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Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi now has a change of heart regarding the controversial Political Parties (Amendment) Bill 2021.

This is after One Kenya Alliance (OKA), a coalition Mudavadi is one of the principals, revealed that they will collectively support the bill that is currently a subject of debate before the National Assembly.

In a joint statement, OKA said that it backs the bill, which according to its members, aims at strengthening the political coalitions in the country.

According to OKA, the country should work towards putting in place an electoral process that is fair and transparent.

“The One Kenya Alliance supports the strengthening of Coalitions hence supports the legislation of Coalition Parties,” the alliance said

It added: “We must all endeavour to put in place an electoral process and system that is fair, just, verifiable and transparent.”

The coalition has, however, warned of any attempt by Members of Parliament to introduce “over-reaching regulatory powers over political parties.”

The principals asked the lawmaker to debate the matter soberly and avoid making decisions on their selfish interests.

“We call upon Members of Parliament to exercise sobriety and restraint in the ongoing debate and urge them to shun any short term partisan and parochial interests and consider the interests of the Kenyan people first,” they said.

The unity of the coalition in support of the bill comes months after the principals evidently disagreed over it.

OKA was previously split into two over the bill with a faction led by ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula of Ford Kenya leaning towards DP William Ruto in opposing it. On the other hand, Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka and his KANU counterpart Gideon Moi joined the government’s side in supporting it.

At the time, Mudavadi’s men led ANC’s Ayub Savula claimed that the bill was meant to force those within OKA to either join the Raila-led Azimio la Umoja coalition or DP Ruto’s side.

“This is a trap for us in OKA. When you look at other presidential candidates, they are prepared. Raila is ready under Azimio la Umoja and Ruto is already having United Democratic Alliance (UDA). And we in OKA have not yet settled on a candidate and we can’t do that within just two months,” Savula told a local daily.

Mudavadi seems to have now changed his mind regarding the bill. In a previous meeting, the former Vice President explained that he supports the bill because there has been a lack of clear provision in the coalition agreement which has led to mistrust in the political agreements in the country.

“Once bitten, twice shy and I will tell you that coalition formation is not a walk in the park,” he added.