ABOLISH PARTY PRIMARIES ALTOGETHER
The just concluded party primaries are an indication of an ailing democracy in a country whose population believes in democratic governance.
Going by the number of aspirants seeking to vie for elective posts as independent candidates in the coming general elections, and the outcry by Kenyans on both social and main media, one gets this feeling that the primaries were not democratic, not free, not fair and therefore not credible.
With this trend, in order to achieve a fully democratic country where the will of the people is respected, and have political parties owned by majority Kenyans and not just a few individuals, we need to change our approach towards elections and party membership process, procedure, rules and regulations.
Political parties in Kenya as it stands today belong to a few minorities with majority of Kenyans being recruited into parties either knowingly or unknowingly just to foster the selfish interests of the people who parties belong to.
Kenyans have learned through blackmail and coercion to join parties not because these parties represent their interests but because they identify with certain top individuals in the parties or simply because they have been brainwashed to believe that the parties are regional or tribal forums through which they can put forth their bargain in national politics. Are political parties in Kenya today promoting democracy or they are simply tribal and regional entities?
It is time we put stop to this if we envisage a growing democracy, where political parties belong to members and not party officials, a democracy where majority win, a democracy where people are free to join parties for what they stand for and not because who they belong to or which tribal and regional interests they represent.
For us to achieve this, we must change our elections process in Kenya which will change the way parties recruit their members. The process might sound radical but it’s the best way to ensure that the will of the people is respected; political parties are given back to the people and unite this country without having regional or tribal parties. This will not only see us track back to a culture of cultivating democratic practices at all levels of leadership elections, but also see the marginalized and the minority groups having a chance of ascending to power in this country for what they believe in and what they have to offer to move the country forward, and not be denied opportunity of leadership because they come from a marginalized minority.
Going by the number of aspirants seeking to vie for elective posts as independent candidates in the coming general elections, and the outcry by Kenyans on both social and main media, one gets this feeling that the primaries were not democratic, not free, not fair and therefore not credible.
With this trend, in order to achieve a fully democratic country where the will of the people is respected, and have political parties owned by majority Kenyans and not just a few individuals, we need to change our approach towards elections and party membership process, procedure, rules and regulations.
Political parties in Kenya as it stands today belong to a few minorities with majority of Kenyans being recruited into parties either knowingly or unknowingly just to foster the selfish interests of the people who parties belong to.
Kenyans have learned through blackmail and coercion to join parties not because these parties represent their interests but because they identify with certain top individuals in the parties or simply because they have been brainwashed to believe that the parties are regional or tribal forums through which they can put forth their bargain in national politics. Are political parties in Kenya today promoting democracy or they are simply tribal and regional entities?
It is time we put stop to this if we envisage a growing democracy, where political parties belong to members and not party officials, a democracy where majority win, a democracy where people are free to join parties for what they stand for and not because who they belong to or which tribal and regional interests they represent.
For us to achieve this, we must change our elections process in Kenya which will change the way parties recruit their members. The process might sound radical but it’s the best way to ensure that the will of the people is respected; political parties are given back to the people and unite this country without having regional or tribal parties. This will not only see us track back to a culture of cultivating democratic practices at all levels of leadership elections, but also see the marginalized and the minority groups having a chance of ascending to power in this country for what they believe in and what they have to offer to move the country forward, and not be denied opportunity of leadership because they come from a marginalized minority.
This informs my proposal that;
a) We abolish party primaries/nominations and instead have all aspirants down from the MCAs up to the Governorship contest in general elections, and of course this should come with stringent measures, rules and regulations from the election’s body to enlist only serious contenders, people of integrity and leadership qualities able to represent the people at the elective level they intend to represent them.
b) That after their election, the MCAs, MPs, Women Reps, Senators,Gorvernors,through scrutiny of various party manifestoes and in discussion with their constituents, shall affiliate themselves to political parties prior to swearing in within 3 months of election.
c) That upon affiliation, one shall abide by the rules and regulations of the party and be guided by the principles of the party and what the party stands for and shall be subject to disciplinary which shall include but not limited to fines, suspension and expulsion upon negating on the party rules and regulation.
d) That one shall be free to change affiliation, but upon which one shall have to resign from his/her elective position and seek fresh mandate from the electorate before joining another party. This shall also apply to a member who through fair and due process is expelled from his affiliate party by way of disciplinary action for going against the principles of the party.
e) That for one to vie for any elective position except the presidency, one must not be a member of any political party at the time of registration by the electoral body until such a time after elctions,and one shall never be sworn into office unless he/she affiliates himself/herself to a political party.
f) That after the elections of the MCAs up to the Governors, but before their swearing in, a due process under the regulations of the electoral body be in place for the nomination of presidential candidates by political parties at least 3 months to the presidential elections. The presidential election must take place within 3 months after the lower election and presidential candidates nominating parties must have been duly registered at least 6 months prior to the nominations.
a) We abolish party primaries/nominations and instead have all aspirants down from the MCAs up to the Governorship contest in general elections, and of course this should come with stringent measures, rules and regulations from the election’s body to enlist only serious contenders, people of integrity and leadership qualities able to represent the people at the elective level they intend to represent them.
b) That after their election, the MCAs, MPs, Women Reps, Senators,Gorvernors,through scrutiny of various party manifestoes and in discussion with their constituents, shall affiliate themselves to political parties prior to swearing in within 3 months of election.
c) That upon affiliation, one shall abide by the rules and regulations of the party and be guided by the principles of the party and what the party stands for and shall be subject to disciplinary which shall include but not limited to fines, suspension and expulsion upon negating on the party rules and regulation.
d) That one shall be free to change affiliation, but upon which one shall have to resign from his/her elective position and seek fresh mandate from the electorate before joining another party. This shall also apply to a member who through fair and due process is expelled from his affiliate party by way of disciplinary action for going against the principles of the party.
e) That for one to vie for any elective position except the presidency, one must not be a member of any political party at the time of registration by the electoral body until such a time after elctions,and one shall never be sworn into office unless he/she affiliates himself/herself to a political party.
f) That after the elections of the MCAs up to the Governors, but before their swearing in, a due process under the regulations of the electoral body be in place for the nomination of presidential candidates by political parties at least 3 months to the presidential elections. The presidential election must take place within 3 months after the lower election and presidential candidates nominating parties must have been duly registered at least 6 months prior to the nominations.
Jacob M Mulaku
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