As 2017 poll line-up takes shape, we must avoid pitfalls

By the time you read this, billions of eyes – from the sin city of Las Vegas to a dusty town called Ingolomosio in Kakamega County – will be itching to watch tomorrow’s ‘boxing duel of the century’ between Manny Pacquiao and the seemingly self-absorbed Floyd Mayweather Jr. The news filtering in this past week has been that the world has descended on Las Vegas, mostly in spirit. I’m told there are hordes who, unable or unwilling to pay the prohibitive ticket price to watch the bout live, have flown into Vegas and booked every inch of hotel and strip-joint space to watch the epic duel in the heart of high-end casinos and playboy lifestyles.

The already cash-soaked city is attracting dollars like a magnet. I’ll expect Mayweather to waste the man from the Philippines in an unforgettable fashion, that is unless the bravura he (Mayweather) has been strutting goes to his head. I’ll also hope for a fair, may-the-best man win kind of bout. No biting of ears as happened in June 1997 when Mike Tyson, who is backing Pacquiao, deployed his teeth on one of Hollander Holyfield’s hearing organs. And as the drums of boxing roll on in Vegas, another duel is shaping up locally. The Opposition launched the Okoa Kenya initiative, to rally the country behind its referendum which, among other things, seeks more funds for the counties.

I have heard the speculation that, just like the 2005 referendum led to formation of the Orange Democratic Movement, the Okoa Kenya initiative, should it win the current one, could morph into another Opposition power machine for 2017. Given that the 2005 referendum whipped up massive euphoria ahead of the 2007 General Election, those in the Opposition must be rubbing their hands together. To give impetus to this crucial bid for power, the Opposition must have been massively energised by recent results from Nigeria, where Jonathan Goodluck was trounced by Opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari.

Not to be outdone, the ruling coalition has been working extra-hard to strengthen the Jubilee Alliance Party, the vehicle President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto are expected to use to gun for a second term. The latest front in the bid to counter the Opposition’s referendum initiative, analysts say, is recent appointment of 302 Kenyans – including dyed-in-the-wool politicians – to parastatal boards.

The Opposition and Jubilee seem to have borrowed from 2005, albeit from different sides. After the 2005 referendum, the Narc government, which had started listing after Kibaki allegedly trashed a pre-election MoU with the Liberal Democratic Party, was sinking. There was pressure even to call fresh elections, with the Orange side arguing that a No vote on a draft constitution fronted by the government was essentially a vote of no confidence in the government.

So Kibaki bucked the system and appointed to the Cabinet and to other top offices from across the political divide, in a move that had striking similarities with what Uhuru did this week. By appointing even Raila’s sister to a parastatal board, Jubilee was seen to be massing its troops ahead of 2017. So as the two sides prepare for 2017, which is not far in a country always in an election mood, here is what we must avoid.

First off, we must avoid framing our politics in negative ethnicity terms. We must also avoid tinkering with the process. Thirdly, we must eliminate potential causes of contention, including ensuring both sides are convinced about the independence of whatever team will be at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. I believe we can have a healthy debate on the merits and demerits of Uhuru’s recent appointments and Raila’s referendum drive without necessarily trading insults and dividing the country.

Granted, there will be a propaganda war, but we must avoid inflaming passions and remember that CORD and Jubilee will come and go, but we have the duty of handing over this country to the next generations as a better place than we found it. So as we hope no one bites the other in Vegas tomorrow, we also expect the political duel to take place above the navel.