Jubilee merger: An irony of unity

The Jubilee Merger became a reality yesterday after months of haggling and false starts some 12 parties affiliated to the Jubilee Coalition agreed to formally collapse into one big family. In what the President and his Deputy said was a symbol of unity and an act of political inclusion.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said all he wants is, all Kenyans to feel included in the Government. I fail to understand how a merging of political parties into a big family is supposed to unite a nation. You do not unite a country by forming big political parties. A country can only be united by sound policies which promote equality and equity. In fact this sounds as a threat to many citizens who view it as an old and redundant tactic to claw back on the Constitution of Kenya in Article 4(2) which is unmistakable that Kenya is a Multi-Party democracy state. It is similar to calling all the parties in Kenya to join under an umbrella party with a scapegoat of unity as the agenda.

This merging of parties seems to be based on individualism which seems to dominate our politics rather than ideologies as the Jubilee Principals purport. Several factors inform the present merging but core among them is self-preservation. The self-preservation will lead to leadership by a rod. A rod that President Uhuru will pass to Deputy President Ruto then Mr.Ruto will look around for someone to pass it on. Someone who will return the favor and the crazy circle of power will continue. That leads me right back to the purported unity. Where is unity in party where position 1 and 2 are already appropriated until a date expiry of 2032? This shows that the political parties that chose to fall into the umbrella party are so unambitious and willing to dance to some irrelevant tune for 16 years.

Another fact is that merging of political parties is not a sign that the ruling party in power is gaining momentum. It is also a sign that it is getting desperate and worried. How good will a party that is desperate unite a nation that has fallen into a dark pit of hopelessness? Buying defections, sponsoring rebellion and promising development to parties that merge with it is a sign of desperation in a ruling party.

The message is clear and concise. Jubilee Party should work in bringing good policies and raising its standards with less than 364 days to the next General Elections. A big umbrella party will not help it unite the nation if its policies and standards are already dividing the people. Kenyans want a united nation not a united party with bogus policies. Change begins now.