Ruto bought Mudavadi's ANC Party at Ksh.20M - Gachagua claims, says he negotiated deal

Speaking during the launch of the Linda Mwananchi Movement party headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi, on Friday, Gachagua took aim at Mudavadi over the alleged sale of his former Amani National Congress (ANC) party, claiming he personally negotiated the deal on behalf of President Ruto.

Gachagua alleged that Mudavadi was pressured by Ruto to dissolve ANC and join the ruling coalition, claiming the party was eventually bought for KSh20 million.

He questioned Mudavadi's authority to lecture ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna on political party formation, given what he described as his decision to surrender his own party.

"Musalia Mudavadi anasema ati Sifuna hawezi unda chama. Musalia aliunda chama inaitwa ANC. Nilikuwa nayeye na kasongo. Akaitwa na kasongo nilikuwa hapo. Sijawai kuona mtu muoga kama Musalia. Alikuwa anatetemeka kama nappier grass. Akaambiwa wewe Musalia, hiyo maneno ya ANC sitaki. Uende ufunge hiyo chama.... Ukae na Riggy G mpige bei nikutafutie pesa kidogo. 

"...Mimi mwenyewe ndio nili negotiate na Musalia on behalf of kasongo. Hiyo chama kasongo alinunua Ksh.20 million. Sasa wewe Musalia umeuza chama Ksh.20 million, unalecture Sifuna kama nani. Who are you?" Gachagua posed.

He also questioned the political agreement between Mudavadi, Wetang’ula and Ruto ahead of the 2022 General Election, claiming the two Western Kenya leaders had negotiated specific positions and development commitments in exchange for supporting Ruto's presidential bid.

According to Gachagua, the arrangement provided for Wetang’ula to become National Assembly Speaker, Mudavadi to serve as Prime Cabinet Secretary and Western Kenya to receive 1,000 kilometres of new tarmac roads if Ruto won the election.

However, he challenged the two leaders to identify the roads allegedly promised under the arrangement, questioning whether the region had received any of the pledged infrastructure.

"Huyu mwingine anaitwa Moses Wetangula...hawa watu (Wetangula na Musalia) waliweka mkataba na Kasongo ya Western Kenya. Ati Kasongo akishinda, Wetangula atakua National Assembly Speaker na Musalia Prime Cabinet Secretary alafu Western Kenya itapata 1,000 kilometres of new tarmac road. Iko hata moja? Sasa Wetangula na Musalia wakiwaambia mrudi kwa kasongo, mnaweza rudi kweli?

"My message to you... wakikuja nyumbani, muambie Wetangula na Musalia, before you tell us about Kasongo... ajenge 1,000 kilometres ya tarmac," he said.

Gachagua urged residents of Western Kenya to demand accountability from the two leaders whenever they visit the region to campaign for Ruto's re-election.

President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance UDA) and Amani National Congress (ANC) formally merged in January last year to form the United Democratic Alliance Party.

The merger event was held at State House, Nairobi, and was witnessed by President William Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. Mr Mudavadi was the party leader of the ANC after he joined the Kenya Kwanza Government in 2022.

Gachagua's remarks appeared aimed at challenging the political standing of Mudavadi and Wetang’ula in Western Kenya, while positioning Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi Movement as an alternative political platform in the region.