Party Primaries; A Concerned Citizens View
The key words in my heart remain the rare axis of Politics, Servanthood, Service and Leadership.
Let me make my observations with the Jubilee and ODM primaries first;
1. A politician by nature is someone who has a lot of fight in them. So we expect them to fight before and fight after. They owe this fighting spirit to their voters.
2. It is an election that can only yield one winner. So by deduction there will be losers
3. In losing, there is a general tendency to find someone or something to blame, that’s human. After all you need an excuse to give yo your supporters.
4. For a party like ODM, we have seen resolution structures in place like Disciplinary committees who summon aspirants and party leadership irrespective of their hierarchy (I can’t imagine that happening in any other party like Jubilee or Chap chap ). Again, maybe it’s just because ODM has had a very visible nomination electoral process where we have seen contentious areas being called off as soon as aspirants formally petition the Board as well as Tribunal and they assess the case. That is good for democracy and something other parties may want to implement immediately.
5. Almost all our senior and prominent politicians have lost before, including the president and leader of opposition and that’s okay, it’s part of the process.
There is a question though that has been nagging at my system; why all the battles and fights? What are all these aspirants fighting for? Do you believe in your heart that they are fighting to serve you and improve your life? What’s your sincere honest answer? Therefore why are we joining in the fight? What do you as an individual stand to benefit by fighting with them ? Jibu unalo wewe.
I find it very telling that one who subjects themselves to the election process does not expect to lose. That cannot be Democracy. By implication of the word someone does win and someone loses. I submit to you that when one cannot accept a loss there is a Servanthood and Leadership gap. Personal and selfish interests are rife.
Even so, if there is sufficient reason to appeal, why would some aspirants prefer to make noise instead of following the system in place which they used in the first place? As they do so, they will drag other elected leaders names into their protests, Yet their complains are neither unique nor isolated as anomalies. I am calling that out as a serious character weakness. Take some responsibility and accept some failure that’s the second side of the coin of success.
In Failure whether in business or politics or any aspect in life, wisdom dictates a lot of reflection and introspection. We all can and should do better as parties and aspirants, heck even as voters. Learning is a skill all offering themselves to service should take seriously. When you fail to accept defeat, whether managed or genuine you are failing yourself more than anyone else is failing you. Listen to your peers, listen to your leadership and listen to your voters even if it’s those who voted against you. In their voice there is a school all the money in the world cannot teach you the lessons of. Arrogance in a leader is not admirable whether it’s Justified or not. Bravery is, even in the face of failure.
But the worst kind are the ones who have no loyalty. Loyalty is currency in politics. It does not mean people don’t differ. It’s almost like family differences, you can fight in those drunken family gatherings and spew your heart out but you will never let anyone insult your sister or mother in public. Disloyalty is very expensive and cannot be easily forgiven. Look around you keenly. I, would rather a non intelligent friend than one who can sell me out in a heart beat because we disagree on something. Loyalty is currency and we do not forget.
Kenyan First. I am Loyal.
Leave a Reply