Undoubtedly, the main talking point in Kenya today is not even the general election in March.
There are more immediate concerns starting with nominations to determine just who among the thousands of aspirants lining up would be on the ballot paper.
And therein lies the problem.
Each political party is crisscrossing the country selling their strong points, even as they castigate and belittle those of their would-be opponents.
The new Constitution has made ample provisions for an umbrella electoral and boundaries commission to oversee the March exercise; the Political Parties Act has been enacted into law alongside various other pieces of legislation to ensure an orderly transition to the Eleventh Parliament.
The only elephant in the room is whether the political vehicles themselves will be seedbed of democracy that they were envisaged by leading the way.
Many questions abound. Have any of the parties employed Returning Officers yet for their internal polls? Is their identity a matter of public record or a closely guarded secret of party secretariats?
Have the parties ordered for elections material for the nominations? And where are they stored to prevent unscrupulous operatives making hay before the exercise?
As expected, each political party has over the past few weeks dreaded the coming of Nominations Day. Reason? All the others have been waiting in the wings with vulturine patience to reap spoils from the inevitable falling out and fallout as unsuccessful individuals seek umbrage in rival parties.
Obviously that will now not be the case as the larger outfits have settled for nominations on January 17, just one day to the deadline. That spawns yet another concern.
Extensive editorials
What mechanism is there for those wishing to seek redress? This has to be within party constitutions since the courts, the Registrar of Political Parties and the electoral commission refused to be drawn into what is purely an internal society matter.
In the absence of such facility, or even time to lodge a complaint, will this not be planting the first seeds of disaffection and, perhaps, the makings of a foundation for electoral violence? It is no secret that parties are spending a fortune to keep supporters enthralled, meaning individual candidates who will feel shortchanged or “rigged out” might be tempted to take matters into their own hands.
Officials of two major coalitions have in recent days submitted extensive editorial pieces on their commitment to nurturing democracy, transparency and becoming models for all future similar nomination exercises.
We shall hold them to their word for it is worrying that some youth in various parts of the country are already cashing the bad cheques of election campaign violence.
What guarantee is there that nominations day will be any different?
Politicians must walk their talk now.
