The Confusion in Political Parties a Tip of the Iceberg

The rush is now on for political parties to beat the April 30th registration deadline. Failure to beat the deadline will lead to automatic de-registration and this is causing sleepless nights for many a politician. The reality of the new constitution and consequently the laws that have been passed to make the constitution operational have caught many political parties napping. The confusion in the "baba na mama" (KANU) party is a case in point.

This confusion is replicated in all other political parties - both old and new. PNU and KANU both regard Uhuru Kenya as their flag bearer in the next general election. The G7 alliance has at least three front runners - Uhuru, Ruto and Kalonzo. Although the ICC trials are now a reality for both Uhuru and Ruto, they have maintained that they will be on the ballot paper come what may.

The curtain falls on the battle for supremacy in ODM as Musalia Mudavadi goes window shopping for another vehicle to state house. The rush by ODM officials to file their constitution with the registrar of political parties before making amendments to accommodate Mudavadi's views that the ODM party leader should not be the de facto flag bearer was the last straw on the camel's back.

And the confusion continues.

The flower party - NARC Kenya , got its act right with the registrar of political parties but months after Martha Karua declared her intention to become the next tenant at State House, the search for a running mate is still on. So delicate is the running mate issue that no single presidential candidate to-date has named their running mate. From Mutava Musyimi to Ole Kiyapi, Raphael Tuju to Hellon, PK to RAO. It has become like  a game of chase.

As the clock ticks towards the yet to be confirmed election date, the confusion can only get worse since what we are seeing now is a tip of the iceberg.

The Hardwork now starts for CJ and Team

The swearing in of the CJ and his deputy this week ushered in a new dispenastion in the Judiciary. A dispenastion where institutions and not individuals would determine the direction this country would go. 

The new consitution gives kenyans more hope than the 2002 elections when Mr Moi's 24 year misrule was thrown into the dustbin of history. This hope is one that CJ Mutunga should not and must not let down. The case of the composition of the Supreme court judges now before the CJ is a litmus test that will either make Kenyans trust their new CJ or loose hope of any meaninful judicial reform. So the hardwork now begins.

Proposed New Constitution

The AG Hon. Amos Wako has finally published the proposed new constitution. This means the door to any amendments before the referendum is firmly shut. What remains now is for the 10 millions plus registered voters to determine whether 40 millions kenyans will get a new constitution or not.

Although Kenyans today are more informed than any other generation that existed before, thanks to Hon. Mutai Kagwe and PS Bitange Ndemo who have contributed greatly to the growth of ICT in Kenya, it is disappointing that only 10 m kenyans created time to register as voters. Yes the IIEC has hit its target but why should a quarter of a population determine the future of the rest of the population.

Well, if you never registered you have more two days to go.

By publishing the proposed new constitution (its no longer a draft), the AG has officially handed the button to the CoE to embark on civic education for 30 days. One can only hope that the civic education will help kenyans to make an informed decision on the referendum day rather convincing kenyans that all hope for a new constitution is lost if they dont accept the baby that the CoE has midwifed.

A consitution is full of legal jargon, a comma to the man on the street means nothing except pause and take a breath but to a lawyer it can mean anything that his client wishes it to be. It is time for the CoE to candidly and objectively demistify the commas and the full stops in the proposed constitution. Are they equal to the task? Time will tell.

Harmonised Draft Constitution download

The Harmonized draft Constitution was launched this morning. Access it at the CoE website

Lets debate it and make sure we get the best document for us and for Posterity

Martha Karua has resigned...So what is the big deal

So after several months of complaining and undermining the appointing authority, Martha Karua has finally resigned from Costtitutional affairs ministry...followed closely by her right hand man Hon Munagatana...so what is the big deal. How cares what the lady from the flower party is up to?

My hypothesis is that everyone cares. From her cabinet colleagues to the person on the street. Martha Karua stands taller than most of her peers. Her daring walkout from the cabinet epitomises her undying zeal to see true reforms in the country. A few years back when KANU was baba na mama (father and mother), Karua walked out of former President Moi's function when KANU hawks made advances on her to decamp to their party. That send a clear message across the political spectrum that this was a lady to watch in the coming days.

So what does Karua's departure mean to the fledging coalition whose leadership, as described by the NCCK, is moribund and ineffective?

Kenya Votes 2012

Fasttrack to December 2012. All the hullabaloo of the Hague, new constitution, coalition politics, Ango leasing is all behind us. And Happily, Kibaki has not manipulated the constitution to run for a third term. Every one is hoping and praying that what happened after 2007 election will remained dead and buried in the sea of forgetfulness with a big sign post "NO FISHING".

Now flashback to the old good days when Harambee stars, Gor Mahia and AFC leopards were the continents powerhouses in soccer. Then I remember one Peter Kenneth, the sitting member for Gatanga constituency. This is the guy who was in-charge of KFF then and he put Kenya in World map. In just 5 years he has made Gatanga constituency a model constituency. Could be the guy to put Kenya on the world map? Just thinking loudly.

This guy shares a few traits with Obama... just check him out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kenneth