By Kuria Kimani
Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi is not the abrasive politicians Kenyans are accustomed to. He is gentle but firm and is known to be a loving family man, the perfect ingredient of a president. The seventh and shortest serving vice president of Kenya in the late President Daniel arap Moi’s government-has amassed considerable wealth over the years.
In this article, WoK pieces together the ANC leader’s wealth portfolio and the expensive things he owns.
Personal Profile
Hon. Musalia Mudavadi was born on 21st September 1960 in the Maragoli, Luhya community. He is a quaker by religion making him the only politician who does not swear oaths of office as it is forbidden in his religion. Quakers are globally known for their pacifism, aversion to violence and war, use of plain language, strict adherence to speaking the truth, and plain dressing. This can be attributed to his seemingly soft-spoken and laid-back approach which is quite uncommon in Kenya’s political arena.
Also Read: Tessie Shangatti Mudavadi Biography, Marriage, Children, Cancer Scare & Job
The University of Nairobi alumnus was a rugby player with Mean Machine RFC where he spent most of his youthful years. He married Tessie Mudavadi with whom they sired three children named Maryanne, Moses, and Michael. Away from politics, Musalia Mudavadi enjoys football and has served as AFC Leopards patron at a point in his career. He is also a fan of Manchester United FC and AFC Leopards.
Political Career
He first joined politics in 1989 as Sabatia Consitutency’s unopposed Member of Parliament taking over his late father Moses Mudavadi. He was only 29 years old at the time. Hon. Mudavadi would win the seat in 1992 and 1997 before he was appointed as Moi’s VP in 2002 holding the position for 60 days. He was Uhuru Kenyatta’s running mate but the duo lost to MwaI Kibaki. Between 2008 and 2012, he was Kenya’s Deputy Prime Minister, a position he relinquished to seek presidency under the Orange Democratic Party (ODM). Citing lack of political freedom, he left ODM for the United Democratic Party to run for president – a feat that saw him come in third in the elections.
The founder of the Amani National Congress (ANC) party would, later on, join the National Super Alliance (NASA)-a political vehicle that became irrelevant after President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga joined hands.
He went on to join forces with Gideon Moi, Moses Wetangula, and Kalonzo Musyoka to form the One Kenya Alliance in March 2021. In what was described as an earthquake declaration on 23rd January 2022 at the Bomas of Kenya, Musalia Mudavadi announced that he would forge an alliance with Deputy President William Ruto under the United Democratic Alliance as he launched his presidential bid. His fellow OKA principals have labeled him ‘a traitor unfit to run the nation’ in this recent move as they walked out in protest from the meeting at Bomas of Kenya.
Wealth and Property
In an interview with Citizen TV’s Wahiga Mwaura on 23rd February 2021, Hon. Mudavadi commented on his wealth saying, “I have worked in both the private and public sector. I have nothing to hide. I pay my taxes. I have what enables me to meet my obligations.”
Mudavadi has always ducked the question of his wealth in multiple interviews.
Below highlighted are his business interests, investments, and what the ANC leader owns.
Business Interests and Investments:
First Assurance Company Ltd
In 2015, Hon. Musalia Mudavadi along with some of Kenya’s wealthiest individuals and families became the top beneficiaries of the then wake of big-ticket acquisitions in the underwriting sector valued at over Sh10 billion. The ANC leader alongside the late Chris Kirubi, the late John Michuki’s family, the late Godfrey Karurui’s family, the Inderjit Talwar family, and former KenGen CEO Eddy Njoroge made hundreds of millions resulting from the takeovers. They sold their interests to local and international buyers taking advantage of Kenya’s economic expansion from the domestic underwriting business.
According to businessdaily (in an article titled Top investors Sh10bn richer after wave of insurance buyouts), the former deputy prime minister was among the investors who sold a cumulative 63.3% stake in Absa-owned First Assurance to Barclays Africa Group Ltd based in Johannesburg. The announcement was made by Managing Directors Stephen Githiga and Jeremy Awori of the deal valued at Ksh 2.822 billion which included a Ksh 722 million capital injection to promote business. In the announcement done on 10th June 2015 at Villa Rosa Kempinski, the two entities expressed satisfaction and much promise.
First Assurance’s MD Stephen Githiga said, “Barclays Africa will bring a strong brand as well as technical support for our products and services. Existing First Assurance customers will benefit from access to new products and services as a result of the partnership.” Lanz Zulu, Barclays Africa’s Wealth, Investment Management, and Insurance managing executive commented on the acquisition saying, “The deal will enable us to significantly scale up First Assurance’s life insurance business using the synergies we both enjoy including branch reach and technical expertise. We shopped around but First Assurance’s capitalization, its strong board, and good reputation stood out.”
Multi-Million Karen Mansion Home
The ANC leader lives in Karen, the same neighborhood with Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The Karen mansion is designed with two wings in line with the Mediterranean and French styles. The interior is decorated with choice paintings and yellow low-hanging chandeliers. Complete with a gazebo for evening conversations and relaxation. According to Kenyans.co.ke, the palatial home is worth approximately Ksh 250 million.
Multi Million Eurocopter
As has become the norm among politicians, owning an aircraft is a symbol of financial muscle, status and most importantly it aids in ease of movement. Some of Kenya’s politicians who own expensive helicopters include President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto’s three Aerospatiale 350B3 Ecureuil Eurocopters, Kalonzo Musyoka’s AS350B3 Eurocopter, and William Kabogo’s Eurocopter AS350B3 registration number 5Y–EXK. Hon. Mudavadi as well owns a Eurocopter registration 5Y–TXM worth approximately Ksh 300 million which, he says, makes his movement easier.
Also Read: How To Own And Register An Aircraft In Kenya And Fees
Musalia Madavadi Scandals
The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission investigated the ANC leader in March 2010 over a Ksh 283 million cemetery land fraud case. The case at hand was that the Nairobi City Council had purchased land valued at Ksh 24 million for an exaggerated Ksh 283 million figure. He protested the accusation and after extensive investigations, it was determined in June 2020 that he had no involvement in the scandal nor did he receive any proceeds from the deal.
In 2012, the Law Society of Kenya blacklisted Hon. Mudavadi alongside other members of the Kibaki Administration including the former president, Charity Ngilu, and William Ruto were mentioned in reports that named them in corruption cases and economic crimes. LSK went on to advise voters against electing the named individuals into public office based on the reports whose allegations were not specifically addressed to the named officials.
