The ongoing party alliances in Kenya, which have been characterised by horse-trading for key positions along tribal lines, are threatening to erode the gains of multiparty democracy and increase ethnic divisions.
Issues are arising over the devolved system of governance to be implemented under the new Constitution. Constitutional experts have expressed concern that devolution has been misinterpreted to mean federalism, which could promote ethnic exclusivity.
In the past two weeks, Kenyan political parties have come together with the sole purpose of winning the March 4, 2013 elections.
First was the creation of Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) bringing together Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s WDM and Moses Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya.
It was followed by the Jubilee Alliance comprising Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA, William Ruto’s URP, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s UDF and Charity Ngilu’s Narc.
Another coalition is the Pambazuka Alliance involving Eugene Wamalwa, Nicholas Biwott and Cyrus Jirongo. Peter Kenneth and Raphael Tuju have also joined hands in the presidential race.
Some individuals may have to forgo their ambitions for MP, governor or senator because their parties will not field candidates in certain areas.
An example is Marakwet East in Rift Valley, where the current MP, Chebii Kilimo of TNA, may not be allowed to contest because the region is reserved for URP.
According Patrick Lumumba, the former secretary-general of the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) that drew up the initial draft constitution, the alliances are a negation of multiparty democracy and take away the people’s right to choose their leaders without coercion.
“In mature democracies, it is the agenda of the party and how parties are going to deal with issues such as health and big business that are critical. In Kenya, dividing government positions in terms of percentages without addressing issues that will be critical to counties is missing the point. Do the alliances have a common agenda when it comes to unemployment, oil revenues, energy supply, and EAC-Kenya relations?” he asked.
According to Mr Lumumba, the 47 counties are 70-90 per cent ethnic enclaves. The CKRC had proposed that Kenya have only 14-18 counties which would have been more ethnically diverse.
“It is going to affect governance and will trickle down to clan bargaining. It is unfortunate that the Constitution is made for the 21st century but Kenyans are still dealing with a pre-industrial feudal mentality. ”
The main concern is that the alliances could promote a sense of exclusive ethnic autonomy given the party-zoning, and that smaller parties will not have enough ethnic command to have a say.
Dr Amukowa Anangwe, a political science lecturer at the University of Dodoma, says most political actors have misunderstood devolution and are using it to divide Kenyans at national and regional levels.
