Taming party hoppers a win for democratic political hygiene

The vote by parliament to tame party hopping after nominations was one of those rear moments that the collective conscience of our political class proves that indeed there is hope for our country to consistently make bold steps towards a hygienic free and fair political dispensation. Democracy can only thrive if the political playing field has fair-play laws, rules and regulations.  As captured in the preamble of our constitution; “recognizing the aspirations of all Kenyans for a government based on the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy, social justice and the rule of law”, it is prudent to reinforce our electoral process because it is the conveyer belt through which as a people we delegate our sovereignty to representatives and the executive both at the county and national level.

One of the qualities of a good leader is being able to stand for certain values and principles and being guided by a strong character and conviction before seeking to lead others. A leader who jumps from one party to the next right after losing nominations would continue with the same inconsistency and lack of ideological standpoint even if elected. This has contributed to the low quality of debate and lack of people-centered representation. It is the same reason why corruption flourishes at the detriment of development and the moral fabric of our beloved nation.