Opposition leaders using chaos to hide their woes

Does CORD really want the best for this country? It’s hard to believe so given their penchant for violence, looting and lawlessness. The macabre scenes witnessed last Monday are scarcely the hallmarks of a political party looking to take over the reins of power.

It’s clear that the coalition is fomenting confusion and chaos to divert attention from the litany of storms buffeting from within. That there is a simmering discord in CORD is no longer a secret. Even among the co-principals, and despite strident protestation otherwise, suspicion runs deep.

You remember ODM leader Raila Odinga skipped Moses Wetang'ula’s supposed inauguration of his race for CORD’s presidential ticket. In what was really a slap in the face of his close ally, Raila never appeared anywhere near Wetang'ula’s event which was marred by chaos and confusion. He was not even courteous enough to tender an apology. Wetang'ula was visibly miffed by Raila’s inexplicable absence.

The co-principals rushed to patch up the glaring differences with a hurriedly convened meeting and a subsequent press conference. Although they put on a brave face, having somewhat managed to douse the flames of divisions before it consumed the façade of unity that has been tenuously holding the opposition coalition together, the damage had already been done; the Rubicon had been crossed and there was no turning back.

You do not have to be an expert in reading the body language to know that despite all the coordinated and unified noise about IEBC and other endless catalogue of gripes, there is something amiss among CORD leaders. They look like a discordant choir in which each member is singing out of tune. This is a house unraveling at all its seams and this dire situation is not helped by the fact that they really have no substantive issues to sell to Kenyans. Without a clear roadmap out of its current malaise, CORD is left with limited options but to employ all manner of diversionary ruses.

For instance, just when Wetang'ula was on the verge of bursting with anger over Raila’s snub, CORD chose to hastily come up with a misguided and pedestrian critique on President Kenyatta’s State of the Union Address. They never came up with a persuasive argument to counter the president’s speech that cogently spelt out the government’s solid achievements because they were being merely driven by desperation and desire to fool Kenyans that all was well within their ranks.

CORD’s woes do not end there. There is the inconclusive issue of the 2013 pre-election pact between Raila and Kalonzo. Apparently as per the terms of that MoU, Kalonzo ought to be the coalition flag-bearer in 2017 and indeed he is under immense pressure from his backyard to push for the consummation of that deal. However, even kindergarten children know that the possibility of that happening is as good as zero. This is partly the reason nerves are getting frayed

So long as Raila is active politically, no one else will be the coalition’s torchbearer. The cavalier manner with which he dismissed Wetang'ula’s ambitions by not attending his function is a proof that he does not take his co-principals seriously.

If in the most improbable chance that Wetang'ula and Kalonzo are not merely posturing and are indeed serious that they want to challenge Raila for CORD’s ticket, the alliance will spectacularly explode into smithereens. Such is how fragile the situation is.

Apparently Wetang'ula seems to be pushing for the presidential ticket, which he knows he will not get, so that he lands the running mate slot. This presents another complicated scenario for the coalition as this will shut the door on Kalonzo who thinks that the second slot in CORD’s pecking order is his birthright. And if indeed ‘Weta’ manages to yank the slot from him, the former VP will have no choice but to scout for another political home.

The desperation within CORD is heightened by the fact that it is bound to lose the next general election by a bigger margin than it did in 2013. Perhaps these grim prospects would have been ameliorated had Raila taken time to organise his troops and persuade his co-principals into shelving their presidential dreams if at all they are serious contenders for the alliance ticket. Then they can vigorously sell their policies to the electorate if ever they have any. Instead he is squandering valuable time dividing Kenyans along ethnic lines, sowing seeds of animosity, and undermining the constitution by storming the Independence Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Elections are neither won through chaos nor on the basis of frivolous grievances but by providing a roadmap for Kenyans to improve their living standards. Elections are not won by solely dwelling on alleged failures of the government of the day, but by demonstrating that you have alternative policies that will transform social-economic conditions of Kenyans.