Re: ODM Nomination Fiasco

Jonathan Choti wrote:

Andrew & Michoma:

What our main political parties (especially ODM)are doing is denying Kenyans their constitutional and birth rights to elect leaders of their choice. In the first place, the just concluded primaries were a complete fiasco: a mockery of democracy! It makes me almost feel sorry for being a Kenyan! I don't know very well how other constitutuencies in the greater Gusii fared on, but in Bobasi where I come from, the nominations were a mere a sham, to say the least. Nominations never took place, but 'winners' were handed certificates of nomination!

As if that was not enough, our main parties have resorted to shuffling winners with loser as if they are playing cards. This is in complete disregard of people's decisions! It amounts to arrogance of the highest order. I don't know whether it is because I had a lot of faith in ODM, but I think ODM is the leading culprit in this mess. I won't be surprised if the political wave the ODM has been enjoyed started to lose strength and eventually dissipate altogether. It's so bad, in fact immoral, for ODM to collect kshs. 120,000 from MP aspirants and then end up with some candidates' names missing on the ballot papers, winners being replaced with losers, people who never participated in primaries being given nomination certificates, and direct nominations given arbitrarily. The electorate feel cheeted and wasted!

But we should not lose hope; Decemeber 27 will be a golden opportunity for Kenyans to revenge on these wayward parties and party leaders. I urge true Kenyans to sensitize other Kenyans on the power of the secret ballot. For those whose voice has gone unheard, Dec 27 is a second chance!

And for the old politicians still stubbornly clinging onto leadership, that should not worry us. If our people feel that one is too old to continue holding office, the choice is at the ballot box. Let us educate our people on that, too. But rememeber, we can NEVER do away with all oldies at the same time; we need continuity! Some oldies are still useful, just as our own aged dads are in our homes!

Jonathan Choti

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Jonathan Nyabuto Choti
PhD student & Teaching Assistant
Deparment of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic,
Asian, & African Languages
Michigan State University
Wells Hall A-538
East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Phone:(517)- 355-2769 (Home)
(517)-884-1773 (Office)