of the alliance in an agreement signed by Ruto of UDA, Moses Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya, and Mudavadi on behalf of the ANC party.

Appearing before parliament for vetting

To make good on his campaign promise to Western region and the Kenya Kwanza alliance agreement, President Ruto appointed Mudavadi the Prime Cabinet Secretary on September 27, 2022, becoming the most senior official in government after the President and his DP Rigathi Gachagua pending approval by parliament.

At this time, he was a step away from cementing his come-back into government.

When the time to face the National Assembly’s committee on appointments came, Mudavadi defended his proposed position following claims that the position was not provided for in the Constitution, as had been alleged by the Azimio alliance.

And the moment of the interview was when he declared his net worth at Ksh4 billion, being the richest among everyone else who appeared before the parliament for vetting.

He had also forced to give up his position as the ANC party leader prior to appearing before MPs to take up the position of Prime Cabinet Secretary if approved by Parliament’s Committee on Appointments.

Mudavadi sworn in as Prime Cabinet Secretary

Following approval by the National Assembly, President Ruto gazetted Mudavadi and 23 other cabinet appointees paving way for their swearing into office as per the constitution.

Mudavadi formally assumed office by affirming his faithfulness to the people and the Republic of Kenya before the President in a swearing-in ceremony that took place in State House, Nairobi on October 27, 2022.

Occupying the Railways building offices, Mudavadi’s functions include overseeing national projects being implemented by other ministries, assisting Ruto and Gachagua in supervising government ministries and State departments, and implementing government policies, programs and projects among others.