Small parties are threatening to pose major upsets for the big outfits in what could complicate hopes of presidential aspirants to secure numerical advantage for elective seats in the August battle.
Aspirants are engaging in all manner of schemes to outshine their rivals including instigating violence and intimidation to get the party ticket by April 30.
Biased party primaries may produce candidates who aren’t qualified to rule and/or don’t reflect the majority of Kenyans’ interests ushering in chaotic, inept and unskilled leadership.
In their second coastal tour, the Raila Odinga-led Azimio La Umoja brigade thronged Tononoka Grounds where a supremacy war took centre stage between two frontline Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) aspirants for Mombasa governorship, Abdulswamad Nassir and Suleiman Shahbal.
“When two bulls clash it’s the grass that suffers the heaviest. We don’t want to see our grass suffer. The nominations will be handled in a friendly way. There is no need for war. There is no need for youth coming with sticks in a rally. These are not enemies, they are just competitors,” Raila declared.
Earlier, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna warned to penalize aspirants who disrupted rallies by withholding them a party ticket following nominations and advising them to ‘behave.’
The ODM leader restated his mission to liberate the country’s economy as part of the third liberation while on a mission to secure the near to 2 million vote basket.
Parties have to write to the registrar of their intention to conduct primaries at least 21 days before the date of nominations. This means they have until April 1.
Within seven days, the registrar must provide the party with a certified copy of the register of its members. Parties should ensure that the register is open to all members.
This is intended to avoid confusion about the location and to alleviate last-minute disappointments, such as when a delegate believes his name is on the party list only to be turned away at the polling station.
Parties will also ensure that each aspirant submits the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 self-declaration form. They must fulfil the requirements outlined in the constitution.
Disputes over nominations must be resolved within 30 days. Those who are dissatisfied with the outcome will have until May 22 to seek redress before the IEBC receives the final list of candidates.
The IEBC had opposed these proposals saying parties should be left to have a free hand in determining how the primaries are conducted, in line with their rules.
Party primaries are crucial, according to the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), because they put candidates to the test in terms of their ability to excite voters, campaign effectively within the rules, polish their themes, and demonstrate stamina.
IDEA also warns that if the nomination process is rigged, it could result in imposters, charlatans and masquerades assuming the highest offices, endangering democracy and good governance.
