Why Kenya needs an institutionally strong ODM party

Kakamega Governor and county  ODM Chairman Fernandes Barasa leads Delegates in a special sitting ahead of the party leader Oburu Odinga's Sunday visit. (Mumo Munuve, Standard]

There is an emerging consensus that the current leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is not up to the task of managing a diverse national party.

And if this week’s rally in Kibera is anything to go by, the public is not going to cut them much slack for the obvious weaknesses.

They will simply move on to parties or individuals who have their act together. The fundamental problem with ODM is one of temperament.

Forget the question of whether the party should be part of the broad-based government, or if it will endorse President William Ruto for 2027 elections.

Deep down, what is wrong with the party is a constellation of personalities that lack strategic depth; and therefore, cannot think beyond “enjoying power” in the current moment. Which is a big shame, especially for a party that is celebrating 20 years of being a major force in Kenyan politics – a feat that only KANU ever achieved.

What are ODM personalities fighting over? The simple answer is access to spoils of power. And why can’t the leadership figure out how to share the spoils of power? For the simple reason that they lack any interest in the matter or strategic understanding of the utility of having a strong national party to advance their interests.

If the goal is to bargain with President William Ruto ahead of 2027, it is a no brainer that one needs a strong national party with influence in the West, Coast, urban areas, and other pockets throughout the country. A divided party would be “cheaper” to buy, or to completely circumvent.

Indeed, President Ruto’s best strategy might be to simply pitch to ODM voters directly. The current ODM leadership does not see this is a puzzle. All they would then have to do is manage the spoils of such negotiations in good faith to avoid costly defections.

Unfortunately, leading personalities in the party are temperamentally unable to fathom this course of action. They are drunk with the little power and access to resources they enjoy. Little do they know that their bargaining power will evaporate the day after results are announced in 2027, if not sooner.

Beyond the ugly practicalities of coalition building, strong political parties are good for our political development.

Such institutions force elites to compromise on both policy and their personal interests. It also forces plain old adult behaviour. People can disagree without being disagreeable.

And finally, strong parties force all members to have a long-time horizon. The political culture of briefcase parties robs our politicians of the opportunity to telescope both into the past and the future. And reduces them to easily-satiated two-bit rent seekers.

All this to say that the leadership of ODM owe the country adult behaviour. They must not act like spoilt children in the habit of taking the ball from the playground if the second the game does not go their way.

Importantly, they must be wise enough to see the long-term personal and collective benefits of having a strong national party.

-The writer is a professor at Georgetown University