Amani National Congress party leader Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi asked Raila Odinga to appoint Deputy President William Ruto as Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) party leader.
This, Mudavadi says was before Ruto’s exit from ODM in 2012 and his eventual closing of ranks with President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of the 2013 General Elections.
In his autobiography: Soaring Above The Storms of Passion, the ANC party boss says there was infighting within ODM leaderships circles ahead of the 2013 General Elections that saw Ruto and himself decamp and form their own political vehicles.
“We were supposed to have ODM party elections in 2011. Ruto was agitating to be Deputy Party Leader. We had a number of sessions to dialogue on this. I could see some intrigues and elements of people around Raila wavering on party leadership,”
“I could see that the party was struggling with how to satisfy the Kalenjin community within its ranks. I advised Raila that if it was thought necessary, we could split the position of Deputy Party Leader into two and allow Ruto to be one of the two,” Mudavadi said adding that he did not mind sharing the portfolio with Ruto.
Mudavadi further writes that some factions within ODM manipulated party lists at the grassroots level ahead of its national party elections in 2012.
“Someone was clearly working towards a list that would favour him at the national party elections,” Mudavadi said.
He further states that the winners of ODM’s grassroots elections would constitute delegates who would vote at the next level.
“It was just a matter of time before the Ruto rebellion began, leading to his convergence with the Uhuru axis. Ruto eventually exited from ODM, without formally resigning,” Mudavadi writes.