ODM party elections a charade

ODM is the only political party in Kenya which still pretends to hold party elections.

Other political parties in Kenya long discovered the high cost of subjecting otherwise peaceful, united and happy people to unnecessary political competition.

In ODM, elections are known to be stirred by sycophants masquerading as leaders, whose only aim is to use their perceived closeness to the party leader to edge out competition.

They brand their opponents as moles “bought” by Jubilee.

It is, however, not clear how much Jubilee pays per person and why the rival coalition would want to buy a single voter from Homa Bay or Siaya who probably “lost” in ODM nomination fiasco. Of course such propaganda can only be sold to poor and illiterate voters.

It is sad that ODM mandarins can organise life-disrupting and peace-threatening party elections but do nothing to promote good health, wealth and education.

In the past, ODM top leaders have demonstrated that in the event that they are unable to manipulate the elections to get their choice, they would use any other means to achieve their mission.

In February 2014, ODM top leaders pretended that they wanted to hold free and fair national elections at Kasarani in Nairobi. However, as soon as it was clear that the frontrunners were not the favourites, “men in black” were deployed to violently halt the exercise to enable future hand-picking.

The exercise was later completed in Naivasha. This was possible because in Naivasha, they invited just as many delegates as there were posts to be filled. Not even the ‘men in black” were invited.

Any pretence by ODM to carry out any form of elections of any nature at any level has always ended up in artificial chaos.

Many people risk their lives angling for these party positions which have no remuneration, save for the sentimental value of getting front row seats at funerals.