NAIROBI, Kenya — Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has officially launched “The Phantom,” a new news magazine and accompanying website designed to project his vision for Kenya.
The platform aims to provide a clear, authentic, and inspiring narrative of his political journey, which began when he first entered government at the age of 29.
Mudavadi praised the team behind the new venture, stating, “I commend the dedicated team behind ‘The PHANTOM’ for their excellent work in bringing together the Phantom Quarterly Magazine and the Phantom Website. Anchored on the values of ‘The gentleman of Kenyan politics, a liberal democrat, and a safe pair of hands,’ The Phantom is envisioned as more than a publication or a digital platform.”
He added that the platform represents a space for dialogue and the amplification of Kenya’s voice in economic diplomacy and international partnerships.
“It represents a space for ideas, dialogue, and exchange; an interactive hub that seeks to amplify Kenya’s voice in economic diplomacy, safeguard our national interests on the global stage, and foster partnerships that drive trade, investment, and sustainable development,” he said.
During the launch, Mudavadi explained that the name “The Phantom” reflects his early experiences, including his agile and “savvy” moments in sports like soccer, hockey, rugby, sprinting, and swimming.
He said the platform will allow him to communicate directly with Kenyans, sharing not only his achievements but also the ideals that motivate his service.
“In every edition of the phantom, a window into his journey will be revealed anchoring the man behind the title,” he noted.
Mudavadi also revealed that the project came to fruition after he gave his press team his blessings to improve government communication.
“When my press team approached me and we had a conversation on how to improve communication from the government circles, I gave them my blessings since at times government is good at its business of governing, but it may not be very good at its business of communication,” he said.
He expressed his pleasant surprise at the team’s work, applauding their use of technology to facilitate faster and more efficient communication.
“I was equally pleasantly surprised that the team quietly worked on this project and I am impressed that they have blended in on technology so that we can communicate faster, quicker and with less pressure,” he noted.
According to Jacob Ngetich, the Director for Press Service, Mudavadi’s political career, which spans over three decades, is defined by the same qualities that characterized him as a rugby player.
“Mudavadi’s political career, now spanning over three decades, mirrors the very qualities that once defined his prowess on the rugby field as the “phantom”.
He continues to navigate the complex terrain of Kenyan politics with calm and calculated presence. In the often-chaotic world of public leadership, Mudavadi has carved out a reputation as a tactful and trusted team player, never loud and never brash, but always there.”
Mudavadi added that while the platform will delve into history, it will remain forward-looking. “We have taken a little bit of time to go into the history but it will be forward-looking on what really informs certain decisions,” he said.
The publication will explore Mudavadi’s various roles as a minister under the Moi, Kibaki, and Ruto administrations, as well as his tenures as Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and a presidential candidate.
It will highlight his key contributions, including the liberalization of the Kenyan economy in the 1990s and his co-architectural role in the country’s devolution under the 2010 Constitution.
The platform will also acknowledge his instrumental role in the 2007/2008 mediation process and his part in the formation of the Kenya Kwanza government.
“What we have before us is an opportunity for us to convey government policies, decisions and actions more effectively, in a timely manner and in a manner that can be widely spread across board. I am happy the platform on the website is interactive, user friendly and easy to get information,” said Mudavadi.
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He added, “Government does quite a bit, in fact it does a lot. But sometimes it is how you package the information, and continuously we will need help on how to package that information from the experts in communication. We will largely call on the media also to help us in packaging this information for the public. And we in government are not adversaries with the members of the media. We can work and develop this country together.”
Mudavadi noted that “The Phantom” will be a space for collaboration with the media, providing a better understanding of issues and welcoming feedback. He explained that a significant focus will be on tracking legislation, coordinating national efforts, and demystifying foreign policy for a wider audience.
“You will be seeing a lot of communication on a number of topical issues that are critical, like for now we have the tracking of various pieces of legislation over 700 under the Kenya Kwanza regime, we want to track bills in parliament and be able to convey the communication to the public, we want to bring coordination together, we want to revive the national economic and social council so that we can have better engagement with investors, the public and make Kenya better.” he explained.
“In terms of foreign policy, we are demystifying foreign policy, tunataka foreign policy iende mashinani so that people understand more, the kind of decisions that we make, and why they are important,” added Mudavadi.