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Musalia Mudavadi

DATE OF BIRTH


September 21, 1960

GENDER


Male

OCCUPATION


Politician, Land economist

FAMILY


Married to Tessy Musalia with three children

BIOGRAPHY


Education: Early learning at Nairobi Primary School, then Jamhuri and Nairobi School for his A-levels before proceeding to the University of Nairobi for his Bachelor of Arts (Land Economics) degree.

Political career: Mr Mudavadi, who is Kenya’s 7th Vice President (VP), was first elected an MP in 1989 after the death of his father, Mr Moses Mudavadi. He was elected uno

pposed in Sabatia constituency and went on to be re-elected in 1992, 1997, and 2007.

Soon after, he was appointed Minister of Supplies and Marketing until 1992 when he was elevated to Ministry of Finance between 1993 and 1997. He has also served as Minister for Agriculture, and Transport and Communication between 2001 and 2002 when he was appointed to the office of VP.

He served three months in the office of the Vice President, the shortest sting in Kenyan history.

He was appointed VP in October 2002 to replace the late George Saitoti, who Moi had sacked in a succession war after he chose Mr Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor. Mr Mudavadi was Mr Kenyatta's running mate in the 2002 general election. He ended up losing that bid as well as his Sabatia Parliamentary seat.

Mr Mudavadi made a come back in 2005 during the campaigns for the new Constitution. He joined the NO camp that was opposed to the draft that the Kibaki government had proposed. The camp emerged winners of the referendum. In the 2007 presidential election, Mr Mudavadi was Mr Odinga’s running mate, but again they lost to late former President Mwai Kibaki. 

He was a member of the national reconciliation team that negotiated for peace after the bloody events of the 2007/08 post-election violence and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local government in the Grand coalition government of 2008/13.

He defected from ODM to his United Democratic Forum (UDF) through which he contested the 2013 presidential race, coming third. 

He severed ties with UDF to form Amani National Congress (ANC) in 2015. ANC was part of the five political parties that merged in 2017 to form the National Super Alliance (Nasa) which fronted Mr Raila Odinga as its presidential candidate. Nasa lost to Jubilee in the election held on August 8, 2017 but the Supreme Court nullified the outcome due to irregularities.

In January 2022, he joined hands with DP William Ruto to form the Kenya Kwanza Alliance ahead of the 2022 general elections.


Latest articles on Musalia Mudavadi:

  1. Wetang’ula contradicts Kenya's official policy on Western Sahara

    Wetang’ula calls on AU to safeguard interests of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

    Moses Wetang’ula
  2. PREMIUM Ruto@1,000: From a peacemaker to ‘war enabler’

    Kenya's once-unquestioned role as East Africa's diplomatic beacon is now under intense scrutiny.

    WhatsApp Image 2025-06-11 at 13.31.20
  3. Musalia Mudavadi: Think before you make that post

    Social media can be our ladder to greatness or a trap we will regret.

    Smartphone
  4. PREMIUM Ruto@1,000: On foreign policy, Ruto learns on the job

    On foreign policy, Ruto's administration has trialled, erred and moved.

    William Ruto and Musalia Mudavadi
  5. PREMIUM Ruto leads Kenya in mourning Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

    He made an indelible impact on how we think about our independence: Ruto

    Ngugi wa Thiong'o
  6. PREMIUM Kenya backs Morocco's Western Sahara plan

    This announcement was made as Kenya opened its first embassy in Rabat.

    Nasser Bourita western sahara
  7. PREMIUM Kenya on the horns of a diplomatic dilemma

    President Ruto swore allegiance to the people of Kenya under our constitution, CS Mudavadi says.

    Musalia Mudavadi
  8. PREMIUM Abducted activist 'dumped' at Ugandan border after Tanzanian ordeal

    Agather Atuhaire was arrested alongside activist Boniface Mwangi.

    WhatsApp Image 2025-05-23 at 09.46.20
  9. PREMIUM Tanzania deports Boniface Mwangi, dumps him in Ukunda

    Family reveals Tanzanian authorities tortured the activist.

    WhatsApp Image 2025-05-22 at 13.55.52
  10. PREMIUM Expulsion to nowhere: How rebel MPs exploit law to remain in office

    Political parties have in the past failed to kick out rebel lawmakers.

    Gloria Orwoba
  11. PREMIUM Return of regional parties and kingpins

    Regional parties and ethnic kingpins re-emerge ahead of the 2027 General Election.

    William Ruto
  12. PREMIUM Kenya, Dominican Republic sound alarm over underfunded Haiti mission

    Kenya has contributed 1,000 troops, but the mission lacks the promised financial and material resources.

    2025-05-12T184510Z_1292438782_RC2GGEA7C405_RTRMADP_3_DOMINICAN-REPUBLIC-KENYA-HAITI-VIOLENCE
  13. PREMIUM Macharia Gaitho: Gachagua party will reveal if he has outgrown Wamunyoro

    Whatever party Mr Gachagua unveils might well place him at par with President Ruto and Raila.

    Rigathi Gachagua
  14. PREMIUM Ruto gets a taste of his own medicine from Gachagua

    In 2022, Ruto formed UDA while still serving under Jubilee, now his former deputy is preparing to launch his own party.

  15. PREMIUM Fresh push for Luhya unity ahead of 2027 poll

    Luhya leaders in Nairobi have renewed calls for a united front, warning that disunity could cost the region political relevance.

    DNMULEMBESUMMIT0405g
  16. PREMIUM Stop secret State deals

    Kenyan workers are suffering in foreign countries because of secretive labour contracts.

  17. PREMIUM Gachagua, opposition leaders vow to make Ruto one-term President

    Politicians say they will sacrifice personal ambitions to liberate the country.

  18. PREMIUM Mudavadi: Envoy jobs will not be for election losers

    CS says the ministry is working to limit non-career diplomats from dominating diplomatic appointments.

  19. PREMIUM Mudavadi: Kenya wants warring Sudan leaders sanctioned

    Kenya is battling accusations of taking the RSF's side in the conflict.

    Musalia Mudavadi
  20. PREMIUM Haiti mission is not in limbo, Mudavadi says after US freezes funding

    DNMusaliaMudavadip