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Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi

Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya (2022–present)

Vihiga

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Born 1960

politician

prime cabinet-secretary

Amani National Congress

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Biography

Musalia Mudavadi is a veteran Kenyan politician who serves as the Prime Cabinet Secretary. He is also the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs since 2023 and is acting Interior CS (2024). He was formerly Vice President (2002) and Deputy Prime Minister (2008–2013).

Key Achievements

Former Vice President of Kenya (2002)
Deputy Prime Minister (2008–2013)

Career History

Parliamentary and Ministerial Roles: Elected MP for Sabatia in 1989, Mudavadi served in key ministries including Finance and Transport, and became Kenya’s Vice President briefly in 2002 under President Moi.

Deputy Prime Minister: He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government in the Grand Coalition Government (2008–2012) under President Kibaki and PM Raila Odinga.

Party Leader and Presidential Candidate: Founded the Amani National Congress (ANC) in 2015, ran for president in 2013, and later joined the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, helping William Ruto win the 2022 election, after which he was appointed Prime Cabinet Secretary.

Notable Controversies

Goldenberg Scandal (1990s): While serving as Finance Minister under President Moi, Mudavadi was linked to the infamous Goldenberg scandal, a major financial fraud involving government compensation for fictitious gold exports. Though he denied wrongdoing and was not convicted, his name was often mentioned in discussions about high-level complicity.

2013 Presidential Nomination Dispute: In 2012, Mudavadi briefly joined Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee coalition with a signed agreement that Uhuru would step down in his favor as the presidential candidate. Days later, Uhuru reversed the deal, calling it a “deal with the devil,” causing a fallout that cast Mudavadi as politically indecisive

Fallout with NASA (2017–2022): After the 2017 elections, Mudavadi’s ANC was part of the NASA coalition led by Raila Odinga. However, tensions grew when Raila took the “People’s President” oath without consulting NASA principals. Mudavadi’s perceived detachment from the protest actions led to accusations of betrayal and weak political resolve.