ANC leader Mudavadi says he has accepted Namwamba’s ‘apology’

The Amani National Congress (ANC) has welcomed Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba’s apology to its leader Musalia Mudavadi over the failure to support him when he left the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party and contested for the Presidency in 2013.

In a statement to newsrooms and signed by ANC Secretary General Godfrey Osotsi, ANC said Mudavadi had accepted the apology.

According to the statement, the same sentiments have been expressed in various ways by senior leaders who have left ODM since 2013.

“The continued acrimonious exit from ODM by key leaders from Luhyaland is yet another confirmation that ODM has miserably failed to represent the hopes, interests and aspirations of Luhya community and that it is a party that specializes in political posturing and gerrymandering with no clear and long-term tangible agenda,” read the statement in part.

“Ababu and the other leaders who have been frustrated and marginalized in ODM are unconditionally welcomed to ANC if they are uncomfortable in ODM because it is their natural home.”

The statement claimed that the ANC leader, who took most of the past and current opposition leaders to ODM, saying it is not too late to rejoin him (Mudavadi) in his efforts to restore progressive political agenda for the region and the country as a whole.

“This has come at a time when Luhya Community is reflecting and soul searching following a series of recent political events namely, aftermath of 2013 elections that for the first time since independence consigned the region to political wilderness, the resignation of senior leaders such as Fred Gumo and Kennath Marende from ODM, marginalization by the non-inclusive Jubilee government, collapsing regional economy and sugar industry and lately the rude and shocking revelation by CORD Senators: Johnston Muthama and James Orengo, that Ford Kenya headed by Moses Wetangula was not part of the CORD MOU for Presidency,” read the statement.

ANC urged CORD and Jubilee to leave the region to chart its own political destiny without undue interference through ‘archaic divide and rule tactics, intimidation and political propaganda.’

“The truth is that ODM has failed as a trusted and genuine champion of the interests and aspirations of the Luhya people. In fact they cannot account for the massive votes they got from the Luhyas across the country. Jubilee has perfected the two community hegemony and discrimination and cannot be trusted by Luhyas. Jubilee and CORD are ideologically the same in the eyes of the Luhya people. It does not matter what the leadership of the two coalitions does between now and 2017; the writing is on the wall.”

Mudavadi is now urging those fleeing ‘mistreatment and marginalization in the tribal parties’ to join ANC.

“Political parties and Presidential aspirants should not only engage Luhyas for votes but react negatively if challenged for genuine partnership, mutual respect and equal competition.  We want to give meaning to the constitutional provision for democracy, political Justice, regional and ethnic diversity plus accountable leadership. We want to anchor issue based politics as opposed to ethnic engineering that powers our competitors.”