Focus on ability to lead nation not tribe, says Mudavadi

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi

NAIROBI; KENYA: Amani presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi has cautioned Kenyans against electing leaders based on their ethnicity, ignoring individual capacity.

The Deputy Prime Minister said if elected, he would focus on infrastructural development across the country to open up rural areas and attract investors.

“This year’s election is about this country’s economy. Be careful who you vote for. That person shall have authority over the police, the army and many other organs including security, therefore, do not entrust leadership to a person with anger,” he said.

Speaking on Thursday morning at a Breakfast Show on Capital FM, Mudavadi exuded confidence that Kenyans would vote for him.

He challenged his main competitors Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta to state if they would support him in a run-off. “The run-off will be a bridge that we will cross when we get there and I would like to hear how the two gentlemen (Uhuru and Raila) would respond when they are asked when Mudavadi is in the run-off with either of them, who will they back?”

The Amani flag bearer declared he would humbly accepts the verdict of the people and concede defeat if beaten in the elections.

“If you engage in a democratic process, you must be prepared that there could be a winner and a loser. If you want Kenya to be peaceful, we must be prepared to say that if Kenyans have made their choice, we must respect it,” he said.

Help the needy

Mudavadi said his government would enhance security by setting up more police stations in hotspots.

Meanwhile, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has urged Kenyans to help the less fortunate members in the society.

Kalonzo said well to do families should consider adopting or sponsoring orphans and children from street families. He added that one would get satisfaction by extending generosity to the needy and especially by transforming lives of children.

He was speaking at Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi during the launch of two books by Paul Boge of Canada entitled Father of the Fatherless and Hope for the Hopeless: The Charles Muli Story.

The books highlight the work of Dr Charles Muli and wife Esther who are running Mully Children Family centre in Ndalani and Yatta of Machakos County. Since establishment by the Muli family in 1990, the homes have so far helped over 8,000 children most of them orphans and street children.

By Geoffrey Mosoku, The Standard