Opposition leader Raila Odinga decision to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration is a boon for national stability and President William Ruto’s re-election prospects in 2027, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said. 

Yesterday, speaking to People Daily from London where he is attending an international conference on the conflict in Sudan, Mudavadi said the broad-based government had reinvigorated the Kenya Kwanza administration with positive outcomes. 

He said he fully welcomed Raila’s joining the Ruto camp, explaining it had reassured the country of continuity, national stability and economic development. 

The former Finance minister said the economy had started to take an upward swing since the ODM leader started warming up to the Ruto government. 

Mudavadi said Raila’s move was a step in the right direction as it was in line with the earlier decision by the PCS and the President to merge their political parties. 

He was referring to the teaming up in January of Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC). 

“The merger between the ANC and UDA was the first major step in building a strong coalition as we move towards the next election,” he said. “The coming of Raila and ODM to work with us is part of that grand strategy to construct a formidable coalition that will not only grant Ruto victory in 2027 but also bolster national unity and stability.” 

A regular companion of Ruto in local and foreign engagements, Mudavadi is practically a travelling man. 

Before flying into the British capital earlier this week, he was in Turkey to participate in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum. He is scheduled to join the President this weekend for a trip to China. 

‘Right-hand confidant’ 

This year alone, Mudavadi has been to Harare in Zimbabwe, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Tanzania together with, or to represent, the President at crucial diplomatic and economic fora. 

His closeness to the President has led to the view that he is a right-hand confidant of the Head of State. 

However, the last two months have witnessed a barrage of claims and innuendo about his alleged deteriorating relationship with the President and sidelining from mainstream government operations. 

The allegations, mostly on social media, have been exacerbated by the rapprochement between Ruto and Raila, whose Orange Democratic Movement party has released five of its senior members to join the Cabinet, with others picked by the party becoming principal secretaries, diplomats and parastatal chiefs. 

The claims suggest Mudavadi’s perceived shrinking space in the Executive and the ballooning presence of the former Prime Minister, who may possibly start sharing the CS’s offices at the Kenya Railways headquarters. 

There even have been allegations that Mudavadi is frustrated and mulling quitting the government next year. 

Yesterday, Mudavadi trashed the claims, saying they are mere distractions and propaganda coming from idlers and bitter politicians who had exited or had been shown the door out of the government.  

“Do not listen to idlers. I’m a founding member of this government. I’m part and parcel of it. I am focused on service delivery,” he said. “We have no time to pay attention to bitter persons who have left this government and are now throwing back mad to make us look like them. That will not work because we shall not allow them that luxury. We are too busy to be distracted.” 

Mudavadi who is also the Cabinet Secretary for  Foreign and Diaspora Affairs wondered why anyone would imagine that he could begrudge Raila for teaming up with the Kenya Kwanza team when he himself had played a crucial part in getting the former premier on board. 

“About a year ago, I stood up at a church function in Bondo [Raila’s home area] to tell Kenyans to watch the space and expect another ‘earthquake’,” he said. “Hasn’t that come to pass? Raila is with us and Azimio is in tatters. Who therefore can speak about my relationship with Raila more than the two of us?” 

He added: “Who wants to pretend that they have not seen me traverse the African continent campaigning for Raila to become the chairman of the African Union Commission?  Raila is not new to me and he is not my enemy. We are all elated to have him on board. His joining us has provided the government with the very much needed stability and national cohesion. We are on the right trajectory.” 

Ruto came to power in September 2022 following an election held a month earlier and after being cleared by the Supreme Court following a petition filed by Raila. 

Merger decision 

His Cabinet was sworn into office on October 26. Mudavadi is undoubtedly the oldest, most loyal, longest-serving and least controversial member of that Cabinet. He is also viewed as one of the most focused, best-performing, scandal-free, and most travelled minister, thanks to serving as Foreign Affairs minister. 

In July last year, President Ruto dismissed his entire Cabinet at the height of the Gen Z protests, save for Mudavadi, whom he not only spared the sack but tasked to run 21 other ministries as acting Cabinet secretary for the three weeks the Cabinet stood dissolved. 

Even after the Cabinet was remade, Mudavadi has acted as minister for Interior, ICT, Gender Affairs, and, until today, Public Service. 

Yesterday, he said the decision by his ANC party to merge with UDA was final and there was no going back on it.