By Stephen Makabila
Three ministers and three assistant ministers have been sacked over the last four years for what could be linked to âdissenting voicesâ within their political parties.
While former ministers William Ruto, Hellen Sambili and assistant ministers Aden Duale, Mohamud Mohamed and Jackson Kiptanui were dismissed last year for defying ODM leadership, Monday dismissal of Mvita MP Najib Balala as Tourism minister raises the question of how best parties should handle dissent.
For Balala, who was a minister allied to ODM, declared his party is dictatorial, adding a rider that he was out scouting for his next political nest.
"You can say you are seeking an alternative party without necessarily hitting at your party leader. If you hit, then you may be shown the door and that is what happened to Balala," says political analyst and Kenya School of Law lecturer Martin Oloo.
Mature politics
He says there is need for politicians to exercise politics based on issues and commitment.
While announcing he was to quit ODM, Balala had urged party deputy leader Musalia Mudavadi, who is challenging party leader Raila Odinga for the presidential nomination, not to waste more time there.
"I urge my friend Mudavadi to stop wasting time in ODM. If he does not have a plan B, I am ready to show him one," Balala said.
Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale claims Raila sacked Balala to instill fear in Mudavadi, who is challenging him for the ODM presidential ticket.
"The Balala sacking was to simply warn Mudavadi that he can also be dismissed if he does not remain loyal," added Khalwale.
Oloo says if the countryâs politics graduates to being ideological and issue oriented, the question of loyalty would not arise.
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