Why Mudavadi stands out and remains Ruto’s right hand man ahead of 2027 elections

His is a familiar face around the Presidency. Whether in or out of the country, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, week in week out, is always only a step away from the Head of State.

As the clock ticks towards next year’s General-Election, attention has rapidly shifted to President William Ruto’s courtiers, both within and outside the Government.

Of them all, most of the attention is being paid to Mudavadi.

That he is Ruto’s most trusted lieutenant is not in doubt. That he is a loyal and respectful servant is not in doubt.

Also not in doubt are his leadership and service delivery credentials. What is not certain is whether Ruto will retain him in the two dockets after the August 10, 2027, election.

The 65-yrar-old Mudavadi is widely considered as the unwavering voice of reason and consistent point of reference on political sanity and principle in the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Mudavadi stands head and shoulder above his Cabinet colleagues and is perceived by many as Ruto’s most, tenacious and levelling asset, politically speaking .

A factor that could explain why he remains the President’s most trusted backroom counsel and public companion in the countdown to next year’s General-Election.

Both a former Vice-President and Deputy Prime Minister, Mudavadi is no ordinary member of the Cabinet. He undisputedly towers above the rest.

Mudavadi has served in the administrations of three President: Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and now William Ruto as a Minister.

Though Mudavadi was a running-mate to unsuccessful presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2002 race, he chose to stay out of Government for 10 years, in spite of invitation, when the latter became Head of State in 2013.

That notwistanding, he presided over every ministry of the Kenya Government since joining the Cabinet in 1989 after the death of his father, Moses Substone Budamba Mudavadi.

He is known to be a consultative humble team player and unifying, reflective, diligent ice-bteaker as well as meticulous results-driven hard worker who values service delivery before anything else.

At the height of the 2007/8 post-election political tensions, It took Mudavadi’s single act of wisdom to somewhat cool the temperatures.

During the swearing in ceremony of newly elected Members of Parliament in early 2008, a session filled with extreme friction, disdain, mistrust, anger, hatred and anxiety all wrapped into one, it was his deep sense of humility that enabled the House to close ranks and pursue a nationalistic trajectory when, after taking his oath of office, he publicly recognised President Mwai Kibaki’s legitimacy even when his colleagues from the losing Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party snubbed him. 

Kibaki’s re-election in December 2007 was stoked with controversy and had been highly disputed, leading to spontaneous violence across the country.

Oath-taking by the new legislators took place while the post-election mayhem was at its peak, reason why majority of ODM parliamentarians, convinced that the victory of their candidate, the late Raila Odinga, had been stolen in Kibaki’s favour, refused to acknowledge the then Othaya MP as the Head of State whenever each one of them had been sworn-in.

However, when his turn came Mudavadi bowed before Kibaki and extended his hand to appreciate the congratulatory greetings from the re-elected leader before taking his seat.

In many ways, Mudavadi’s action helped to restore sobriety in the tension-packed House and the country at large.

Later Mudavadi, Ruto and four other legislators from both sides of the political divide were to hold talks at the Serena Hotel for 42 days under a committee of eminent persons chaired by former UN Secretary-General, the lare Kofi Annan and composed of former Tanzanian President the late Benjamin Mkapa, and Mrs Gracia Machel, the widow of South African founding President, the late Nelson Mandela, to broker peace in the country.

Most recently, in a move that has since been nicknamed The Earthquake, on January 23, 2022, against all expectations from both friend and foe, Mudavadi announced during the National Delegates Convention (NDC) of his then Amani National Congress (ANC) that he would would be teaming up with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of then Deputy President William Ruto to form the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, a bold step that paved the way for the latter’s ascendancy to power.

Two years thereafter, ANC would formally fold and merge with UDA as the ruling party. 

At the height of the so-called Gen-Z protests in June 2024, Ruto sacked his entire Cabinet except Mudavadi who he left as the acting Minister for all the 22 ministries until a new team was reconstituted after a fortnight.

With leadership testimonials spanning over three decades, Mudavadi is the oldest and reputedly most experienced, honest and reliable Minister with solid integrity devoid of arrogance, prejudice and grudges. 

As Prime Cabinet Secretary, Mudavadi presides over three Departments, each with a Principal Secretary as the Accounting Officer.

Thus: Foreign Affairs, Diaspora Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs.

Mudavadi also chairs a Cabinet sub-committee that oversees diplomacy and trade affairs. 

With Ruto as President and he as the highest ranked Cabinet Minister , Mudavadi has studiously kept off the raging debate on who should be named as Ruto’s running-mate in next year’s election, a position already occupied by former Tharaka-Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki.

Mudavadi has in recent weeks repeatedly stated that he does not want to be soaked into that conversation as he has no interest, famously stating last month while at a public function in Kindiki’s backyard that the seat is not vacant.

The former Finance Minister maintains that he and two other leaders from the Mulembe Nation – Moody Awori and the late Michael Kijana Wamalwa – have already held the position of Vice- President and therefore making the post unattractive to the region.

In his official position of Prime Cabinet Secretary, Mudavadi assists the President and Deputy President in the co-ordination and supervision of government ministries and State departments.

He also liaises with the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to oversee the implementation of national government policies, programmes and projects, facilitates inter-ministerial cross-functional initiatives and programmes, co-ordinates and supervises the technical monitoring and evaluation of government policies, programmes and projects across ministries.

Mudavadi acts as the centre and linkage between the Executive and the Legislature to ensure that the policies of the Ruto regime are fully realised.

 He also chairs and co-ordinates the national government’s legislative agenda across all ministries . 

Early this year, President Ruto appointed Mudavadi to also chair a powerful committee to oversee the joint management Nairobi County affairs between the national government and the gubernatorial unit.

He is deputised by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. 

Though he does not shout about it, Mudavadi is undoubtedly the most influential member of President William Ruto’s Cabinet.