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The Kasipul Kabondo By-Election
#80 - 0--clubafrika--The Kasipul Kabondo By-Election--2006-03-05 02:06:50
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THE KASIPUL KABONDO BY ELECTION- WHO SHOULD WIN AND WHO SHOULD LOSE
Once again, LDP is facing a litmus test in its stronghold that is Kasipul Kabondo. It faced a similar test in Kisauni and Kisumu two years ago following the untimely demise of Karisa Maitha and Joab Omino respectively. While LDP lost an election it didn't have to lose in Kisauni, it scraped through in Kisumu West by a whisker. In both circumstances, it was sheer lack seriousness and abundant disorganization on the ground that did them in.
Having learnt vital lessons from these two past experiences, what should LDP do to ensure it recaptures its seat that was left vacant after the death of yet another of its ardent supporters- Peter Owidi?
What makes the Kasipul Kabondo by- election unique is the fact that it is the first time coalition members have declared to go their separate ways and field their own candidates. While a group of people are clinging to a dead coalition by fielding their own candidate in the name of Dr. Otieno Kopiyo, a former MP of the area, it was instructive to note that President Kibaki's own DP also fielded its own candidate as did another member, the Labour Party of Kenya. - Though Dr. Kopiyo is a NARC candidate, the fact that he is the Deputy Secretary General of Ford Kenya makes his candidature very crucial to the Kombo Ford Kenya outfit. Therefore a win for Kopiyo will be a win for both Kibaki and Kombo, die-hard political rivals of Raila Odinga.
Taking the cue from earlier debacles in Kisauni and Kisumu West two years ago, Raila and his troops have seen it fit to camp and Kabondo until it is all over. And they have made sure that huge political rallies will not suffice. That good old door to door campaign must be the surest way to ensure the seat is recaptured.
As of last week the NARC candidate was exuding confidence that clan politics would work in his favour especially that all those LDP aspirants that lost twice at the nomination would gang up against Paddy Ahenda to swing the undecided and the disgruntled voters to his camp. That did not happen after Raila intervened and pleaded with the people of Kabondo to realize that the fight in the constituency was a very personal fight because it was really a fight between him and Mwai Kibaki.
For Kopiyo it was a double insult when neither the NARC nor the Ford Kenya big wigs failed to turn up and soar up solidarity with him at this crucial moment. However, if Kopiyo hypes the indigenous versus the settlers card to incite the indigenous Kabondo clans against Ahenda's clan, he may just tilt the scales but at a very expensive prize not only for him but for the whole country.
Behind all the façade and desire to win a parliamentary seat by any means necessary, we may want to remind politicians that when they are running for parliamentary seats the candidates should remember that the society elevates them to national status to join their colleagues from other parts of Kenya to enact good laws that should guide Kenya on the path of national unity, good governance and prosperity.
Because of this heavy responsibility, we expect our parliamentary candidates who indeed are potential presidential material to rise above petty and parochial village politics and think nationally. We have no quarrel with councillors in their wards being as parochial as they can because issues they will be dealing with are very basic and touch on village life and its culture.
But we certainly expect our parliamentary candidates to do better if Kenya is to move away from parochialism.
The reason we must insist on more broadminded leadership from our parliamentary candidates is because Kenya is currently choking under weight of a new brand of ethnicity and tribalism if not down right clanism at the national level. We need leaders who can show us a better way and reassure us that things can be done differently.
Clear examples of nepotism, cronyism, tribalism or clanism at the national level were displayed to Kenyans when the former minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Kiraitu Murungi influenced the following appointments in the Kibaki administration: He ensured that a fellow Meru, Justice Gicheru was appointed Chief Justice, Justice Ringera, a fellow Meru was appointed Director of Kenya Anti- Corruption Authority, a fellow human rights activist, Maina Kiai was appointed chairman of the Kenya National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Makau, his long time friend was appointed to chair the Truth & Reconciliation fact finding mission while Kamau Kuria his long time law firm partner was the assisting counsel at the Bosire Goldenberg Inquiry.
Looking at other ministries, it was not difficult to notice that in critical ministries of Finance, Internal Security, Transport and Education, ministers , permanent secretaries their deputies and directors were at one point in 2003 and 2004 coming from the same tribes in Mt. Kenya area. They were either Kikuyus or Merus.
Of late, since Kibaki reshuffled his cabinet in December last year, new ministers that replaced sacked ODM renegades and graft engulfed Kibaki ministers have not behaved any differently. Kisiis and Luhyas in his government are behaving exactly like their former colleagues that were sacked from the government on corruption allegations.
The real winners who should carry the day in the forthcoming Kasipul Kabondo by-elections should be the people of Kabondo who will vote with their conscience. They should elect a leader of the calibre of the late Onyango Ayodo who will do them proud nationally. They must not listen to parochialism and petty village rivalry. They must resist the temptation to transfer their clan feuds to the national arena.
Those who want to thrive on village politics must be encouraged to vie for positions in the local urban and county councils. For that is where they really belong.
That is the way I see it.
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