Today's Headlines
- Two Exhibitions Are On At Ramoma, Nairobi
- Country to Review Tourism Law
- Econet Wireless Finally Rolls Out
- Odinga Warns of Civil Unrest
- Mulee Rules Out Harambee Stars U-Turn
- Taking Up a Women's Agenda
- More Than 6,000 Christian Youth Converge for Prayers
- Catholic Church Outraged By MPs' Refusal to Pay Tax
- Pope Benedict Praying for Release of Abducted Nuns
- Thousands Flee Amid Fears of Border Clashes
- Malaria Rates Plummet Among Children
- Winning Against HIV Stigma Behind Bars
- First Congress of Federation of African Journalists a Historic Milestone, Says IFJ
- Archbishop Lele Urges State to Act as Food Crisis Bites
- Regional Workshop Focus Border Management, Irregular Migration
- Silverbird Acquires Kenya's Nu Metro, Starts Operations in Ghana
- Raila is Evil, Says Minister
- Man Charged With Abduction of Two Catholic Sisters
- UN Censures State On Torture
- Agencies Seek $390 Million to Offset Climate And Food Risks
- UN-Backed Scheme Gives 3,000 Prisoners Clean Water and Sanitation
- Samosa Festival is On in Nairobi
- Heartstrings in Another Comedy
- Govts, Investors Engage RVR in Rail Bid
- Mwangi Replaces Mwebesa At NSE
- Riepa Hosts Business Association
- ICTR Petitions UN for Arrest of Kabuga
- UBA to Invest SH360 Billion in Kenya
- Free Movement of People Too, Not Just Goods and Capital
- Judges Running Out of Money?
The Nation (Nairobi)
September 7, 2008
Editorial Article
Ever since the re-introduction of multi-parties in Kenya, political parties have remained confused, disorderly patchwork of ethnic outfits hastily put together with the sole purpose of winning General Elections and catapulting some tribal chieftain to State House.
In this scheme of things, parties draw their appeal from personalities as opposed to clear and unique ideologies that can capture the imagination and inspirations of the people.
They exist as are long as they serve the political objectives of the wealthy and influential individuals who cobbled them together.
When people are bought together only by their hunger to occupy this or that office, you get a gathering of people who do not believe in anything leave alone the parties whose colours and flags they fly.
This explains party hoping any time things are not working out that well for members with specific political goals.
Without any recognisable structure and instruments, the parties are owned and run on whimsical sensibilities of the personalities who bankroll them and hence internal democracy is visible by its scarcity.
For parties to thrive and survive the turbulence of our often tempestuous politics they need to be founded on strong ideals that people can believe in.
When people believe in a party, life long loyalty is ensured. In the more developed democracies, where strong parties survive on firm ideological foundations, leaders don't switch parties even when they lose nominations.
They remain strong defenders and pillars of their respective parties because they believe in them and their ability to ensure just and progressive societies.
This in turn inspires confidence among membership and the existence of a democratic society is guaranteed.


