NASA principals Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi. [Photo/ The Star]
The rivalry between ANC boss Musalia Mudavadi and Fork Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula is threatening the unity of the National Super Alliance (NASA) principals. Bad blood between the two politicians reportedly started during deliberations to pick the NASA presidential flag bearer and his running mate. Wetangula and Mudavadi were competing against Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and eventual winners Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka. Mr Mudavadi, who finished a distant third in the 2013 presidential contest, was banking on the support of Wetangula, the senator from Bungoma, since they both come from the vote rich Luhya-land. Sources say that Wetangula, knowing that he stood no chance against his seasoned opponents, overlooked the ambitions of his ‘kinsman’ Mudavadi to back the candidature of ODM candidate Raila. The Amani National Congress boss knew that had the senator supported his bid, he would have easily become the NASA presidential candidate. Wetangula’s representatives at the negotiating table, who included Bonnie Khalwale, Esieli Simiyu and Chris Wamalwa, were in favor of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka becoming Raila’s deputy. That, according to sources who talked to the Citizen newspaper, badly hurt Mudavadi. To pay back the disloyalty shown by Senator Khalwale, Mudavadi is now supporting Wycliffe Oparanya, who is facing opposition from the ‘bullfighter’ to continue as Kakamega governor. The ANC leader is not even supporting his party’s own candidate — Michael Osundwa. Mudavadi’s bitterness with Khalwale goes way back. It started when the senator abandoned the former presidential candidate at the hour of need — to join Wetangula’s Fork Kenya party. NASA strategists are worried that the Mudavadi-Wetangula rivalry in Western is hurting Raila’s campaign. But sources say what the ODM boss fears most is the influence of Water cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa, who delivered more than 200,000 votes to Mudavadi in 2013. Those votes are now likely to end up in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s camp.