The other day a fellow villager contacted me to offer him political guidance and I was totally humbled.
Introducing himself as an ODM member, the gentleman asked me how I rate the party in Tharaka-Nithi County and the larger Meru region.
The advice that I gave him was a shocker to the extent he had to call me back several times to confirm whether I was sober.
I told him to forget about ODM in Meru region and position himself in the parties led by Uhuru Kenyatta, Governor Kiraitu Murungi, Mwangi Kiunjuri, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, Narc Leader Martha Karua, Governor Mwangi wa Iria and the rest.
Reeling in confusion, the fellow urged me to explain my reasoning and I was more than willing to do so.
If you are from Mt Kenya and waiting to see Raila Odinga’s ODM Party actively campaigning in region this year of election, you are in for a big disappointment.
Let me reset your memory and sights to factory format.
The little matter of a movement called, Azimio La Umoja is unfolding.
This movement is right now waiting for oxygenated political blood from a parliamentary bill called Political Parties (Amendment) Bill 2021.
Once this bill is passed as law and there is no gainsaying it shall, political parties’ campaign landscape will completely change in this country.
Indeed, the political field will never be the same again.
This bill is structured in such a way that even small political parties will feel, act and behave with dignity and pride whether in winning or losing coalitions.
This is in fact, a coalitions bill, which if passed will render dominant parties in coalition arrangements less domineering and condescending.
In a nutshell, it is a political party ideology that is taking shape in this country but practiced in many advanced democracies in the world.
Back to the reason for advising my friend to go slow on ODM in Meru and Mt Kenya region, it is apparently clear that as long as there are other political parties registered by regional politicians, ODM cannot have a foothold in the region.
For this reason, my advice is that since Azimio La Umoja is likely to be the dominant coalition, its affiliates will be accorded a freehand to campaign, nominate and field candidates within Mt Kenya region and other regions in the country.
The more the debate on this bill becomes acrimonious in and outside parliament, the more one smells another political animal that has been lying silently in a dungeon somewhere in the corridors of justice called BBI.
There are so many ways of killing a cat, so the saying goes.
One side of political divide has sensed the danger this bill could cause to its political movement sails and has come out strongly to oppose it.
Unfortunately, as this particular political side performed a merry-go-round in the country, the other side was plotting how to outwit it, especially during party coalition, nominations and campaigns stage.
Why this opposing side couldn’t detect the potential challenge to their plans this bill, which has been in existence since 2017 puts to shame its Think-Tank (Political Strategy) team.
Apparently, the plotters of the bill had another unfinished business- exposing the fallacy of numbers in Parliament.
This should worry some politicians because there has been murmurs about a vote of no confidence.
This is why this side of political divide might hold its horses and not to try and forestall the implementation of this bill in court lest they be served with a secret political weapon that might leave them politically destroyed.
Since it has been so sure of itself, it might go to court and commit political suicide.
I hope I advised my friend correctly because even if I am wrong on ODM in Mt Kenya region, I am right about Political Parties Amendment Bill 2021.
Kaunda wa Muchunku
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