Of by-elections and scientific surveys in party nominations

NAIROBI: I hear the opposition party Cord is conducting nominations for the forthcoming Kajiado Central parliamentary seat. From the Homa Bay experience, I expect the coalition will conduct in Kajiado what its secretariat calls a "scientific survey," whose unpublished findings might lead to the selection of the outgoing MP's relative picked as potential successor.

This is normally done through a direct nomination since party members are unlikely to participate in the said scientific survey.

But this is not a Cord thing; Jubilee went a notch higher, as they did in Gatundu South when a by-election was called off after all candidates pulled out, leaving Moses Kuria, quite literally, the last man standing.

The widow of the former area MP had attempted to seek TNA nomination before she changed her mind, as did another contestant. I have no idea what they saw in Kuria that scared them off.

It is easy to speculate why; judging from Kuria's unkind words for a female legislator that he encountered during that memorable day MPs fought in Parliament, I would be afraid engaging with the man.

For those who may have forgotten, when MPs brought the house down, quite literally, Kuria and Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo, who admits to being "fearfully and wonderfully made," an assertion I find both appealing and accurate, are reported to have had an altercation during which Millie was undressed.

Kuria has denied any wrongdoing and insisted Millie did a striptease, although the motivation for her action was not explained.

So much for MPs who ride on the crest of by-elections and party scientific surveys!