The Tenth Parliament has hit another low thanks to the paradox of numbers. The hubris of “we have the numbers”, and “like-mindedness” are consequences of party indiscipline, and incestuous politicking.
MPs have hopped, jumped, and stepped on their electing parties at whim. Now, they want this legalised because those who call the shots have the numbers to get away with such impudence.
Game of numbers
With numbers you can do anything – like adulterating the Constitution for whimsical ends. Like rescuing a paymaster who has lost in the presidential election. You can manipulate MPs to give losing presidential candidates soft landing via nominations. The Constitution reserves nomination slots for minorities and special interest groups. But since those more deserving have no voice, those who have the numbers can always trample on their rights.
With numbers “special interest groups” and “minorities” can mean anything, depending on who is wagging the tail. Presidential election losers can be a ‘minority’ and a ‘special interest’ group. They have the wherewithal to manipulate ‘automated’ voters in Parliament. They can ‘programme’ most MPs – including your MP – to do their bidding. Some of them may not have been physically present in Parliament last Wednesday night and Thursday morning to impose the controversial amendments. But it was clear to right thinking observers who was paying the piper.
Gachoka MP and Democratic Party presidential aspirant captured the opportunism of the moment. He was saying a little sin during bad times could be excused. He was giving a circumstantial justification for sin. Coming from a minister of the Baptist Church, the alibi was hilarious in its selfishness: The Reverend is a hand-on party hopper.
The Reverend Musyimi defended his amendment to shield party hopping MPs from losing their seats during a “delicate transition”. They are ‘reconciling’ the nation by party hopping.
“This nation is in transition and transitions are not easy. We need to give parties the necessary legal framework during this transition to facilitate negotiations that are about the future of the country,” Musyimi sermonised in solemn tone fit for the sacred shrine
“The law was made for man, not man for law. If it is necessary to change the law we should do so without feeling intimidated,” he added.
Well, during famine a hungry person can get away with theft, even though the Ten Commandments admonishes, “Thou shall not steal.”
The interest of those wagging the tails is self-preservation. They say 80 per cent of the Constitution is good. Now, they are defiling the 20 per cent, which is in the public interest, like party discipline, and bringing integrity to leadership and the presidency.
With numbers you can also control the democratic game that comes with opportunistic like-mindedness. The House is wielding its power of legislation selfishly. For now, MPs think you can do nothing about it because they are beholden to a powerful and moneyed minority. This clique has a stake in protecting the status quo. The good news is they have the numbers in Parliament for now, but citizens have the numbers on the ballot day.
Status quo means the rule of impunity without borders. ‘Impunists’ cannot tell the sacred from fair game because they have the numbers, for now, to reclaim the past.
Those who can recall what has been said before will find it easy to know who are calling the shots in the House. The power clique controlling most MPs knows what to do with vulnerable representatives of the people: Just take them to the nearest candy shop and they will sing. They sang volubly when they desecrated the Constitution.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
They had wanted to hop around parties when convenient. They had wanted to step on your aspirations for good governance, expanded democratic space, and party disciple.
Some of MPs who mutilated the Elections Act and Political Parties Act were serving their own interests. They were the immediate beneficiaries of the amendments, which is abuse of power.
At least 100 MPs have defected from parties that elected them to Parliament in the 2007 General Election. They want to continue jumping and stepping on the rule of law, with impunity.
Party hoppers include presidential aspirants, whose hands could be seen in the amendments. Presidential aspirants who have defected from their electing parties were the double beneficiaries of the amendments to the Elections Act. They were cushioning themselves against political oblivion.
Absurd patriotism
Yet President Kibaki’s rejection of some of the amendments was not bold enough. There was rationale for the rejection without the excuse of court cases or apology. Which is why the President’s fleeting convulsion of patriotism is absurd.
The man in State House was hired and sworn-in to defend the Constitution he promulgated on August 27, 2010. That is what we pay him to do. It is equally absurd the President is being praised for doing his job – half-heartedly. He is allowing presidential losers to pinch nominations from the physically impaired, the youth, and women, the El Molo, the Ogiek, and the Njemps. These communities do not have the numbers to elect their own to Parliament or Senate.
No matter what apologists say, this country shall always need all-weather reformers – whoever they are. That is the guarantee you have the fish shall not start rotting from the head. Good cleaners know you start cleaning staircases from the top.
Writer is The Standard’s Managing Editor Quality and Production.
[email protected]
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join