THE FLIP SIDE OF THE STEADMAN PLL BY EDWARD BANSA

All the objective, insightful and strategic ODM operatives should heed and appreciate Edward bansa's critique of the polls last week. You may also remember that the spokesman elusively stated that Steadman never call press conferences to announce the polls and will not continue the act. What prompted the press conference in the first place? The issue in question is Steadman poll's credibility based on the deliberate and lop-sided bias in favor of the current administration in the past. Their management of the referendum polls left a lot to be desired. Steadman as one Hon Maina Kamanda said should be putting them in their rightful place in two weeks following the launch of president kibaki's campaign. I don't want to believe that a popular incumbent president with hitherto runaway polls margin need to plunge 9% suddenly and then wait the official launching of his party to propel him back into the lead. Only two scenarios are practical in analyzing the emerging Steadman flip.

1. That the polls are making a deliberate attempt at hoodwinking the Kenyan electorate while working with the establishment to justify their continued business. I believe the truth will be unfolding very fast enough if anything and Kenyans will continue to consult their ever reliable judgment and continue their resolve. What I'm saying is that Steadman lost the trust of the majority of right thinking Kenyans and will have to work extra hard to win it back .An independent opinion poll company must strive to protect their integrity and reliability. Whether Steadman belongs to this club is not mine to conclude.

2. That Steadman finally came to terms with the reality that the political wind of change is blowing through Kenya and their poll is struggling to be consistent with the reality on the ground. I'm however not sure about the reliability of these polls unless a scientific explanation attributed to kibaki's sudden drop and Raila's rise are convincingly enumerated.

The emerging sociopolitical scenario in Kenya today does not invite the opinion poll of the kind we are discussing to influence its outcome. what is absolute is the steadfastness of the people in their endeavor for change coming late after other modern democracies either ushered in generational changes voted in youthful leadership .For example in the united states, this happened with the accession of the baby boomers to power as represented by the Clinton and Bush administrations and the trend seem to be irreversible. These dynamics holds true in UK as exemplified by the John major, Tony Blair and Gordon Governments and may be replicated for the vast Western Europe, progressive Asian democracies and Japan. In our backyard Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Ruanda have not been left behind either. It therefore follows that the Kenyan youth are not asking too much to desire change at this critical moment in history. It is time to retain focus and stop the culture of impunity and arrogance perpetuated through the vehicle of tribalism, nepotism.

Kenyans deserve an open and accountable democracy complete with independent legislature and judiciary. Currently the contention is that the constitution guarantees the same but every Kenyan need not be reminded of the magnitude of interference by the executive. The change we are yarning for promises sensitivity to the practice of the rule of law , equity and fairness in the distribution of resources. Really the implimtation of the Bomas draft by itself shall be a firm foundation to build from.

The struggle is just beginning .

Ngoje-ogalo Jarongo