Why ODM…..
Citizens
Democracy requires responsible citizens who can make sound decisions about their future, and can act on these decisions. ODM supporters have shown through the years that they are ready to make sound and critical decisions that have propelled our country forward.
Communities
Democracy requires a community, or a society of citizens, that can work together. In ODM, we have proven that though separated by language, culture and geography, communities in Kenya can come together and work together to overcome the worst dictatorships. By community we don’t mean the colonial construct known as “tribes” but people, regardless of ethnic extractions, who identify with the national challenges of the day and join in others to agitate for solutions.
Institutions
Democracy requires institutions with public legitimacy that contribute to strengthening society. But while this is so, ODM has been mindful to not substitute public knowledge for expert knowledge, whose final result always weakens self-determination. ODM believes the people are sovereign not just on paper but by deeds; that’s why our legacy is that of a people driven constitutional dispensation. In ODM, we’ve continually called for strengthening of the following institutions:
National Assembly and Senate: Must be autonomous to check and prevent dictatorial tendencies, abuse of power, looting of the treasury, excesses of the executive or the presidency. Stronger national and county assemblies make stronger laws which protect and empower the weakest of the society.
The Media: Must be independent; informing, educating, fact-checking and exposing wrongdoing without any bias.
IEBC: The electoral commission must be independent to give whatever government formed public legitimacy by ensuring free, fair, credible and verifiable elections whose results truly reflect the desire and will of the people.
The Judiciary: Must be independent to uphold and enforce the rule of law and constitutionalism.
The Central Bank: Must be independent of the executive and the presidency to ensure no printing of money for personal political expediency like happened in the run up to 1992 elections.
The Civil Service: Must be neutral and apolitical to ensure delivery of social services to every citizen without bias or favouritism.
Security Forces: Both the police and the Defence Forces must always be neutral to the political undercurrents of the country. The security forces must always provide security and protect citizens regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion or ideology.
Leave a Reply