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Vihiga Governor, Moses Akaranga is working on a pact with Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi ahead of the 2017 elections.
Akaranga said he has been in talks with Mudavadi to see his Progressive Party of Kenya (PPK) join Amani National Congress (ANC) to form a formidable force in the run up to elections.
“We are both party leaders in our respective PPK and ANC parties, and we have been talking for some time now,” said Akaranga.
The two leaders have been political rivals since many years back, especially when Akaranga outsmarted Mudavadi, the then Vice President in the 2002 elections to clinch the MP seat for Sabatia constituency.
But Akaranga said in the next elections, he is not fighting to outsmart Mudavadi for the presidency but only seeking his support for governorship.
Last week, ANC secretary general Godfrey Osotsi blasted Akaranga for deceiving Vihiga electorate that he was in talks with Mudavadi for a memorandum of understanding that could see them sign a political pact of engagement.
Akaranga however dismissed Mr Osotsi as a non-starter in politics who cannot decide for ANC as a party and said the talks were above him.
Akaranga’s chief political strategist, Khalid Njiraini said Osotsi was seeking relevance through non-beneficial outbursts.
“Does Osotsi feel that ANC is the only party that people can work with? There are other options like the CORD or Jubilee coalitions that we can work with, but we have chosen to work with Mudavadi for the time being,” he said.
He added, “We are not that desperate for the marriage of our separate political parties.”
He said Mr Osotsi should concentrate on campaigning for Mudavadi to gain support nationally and not destroying their working relationship with Akaranga.
“ANC needs support right from the grassroots and PPK being on the ground already, is offering the support,” he said.
According to Akaranga, part of the discussions will see Mudavadi’s ANC shelve its plans to field a candidate to compete with him for the Governor’s seat in 2017.
Akaranga has further suggested that ANC shelves plans to field candidates for County assembly members so as to leave it to his party PPK.
“That way, I will have support of my own MCAs in County assembly and it will make running the government easier,” he said.
Already, Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu who was elected to parliament in 2013 on then Mudavadi’s United Democratic Front (UDF) party has shown interest in the governorship through an ANC ticket.
