Jakoyo Midiwo,
Member of Parliament for Gem and an ardent foot soldier to Raila Odinga, the
National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate, headlines a list of
major casualties from the hotly contested primaries within the opposition
coalition.
The lessons
to those considered lieutenants to Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta finally
got decisive blows from the voter!
Midiwo’s
close ties to the opposition chief failed to endear him to the ordinary
mwananchi, a wave that also claimed high-profile politicians within the JUBILEE
coalition.
William
Kabogo, the controversial governor for Kiambu lost in the JUBILEE nominations
that also saw six other incumbent legislators dethroned in Uhuru’s backyard.
The
resounding defeats to the men and women, considered fierce defendants to Uhuru
and Odinga, signals a new dawn where politicians can no longer ride on the
names of their party bosses to clinch seats.
Political
sycophancy is no-longer a life-saver to most of the politicians who have in the
past failed to deliver on their election pledges, coupled with numerous
allegations of misuse of public funds and abuse of office.
The
modern-day sycophant who metamorphosed from the late Joseph Kamotho’s, Shariff
Nassir’s, Ezekiel Barng’etuny’s and Kariuki wa Chotara’s of the 90s!
Kenyans can
now defy their tribal political chieftains and vote in men and women of their
choice.
It is a path
that promises to sweep aside the cheap politics that have for years ailed the
nation since the introduction of multi-party democracy in 1992.
The general
election set for August 8, is likely to deliver more shockers and blows to the
politicians whose empty rhetoric hopes to ride on the JUBILEE and NASA
euphoria, to power.
This
statement of intent by the Kenyan voter resoundingly hit members of the
national and county assemblies.
In most
counties, Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) paid dearly for the unprecedented
wastage of public funds and cheap political bickering.
Wanjiku has finally woken up! It is no
longer business as usual at the ballot box!
Unlike the
past, Wanjiku is not rubber-stamping those hand-picked by the nation’s
political heavyweights!
Allegiance
to Uhuru, Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, William Ruto and Musalia Mudavadi is no
longer the ticket to political power!
The winds of
political change are blowing! Sycophants and cronies are no longer guaranteed a
smooth ride to power!
Wanjiku
takes all the plaudits for the new wave, but a bigger challenge awaits at the
national stage.
Kenyans should
break away from being herded into a single basket, disguised as the Kikuyu,
Luo, Luhya, Kalenjin and Kamba nations!
The
near-colossal following to the current political heavyweights based on ethnic
lines still rules.
The voters should
adopt issues and ideologies. This will ensure that only the best win the race
to state house.
It will give
the likes of Abduba Dida, Ekuru Aukot, Martha Karua, Philip Murgor and the many
Kenyans who can lead but are disadvantaged on the basis of gender, tribe or
financial muscle.
Meanwhile,
the axe awaits serving legislators who have not delivered on their election
pledges made to the electorate in 2013.
August 8
will throw more big names into political oblivion for the next five years!
