The race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta is already taking shape with a number of political realignments already taking shape. Political parties have not been spared as a number of them are already facing rebellion from members who have directed their support to Presidential candidates of rival parties.
One such party already facing internal wrangles is Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress.
In Amani National Congress (ANC), Musalia Mudavadi is fighting to contain his handful MPs following a fallout with the Secretary General and nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi, and pronouncement by MPs Titus Khamala (Lurambi) and Justus Murunga (Matungu) that they will back Ruto.
Yesterday, Mudavadi said any member was free to quit if they felt constrained in the outfit, as it would not entertain violation of its rules.
“Every ANC member is free to hold and voice an opinion. Beyond that, any member is free to quit and join another party if they feel constrained. What we cannot allow is indiscriminate violation of the party constitution and Political Parties Act,” said Mudavadi.
He said some of the rebels were money-hungry politicians paid to organise political functions and label them “development projects” in schemes by his opponents.
“What’s causing atrophy in parties is the hunger for easy money. The hustler mentality in our politics is defined by handouts being dangled under guise of securing development.
I also suspect many MPs have over-committed themselves and are easy victims and targets of this buy-out politics,” claimed the NASA founder.
But Mr Osotsi countered Mudavadi saying the party was facing rebellion because it had been hijacked by people who valued individual interests.
“For instance, there was no election when I was replaced as the party’s secretary general. Some few people sat in a bar and decided to pick a new official without engaging party members. This kind of decision, not backed by the party Constitution, makes members to rebel,” said Osotsi.