The recent suspension of ODM leaders who visited Deputy President’s home and the recent formation of “war council” by ODM board is a clear demonstration of Kenya’s political immaturity.
Indeed, retrogressive politics seems to be taking shape in Kenya ahead of next year’s general election. The suspension comes amidst claims that ODM board has formed a “war council” meant to “open fire and return fire, because Jubilee has declared war on us”. These heinous and retrogressive decisions are supported by ODM leaders as noble ideas to revitalizing the structures within the political parties so that they can win this battle in 2017. This is a clear confirmation of Kenya’s political immaturity. Seems like we are still in our toddler stage very far from adulthood!
This move by ODM board is ill-advised because in Africa, our culture does not prohibit visiting leaders or children visiting their father. As a matter of fact, Ruto is not just an ordinary man; Ruto is our chosen second in command after President Uhuru Kenyatta.
By virtue of his position, he commands respect and honor not only from a small fraction of Kenyans but ALL Kenyans at large. ODM is therefore demonstrating its incompetency and ignorance to this African cultural act. Worse still, the criticism comes at a time when Kenya is preparing its national election in 2017. True to their calling, the delegation from Abagusii region visiting Deputy President Ruto’s Sugoi home last week should be seen as a gesture of maturity in politics but ODM slamming this act is more of political immaturity and incompetence.
It’s saddening to see Committee's Interim Secretary and Youth League leader Eric Janganya saying that the Deputy Governor had flouted the Constitution of Kenya, the Political Parties Act, 2011 and the ODM party constitution by associating with rival Jubilee Party. Reading this, one therefore sees a lot of immaturity and ignorance on the said reasons.
It’s even ridiculous for ODM officials to believe that their visit to Ruto’s home was a plot by Maangi and his accomplices to gain materially from the Jubilee coalition while lying to them that they can deliver the Gusii vote in the forthcoming general election and an attempt to undermine the gains made by devolution and the 2010 constitution. This to me is politics of fear and intimidation meant to deter Kenyans from associating with progressive politics.
Kenyan politicians must demonstrate maturity and professionalism in matters politics. This is the only way to make Kenya a cohesive country.
Dr. Njenga, Solomon
Chair – Governance, Peace and Security Studies
Africa Nazarene University, Kenya
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