Multi-party democracy: Is the spirit of the patriots of yesteryear dead?

Political party democracy can be very elusive. I grew up in the 1970s when Kanu, the only political party in Kenya was averse to internal dissent of whatever shade. The only party in the country demonised, stigmatised and outlawed dissenting party voices.

It was a tragic political era. Have we gone back where the only opinion in the political party is that of the party chief? In his heyday, former President Moi instructed the political class to toe the line or quit. “Fuata Nyayo,” was the credo. Have those who fought the politics of “Fuata Nyayo,” become “Fuata Nyayo” overlords, in the fullness of time? Is Kenya “going back to the future”? And yet why now, when there is no good cause to “Fuata Nyayo”?