Kenyans should consider options for leaders

As Kenya enters into its jubilee year with a general election, the next government shall be manned with implementation of the new constitution that was passed in 2010. Kenya enters into the general elections with a lot baggage to settle. Ranging from the post elections victims in IDP camps, KDF in Somalia and economic sustainability that was set forth by the retiring president Mwai Kibaki. President Kibaki leaves behind a legacy that did not only set records in Africa but also send a message to the world that Africans can fund their national budgets without unnecessary money borrowing or foreign aid.

Its vivid that the last 10 years under both NARC and Grand coalition Governments both led by Kibaki, the country has seen the service delivery rise in a great margin. Despite the economic success, president Kibaki did very little in terms of uniting Kenyans. The country saw the worst clashes ever in 2007-8. 1100 people died others displaced and property destroyed. All in the name of tribalism.

Today leaders seems to be yet polarizing the country again and it might be sad sceneries after march 4^th elections. Prime Minister Raila  Odinga who for past 4 weeks has maintained a lead in the polls is among the top 3 contenders and if we check his followings the tribal alliance factor is vivid. Lets do some logics….. prime minister Raila Odinga is a Luo. He is a son of former vice president Oginga Odinga. His running mate is the vice president Kalonzo Musyoka, A kamba and leader of lower Eastern politics which is dominated by Wiper democratic supporters which he leads. He controls quite a large following as no one can be elected into parliament or into any position if he doesn’t belong to his party or doesn’t support his candidature. Some critics argue that  Water minister Charity Kaluki Ngilu may pose challenge to vice president in Ukambani politics! The fact is the vice president’s party following in Ukambani. Ngilu’s NARC is termed as a briefcase political party.

The second possible president shall be the son of the founding father Uhuru Kenyatta. Kenyatta has already consolidated the kikuyu vote but did not get the endorsement of the outgoing president who happens to be a kikuyu. Definitely he may not. Uhuru Kenyatta has the support of a section of the Kalenjin community owing to the fact Kalenjins endear the independence party KANU led by the son of former president Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi. KANU is part of the 3^rd alliance Amani led by former vice president and now deputy prime minister and UDF presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi. Musalia Mudavadi fights to consolidate the Luhyia Vote which is now divided into UDF and FORD Kenya.

With the above polarization it will be hard for Kenyans to avoid what led to the post election violence in 2008. In contrary Kenyans are among the most opportunistic people in Africa. If one has to win an election there would several possible factors that will facilitate, first, the performance record of the leader if he was a leader. For the outgoing members of parliament it may be hard to be re-elected if you mismanaged the CDF( constituency Development Funds). We have seen some sceneries where MPs have gone to court to clear their names from the National Taxpayers Associations (NTA) annual reports that checks on the allocation of each constituency development funds projects. Marakwet East constituency is a good example where over kshs 30million could not be accounted for and the area member of parliament who takes political responsibility went to court to challenge the NTA’s findings. Marakwet East is represented in parliament by Cooperative development assistant minister Linah Jebii Kilimo who is currently vying to be the pioneer Governor for Elgeyo-Marakwet County on a Jubilee alliance.

Secondly, personal integrity will booster ones chance to clinch an elective position. This brings up the elegibility of ICC suspects into vying for presidency. Some critics have argued that it’s a joke of the season to have people set to appear at the Hague based ICC on April 10 get elected into presidency. In case of a run off  April 10^th shall the date for the run off as the ICC suspects have their first hearing of their cases against them at the Hague. So the ongoing electioneering period shall be dramatic and more democratic ever and in one way or another it shall be historic.

More than 14millions voters were registered in the one month long voter registration exercise which saw Kenya use BVR kit to electronically register voters. Will this 14million choose the next generation of leaders without repeating the same mistakes they have committing since independence?

Will tribalism be a factor in the voting process? IEBC chairman Isaack Hassan has from time to time said the elections shall be free and fair and most of all be transparent. So my main question lies here, will we be hearing of the missing Form 16A or confusing results from the polling stations? All eyes are set for the January 17^th primaries where the main 3 political alliances shall conduct their party nominations for the senatorial, MP, Governors, Women Representatives and county representatives. With the magnitude set for the decision by each elections board of the coalitions, will the smaller partners expressing discontent especially in the prime Minister’s CORD where apart from ODM, Wiper Democratic Movement and Ford Kenya there are 24 other smaller political parties. This smaller political outfits have been arguing to go it alone in the County elective positions and support the principals in the presidential bid. According to Roads Minister Franklin Bett Joint Nomination is the only way to ensure victory in the first round with a parliamentary majority.

I tend to agree with the minister on that matter owing to the fact that I don’t believe having a long list of candidates will ensure a victory and accountability. Its time we choose at coalition level and submit a winning team that will give Kenyans an humble time to choose from. I imagine a Kenya where if one looses in the primary,  he steps out of the race and not becoming an overnight party member and submit a bought  nomination certificate to the electoral commission. For the first time Kenyans will not use their party membership cards to conduct nomination in the CORD coalition. This is after the parties fraudulently recruited members in the recent past.

As Kenyans go for elections lets join in the calls for peace and unity. As members of the East African Community lets not only hope for the best but actively engage in the transformative leadership talk. I remember the words of former Ugandan Minister for ethics and governance Miria Matembe. We require transformative leadership which accommodates public criticism and that doesn’t annoy the electorate. That’s the kind of leadership Kenyans want.