Politics of Endorsements.
There is an argument gaining traction among a section of ODM supporters that somehow it is wrong to be endorsed.
No it is not. In our basket of rights and freedoms from where we pick freedom of movement and the right to privacy there is also freedom of association and thought.
Political Endorsement is simply offering a set of reasons why one is supporting the candidature or cause of another based on whatever reasons, or excuses, or shared experiences, or shared trials and tribulations, or shared interests, or even merely opportunistic posturing for a future benefit in kind, cash or otherwise.
Political endorsements are common in western democracies from where we borrow ~ and heavily so ~ our constitutional patchwork.
The ODM constitution has not criminalized political endorsement, so is the Kenyan constitution and so is common sense. This is simply because the right to have an opinion is so basic that if you don’t understand its rubrics then you don’t deserve to be called a civic being. Ifuwo ka…. but I digress.
As to who attends your endorsement and as to who endorses you depends on whom you invited. These things are common sense stuff.
There is another element to this anti-endorsement dishwater that to me reeks of dishonesty and hypocrisy. And let me use an example here: That somehow, if you go to Migori and list all the development achievement of the incumbent governor, and in the end endorse him for re-election, then that’s alright BUT if you don’t, or think those achievements are merely hot-air and the governor doesn’t deserve re-election, and you endorse his opponent, then that’s disrespect!
So, on what pedestal are we campaigning against the re-election of President Uhuru?
Incumbent Luo politicians, particularly some of the current governors, have cheapened Luo politics that many Luo professionals no longer follow Luo politics. It has never been his cheap.
Invite whoever you want to endorse you. Endorse whoever you want. Let’s stop uncharacteristically petty politics.
Picture this:>>
Junet Mohamed was yesterday having a private bid launch for his re-election campaign and invited his friends. John Mbadi has visited Migori more than 5times endorsing Obado at the invitation of the Migori Governor. Obado himself everyday endorses Junet opponent called John Pesa. All these times Junet gave him his space.
So, did people expect Junet to invite Obado to his launch rally after Obado “endorsed” his opponent?
Be it as it may, Is Junet vying against Obado? Junet is vying for Suna East MP and Obado for Migori governor; what problem does Obado have when Junet’s friends endorses him for MP that make him to hire goons to disrupt Junet meetings and to the extent of vandalizing and burning the ODM office ?
You can’t stop an idea whose time has come!
#Wapimou
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