This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
On November 5, 2019, Musalia Mudavadi, the leader of the Amani National Congress (ANC) party, launched a scathing attack on Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, describing him as the 'biggest political burden to the people of Kenya.'
Mudavadi accused Raila of being ungrateful for the support rendered to him by ANC and other parties over the years. He also threatened to sue Raila for linking him to the Goldenberg scandal.
According to ANC secretary-general Barrack Muluka, speaking on behalf of Mudavadi, 'It is ironic that a person who is totally incapable of traveling even the shortest distance on his own political fuel in Kibra should accuse anybody else of being “a political burden.”'
On the other side, the ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna replied on behalf of Raila, mocking Mudavadi by saying he was behaving like a jilted lover. Raila's statement through Sifuna reads, 'This outburst must be seen in the context of a jilted lover, a parasite abandoned by its long-suffering host. Musalia is easily the biggest baggage our party leader has had to carry since 2002. Now that Raila has taken away that support, Musalia needs to be a man.'
The two leaders are engaged in a fierce battle for the Kibra parliamentary seat, with Raila backing Imran Okoth and Mudavadi supporting McDonald Mariga.
