Political alliances or party infidelity?

By STEPHEN MAKABILA

Politics of alliances have in recent years become common whenever the clock ticks towards a general election.

However, the lives of such political marriages of convenience end before they begin.

Since last year, some political alliances have emerged and disappeared just as fast, only to be re-launched in what political observers now term ‘political infidelity’ by politicians exhibiting divided loyalties.

"Political alliances stand on quick sand because their formation is driven by selfish interests," says Constitutional lawyer Harun Ndubi.

He, however, says the era of political alliances is slowly ending following the ushering in of the new Constitution.

"Emerging political alliances ignore fundamental shifts of power from a centralised system to the county governments. The alliances are tribal and based on past political arithmetic that may not work today," he says.

Polycap Onyango, a corporate governance specialist, says alliances with a national outlook should be acceptable but the problem is most of the existing ones are tribal.

Not representative

"There is nothing wrong with forming an alliance in competitive politics. It only becomes an issue if it is not representative," says Onyango.

United States International University lecturer Munene Macharia says most political alliances collapse due to mistrust, suspicion, and raw ambition for power.

Some of the leading politicians also hop from one alliance to another, depending on where they feel their interests can be safeguarded.

"We are likely to see more alliances because each politician is scheming on how not to be caught flat-footed next year. But suspicion and mistrust is the major undoing of these alliances," he says.

Macharia notes that the alliances are not based on principles, and even Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are never respected.

Failure to uphold the MoU signed between the Liberal Democratic Party and the NAK wing of the Narc was to blame for the split of the coalition that forced President Kibaki to form a Government of National Unity allowing him to complete his first term in office.

Some of the MPs in the Tenth Parliament hop from one alliance to another, depending on which one serves their interests better.

Among some of the latest alliances are the PNU whose leading lights are Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi.

There has also been an alliance between Uhuru, Kalonzo and Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

The third alliance revolves around Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa and former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga.

"Our alliance is going to succeed because we are interested in helping young people overcome their socio-economic challenges," says Wamalwa.

Wamalwa and Njenga on Saturday held a rally at the historic Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi where the Saboti MP vowed his presidential ambitions are unstoppable.

Last week, PM Raila Odinga ended his two-day visit in North Eastern Province with a bare-knuckle attack on the so- called ‘"KKK"’ alliance, which Kalonzo and Uhuru had earlier disowned.

Policy ideals

The PM said some of the leaders who were fronting generational change were tribal chauvinists whose track records were questionable.

Raila had claimed those who opposed the new Constitution were regrouping to form tribal alliances and spread propaganda.

"We don’t want tribal politics of ‘"KKK"’ alliance. What we want is leadership pegged on intellectual abilities and policy ideals. That is what ODM is offering," he said.

A section of ODM MPs in Rift Valley allied to Ruto have indicated they would be leaving the party to join UDM, but have been resisting calls by Raila’s allies to bolt out. The MPs have maintained they would move out of the party at their own convenience.

Raila likened those challenging him to mice facing a common enemy in a cat, but no one was ready to face it directly.

Uhuru and Kalonzo have written to the chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Mzalendo Kibunjia, over the "KKK" tag.

"I note with grave concern that the so-called "KKK" has been associated with myself and other leaders. To the best of my understanding, the branding of certain leaders as "KKK" is divisive because it purports to bring together some communities to the exclusion of others. This is against national unity, integration and cohesion," stated Uhuru.

The Finance minister has argued that the "KKK" tag was against the spirit of the new Constitution.

Kalonzo has on his part asked the commission to outlaw the use of the tag "KKK", as it amounts to ‘hate speech’ designed to incite hatred.

Apart from Raila, leaders who have come out to strongly oppose tribal alliances include Tourism Minister Najib Balala.

The Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG) has also distanced itself from emerging tribal alliances. The CPG Vice-Chairman who is also Malindi MP Gideon Mung’aro said the lobby does not support tribal alliances. It said it would only support visionary political leaders with interest of all Kenyans.

The MP said Kenya was on a peace and reconciliation mission and the formation of tribal alliances would undermine the efforts.

Political observers say pre-election alliances and post-election coalitions are here to stay, but their sustainability going by the current scenarios remain to be seen.

"Unless there is change in the way Kenyans relate in political alliances, those that may emerge as we approach next year’s elections may not be sustained," said Moi University law lecturer Titus Bittok.