@edwinsifuna Even Pres Ruto knows there is something different about Sifuna. He is focussed on him. The debate between Sen. Sifuna and Pres. Ruto about issues is good for Kenya. We must move away from tribe.
@NdindiNyoro Hon. Ndindi, Dangote is the richest man in African investing in Kenya. So what happened to 'we are African and Africa is our business'? I thought this is it.
Article 91 (d) of the Kenyan Constitution says that every political party SHALL abide by democratic principle of good governance, PROMOTE and PRACTICE democracy through regular, fair and free elections WITHIN the party.
So conducting internal party elections is not an option. It is a constitutional requirement.
By observation,
Show me a political party that has been serious in conducting grassroot party elections between 2023 to 2026 other than UDA.
Political Parties have just perfected the art of rebranding by changing names and colours. Many are registered to be sold to the highest bidder during elections.
Any serious political party practitioner will tell you the strength of any party and it's aspirants is founded on its grassroot officials.
Show me a single political party in the opposition that is organising grassroot elections at the level of UDA or close or they only spend time fighting over names and the likes.
I would rather a party that is trying, even with challenges.
What we are seeing is a joke to say the least. Opposition political parties need to wake up otherwise they are still on a very slippery road #GodBlessKenya🇰🇪
SC, just see how the opposition leaders bow and become small in Pres. Uhuru's presence. Kenya's politics has moved on from Uhuru but he desperately wants a stake and the only way is to delegitimise Pres. Ruto's presidency. Sifuna & Co. must become their own men and face Kenyans instead of waiting for coronation. I agree Riggy G will be instrumental in next year's election but. I suspect he doesn't take the other opposition colleagues seriously for their lethargic approach to politics. I see him getting into a post-election pact with Pres Ruto....Kalonzo and Co. are on a very slippery road.
As I mentioned on Monday, the opposition leaders are having near zero voter contact with supporters and persuadable voters save for a few like C.J Maraga and Hon. Ndindi. But here Kalonzo has suddenly woken up and given us this week's schedule till Sunday through our professional colleague (now spokesman) @NjiruAdv. Although we are still confused about this Ukombozi story and the tussle for the name with Senator Sifuna. It's still a slippery road. As Kenyans would say, yetu macho tu!!! #GodBlessKenya🇰🇪
@DonaldBKipkorir Senior, the minimum requirements in the Political Parties Act need to tightened if sanity is to prevail. Registrar needs to exercise his mind on these applications not act as a rubber stamp.
Note to H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka SC, What is it with the constant name changes? What have they gotten Kenyans in 20 years?
The more things change, the more they remain the same.
In 20 years, four election cycles, Senior Counsel’s party has had four different names.
1. ODM-Kenya (2006)
2. Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya (WDM-K) - 2011
3. Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) - 2021
4. Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) - 2025, slogan Komboa Kenya
For context, ODM has retained its name for 20 years. Jubilee has retained its name for over 10 years.
Now, Kalonzo has rebranded Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party to The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA).
And predictably, he is now fighting Senator Sifuna over the name Ukombozi, just the way he fought Raila over ODM in 2006.
The real question is: where have all these rebrands taken Kalonzo, his party, and his loyal supporters? In 2022, the late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga relegated him from a Deputy President nominee to a mere promise of a Cabinet Secretary slot.
There is no seriousness. No real ground work. Real disappointment for Kenyans.
This One team is on a slippery road.
Tuesday thought
#GodBlessKenya🇰🇪.
@FerdyOmondi Totally. There should be a specific legal timeline for journalists intending to vie in a general election to resign similar to public officers. The deadline should then be incorporated into IEBC and ORPP timelines...
Note to Linda Mwananchi.
Keep internal issues about parties and positions away from voters and instead continue focussing on Mwananchi issues. Recently the talk has been about unity/disunity, which party/coalition or who's the party leader/presidential candidate. These are matters that should be organised silently behind closed doors otherwise it's a slippery road ahead.
Monday thoughts.
#GodBlessKenya🇰🇪
Voter contact: Note to opposition.
The opposition has a host of leaders (what they call principals) but even with their numbers, we rarely see any serious & consistent weekly grassroot engagement with people like Wamalwa, Karua, Kalonzo, JB Muturi & others.
In every election voters largely fall within two categories.
A. Supporters AND Persuadable voters.
B. Undecided Voters AND Opponent's supporters.
323 days to the general election, a serious candidate/team should be speaking daily to Category A while targeting undecided voters.
For instance Pres. Ruto's recent one week development campaign in Rift Valley and Luo Nyanza counties was targeting Category A voters. Before that he was in the Maa region counties also targeting Category A.
Now back to opposition, If the (almost 10) opposition principals had 2 or 3 serious engagements with voters every week (not in press conferences) and having grassroot party engagements and elections from the ward level, then they could have superior voter contact (with category A) which is lacking at the moment.
Last week only Ndindi Nyoro made serious engagements by visiting Kajiado, Isiolo, Kasarani in Nairobi and Kinangop in Nyandarua.
The opposition needs to have consistent weekly grassroot engagements directed towards Category A voters.
As they improve on this they surely must revisit their identity. Voters keep asking whether they are Azimio, Opposition, United Opposition, Alternative Government or United Alternative Government. They are fermenting confusion with their disintegrated posture. The fact they also think the (2022) Azimio could mean anything 11 months to the 2027 general election still buffles me.
Without dealing with these two fundamental issues and seeing the kind of organisation, party engagements and grassroot mobilisation their chief opponent is having, I foresee trouble for them. Real trouble.
Monday thoughts.