Musalia Mudavadi interview-I will be on the ballot, Raila owes me nothing, Jubilee is over taxing Kenyans, Am not a State Project, economic agenda…

Good morning Kenya : Will you be on the ballot in 2022?.

Musalia Mudavadi: to cut the story short, I will be on the ballot in 2022.

Good morning Kenya: There has been noise in some quarters that Raila owes you, that you need an endorsement from him?

Musalia Mudavadi: I don’t believe in the idea of ‘political debts. Raila owes me no debt, politically. I am seeking the votes of all Kenyans based on my economy recovery policies. When we say we are into politics only to pay political debts, we will be misleading Kenyans.

The ANC leader supported Odinga in the 2007 and 2017 polls and his key allies have called on Odinga to reciprocate by supporting his 2022 bid for the presidency.

In June this year, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared that he will pick his 2022 successor from among the former National Super Alliance (NASA) principals if they unite and agree on a single candidate.

Good morning Kenya: Recently, the head of state had a series of meetings with you and former NASA principals, with details emerging that one of the top agendas was the 2022 succession politics, did you endorse Rtd Hon Prime Minister Raila Odinga?

Musalia Mudavadi: the meeting called by President Kenyatta was not aimed at wooing OKA to drop their ambitions in favour of Odinga. That was the creation of propagandist working in media houses.

Mudavadi, Kalonzo and Moi have vowed they will be on the ballot in the next election in which they hope to succeed President Kenyatta whose second and final term will end in August 2022.

Other notable candidates eying the seat include Deputy President William Ruto,Raila, Mwangi Wa Iria (Murang’a Governor) former UNCTAD Secretary General Mukhisa Kituyi, businessman Jimi Wanjigi among others.

Good morning Kenya: what is your economic agenda for Kenya if elected President?

Musalia Mudavadi: my administration will not only create millions of jobs for Kenyans, but will also restructure the ballooning public debt, weed out corruption and bureaucracy in government as well as generate enough funds to sustain and run the economy without much borrowing. I will focus on a model known as “uchumi bora kwa wote na pesa mfukoni or a better economy; that works for all,” that will target clear, decisive and practical steps for accelerated economic recovery and revival to create jobs and opportunities for Kenyans. The immediate economic concerns of Kenyans under the model are crystallized under National Economic Recovery Plan Priorities. My immediate task in office will be to resuscitate the flailing economy as part of the process of recovery and then embark on measures for economic stability and growth.

Good morning Kenya: What do you think about economic models proposed by your competitors?

Musalia Mudavadi: What is being proffered to Kenyans as economic agenda so far are but sly unscrupulous slogans bereft of serious reflection. Kenya is already a market economy; how then do you supplant this reality with whimsical models? Some so-called models suggest a welfare state.

Before you can think welfare state, you must first build sovereign wealth. Unfortunately, those who put our people in this economic pit are throwing pieces of silver at them in the hole and telling them to get to the top. That’s bottom-up for you whose moral is, you cannot get out of the pit they threw you into to reach the top using the pieces of silver thrown at you.

Good morning Kenya: What do you think about the ballooning debt?

Musalia Mudavadi: I intend to not only restructure the already borrowed funds, but also revise the current tax regimes to generate more funds, while at the same time ease pressure on small businesses that have been paying heavy duties for their products and operations. Kenya is broke. Government is borrowing to pay salaries; businesses have closed or downsized; the country is experiencing the worst period of high levels of unemployment; and punitive taxation has increased the cost of basic commodities.

Good morning Kenya: How are you going to deal with corruption that has spread it tentacles across all institutions in Government?

Musalia Mudavadi: Uprooting the corrupt and dismantling their networks that run across the private and public sectors will be my top priority. I will strengthen the human resources, technological and fiscal capacity of investigative, prosecutorial and judicial agencies.

Good morning Kenya: Are you a state project for the 2022 Presidency?

Musalia Mudavadi: NO, I will be on the ballot because Kenya needs a safe pair of gloves, the economy needs my expertise.

End.