Raila must not demonise independent candidates

One of the most celebrated aspects of the Constitution of Kenya is the deepening of the democratic process and the Bill of Rights. This provides for the eligibility to vie as an independent candidate.

Today, every Tom, Dick and window-licking Harry knows that shambolic party elections largely contributed to the explosion of Independent candidates. Party primaries as recently demonstrated, are a critical ingredient in democratic consolidation and as such should not only be free and fair, but must be seen to be so. And whereas I agree with the over 3,800 Independent candidates that they have a right to contest and have the people determine their fate come August 8, 2017, I refuse to believe that all of them were rigged out — but that is a story for another day.