Competition among political parties based on manifestoes is a healthy development.
Past elections have seen parties use ‘primitive energy’ with devastating results. The 2007 General Election witnessed an explosion of negative energies leaving death and destruction of property in its wake. Will the country do things differently this time?
Reports appearing in the media that there is an emerging fierce contest of policies between Orange Democratic Movement and United Democratic Forum is a welcome development. This should bring on board all other parties.
Kenyans would want to know which of the parties has more creative and pragmatic policies for fixing what is ailing the country. Kenya has the brains and natural resources to join the league of newly industrialised nations.
Personality attacks which characterised previous polls have made ours a delicate democracy. Character assassination only serves to drive a wedge between the citizens. It takes the nation away from real issues that count in national building. That should not be allowed to happen in the new era of democracy and responsible leadership.
Our new Constitution has set the bar a bit too high for those seeking high political office. They are required to conduct themselves with high decorum not to embarrass the public. We, starting with our leaders, must start living the values of the Constitution.
Burden to masses
Public expectation can only be comparable to the 2002 period when the voters ousted the despotic Kanu regime. Prudent management of State affairs became a norm and not an exception.
Attention shifted from governors to the governed. Leaders were supposed to serve the people of Kenya unlike the old epoch which promoted lords. Government was a burden to the masses that had to feed it.
Progressively, the ordinary folk have taken the centre stage in governance matters. How do the aspirants plan to implement essential reforms?
Attempts by MPs to arbitrarily amend the supreme law of the land to suit personal interest is a wake up call to the aspirants. Wananchi are watching to see who is for the greater national good. Whose party will stand for reforms?
Economy is the next big thing the parties will wage war on. A party with sound policies aimed at growing the fragile economy stands the best chance of winning the forthcoming elections. All the ills affecting the country are linked to a non-performing economy.
Unemployment rates are very high making the jobless youth fodder for crime and violence acts. Al Shabaab menace and armed robberies all point to a worrying trend of economic impoverishment. Which party is ready with a workable strategy to fix the economy?
