The only Victory that counts is the Presidency.

Opposition supporters need to understand that in this election the only victory that counts is the Presidency. During Kibaki's administration, the Opposition were the majority in parliament but still no much progress was made. Moreover most of them switched allegiances – moved to the government’s side. The current opposition leader then was a none other than Raila Odinga.

Out of 47 counties, 24 have been controlled by NASA affiliated governors, yet people are still suffering due to frustrated devolution. Functions have been devolved without releasing adequate funds for proper service delivery. A good example is the on-going crisis in the health sector.

Meaningful political, social and economic progress can only be made if all state agencies are properly controlled. It’s therefore important for all opposition leaders and supporters to focus their strengths on what matters. They shouldn't waste efforts fighting independent candidates in their strongholds. Of course people will argue that presence of independent candidates will lead to splitting of votes and victory for the opponents. The only place where that argument holds water is Nairobi and Bungoma otherwise, for the rest of the country there is nothing to fear.

Every voter that an independent candidate mobilises will automatically vote for the presidential candidate. Don’t expect somebody close to an independent candidate e.g a relative or a sponsor not to vote for the candidate. If you continue intimidating them you may as well just forget their vote and that of their sphere of influence for the presidency. Kindly remember that even if an independent candidate is elected in an Opposition stronghold, with time they will fall in line with the aspirations of the dominant party in the area.

Nevertheless! Depending on the bill at floor of the house, history has shown us that a Member of Parliament can switch sides. In the recent past the Opposition has had control of both Parliament under Kenneth Marende and the County governments through its governors. They have had all that yet the country is still in an unfortunate position. It’s therefore very important that they now win the ultimate prize this time round. Anything short of the presidency is equal to total failure.

In 2013 the voter turnout in Western and Coast were both below 60%, these areas must be mobilised to the last man. The more people you have on the ground mobilising voters, the higher the turnout will be whether they belong to parties or independents. Close scrutiny of the campaigns in the Opposition strongholds reveals that most of those who won tickets of dominant parties in their respective areas are sitting pretty in their houses cutting deals while waiting to be sworn in after the elections. Most of them are not engaged in any grass-root mobilisation activities. Those seen running around crisscrossing the counties are independents and candidates ftom less dominant parties. Without constant grass root mobilisation, the voters may sit back and assume that the battle is already won. It’s self-defeating for the presidential candidates to go around their strong-holds holding-up local candidates hands yet those leaders only appear when they know he is coming to town.

The Opposition leaders at all levels must now put their differences and party affiliations aside and focus on the ultimate goal i.e. the Presidency.