The Kenyan Presidential race – Political hullabaloo?

So in the past few months the political scene has been actively overtaken by they who want to be the next Kenyan Head of State. A little ambitious I’d say but hey, it is indeed a constitutional right to vie for any political seat provided you have satisfied the minimum requirements so stipulated by the Constitution. That said, it is no news that ‘presidential aspirants’ have come out in their numbers to publicly declare their interest in the top seat. But this is just not any other presidential race. See, since the Constitution allows for a maximum of two terms, it means that Kenyans will be presented with their fourth president since independence. This is the making of history. Particular individuals therefore believe that this is the time that they can actually try their hand in this race and win it as there will be no incumbent fighting for it. It is what they say, a free for all affair. This brings us to the candidates. Let us be honest. There is no way (and this I say with all due respect that I can muster to these honorable seniors) that Kalonzo can/will not win the presidency. No offence, but I mean, seriously? And he has hopes? And let us not look far for reasons as to why he can’t clinch it. Let us just say history speaks for itself. And word of advice Mr. Kalonzo, next time try and choose a better name for your political party. ‘Wiper’ just doesn’t cut it. Wamalwa is next on line. This one, I don’t even know what to say. First of all, the ministerial docket alone that he now heads is already too big for him – think about it. And let us be honest, my learned seniors Mutula Kilonzo and Martha Karua before him were actually pretty good at that job too. The justice ministry requires thick skin, courage and unlimited knowledge of the law. I believe Wamalwa just happened to be the fall back guy. Raphael Tuju is another one. Speculations arose as to what his intentions really were and some have gone ahead to label him a spoil sport – one who just wants to split the Luo votes so that Raila can not get it all (the Luo votes) (something that does seem to be true anyway – not that I am bothered). Once ousted out of his Parliamentary seat because of going with the ‘wrong party’, he had to go seek refuge with the Party of National Unity and ended up being given a post by Kibaki whose job he now wants to take up. I have nothing against Ole Kiyiapi and I really think it is brave of him to up and declare his presidential ambitions. Having not been a politician before - even though he was working for the government as a PS in the Ministry of Education - it can be anticipated that he might be able to come with fresh untarnished ideas of a normal citizen. Could he be our Obama? Martha Karua, would be perfect save for one thing, she is a woman. Kenyans are not ready for a lady president unfortunately enough. In my list, Karua is one of the few candidates who I can say has the best interests of Kenyans at heart (and this I’ll always repeat) but after her dedicated fight for the president during the post election violence – a time Kenyans needed peace and quiet the most – she is viewed as the villain she is not. I guess it would be safe to say that she is that person we all love to hate and hate to love but hey, she comes as raw as she can get. Isn’t that what Kenya needs in her Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces? Yes, I would readily vote for her. And she is one of my preferred candidates at the moment. George Saitoti, Musalia Mudavadi and Peter Kenneth are a whole lot alike in that while they are perceived to be the more polite, clear headed ones, they are not ‘hands on’ enough to lead the country just yet. Peter Kenneth’s parliamentary seat has provided him with a platform that has helped show the nation what he is capable of doing given the chance but sadly enough, the normal Kenyan will not take that into account. Lets face it, we are all too ethnic oriented to vote someone in for his/her record. If heading ODM with Raila is anything to go by, Musalia Mudavadi would have been the ‘seasoned’ politician who has never ever even headed a political party on his own. Not so sure that translates into a leader anymore. That said, we are left with a bunch of individuals who are all too greedy for power that they can not even come together and help back each other to avoid a run off come next year’s general election because that’s definitely what is going to happen anyway. Then we have our three political best friends – Raila, Ruto and Uhuru. These, if I were to write anything on them it would sure turn into a book. Need I say more?