23/04/2024
Gubernatorial contest 2027
15 years after advent of devolution, Turkana is still ranked among the four Counties with the highest absolute poverty. Even after more than 100 Billion has been sank into its soul, there is little to show. True, there has been some improvement in basic education and primary healthcare, water provision in some parts is better, however, food security and the security of residents in is a huge problem.
Right now there is alot of interest in the gubernatorial race. There is fierce exchange of words and inuendo. This should not deceive you. Most politicians are friends, they may fight in public but will later laugh and dine in private. There is some unwritten code, that some lines must never be crossed even in the worst of circumstances. To them, elections and campaigns are games. For us the electorate, we get drawn into it, to believe that it is a matter of life and death. It is not, we are the fools. Ariko may fight with Jeremiah in public, however, they may have back-door channels of communication. Remember, in this game, you must never burn your bridges.
How foolish can we be to believe that the three gentlemen who were part of making this government will now become mortal enemies? Nabuin and Namoit among other people were together in the building of this government. The key issue in my humble opinion is in the sharing of the spoils of war. Hon Ekwom Nabuin MP and Namoit felt short-changed, it was only natural for them to make some noise.
The mistake Namoit made was to declare his intentions to vie as governor too early. That again is perfectly within his rights, only that the timing was not ok. Hon James Lomenen Ekomwa is already doing his public participation around the County, even though he has not declared his interest, what he is doing is clear as day and night. Namoit knows he can not be a threat to Jeremiah right now. Apart from Turkana South, I have not seen him move around. He can not assume that Epuyo, Nabuin, and Nkolong will automatically campaign for him. No, they have their own campaigns to deal with.
Is their fall-so bad that they can not reconcile in the near future? I do not believe so. Whoever thought that Raila and Ruto would reconcile? And yet here they are, with some kind of handshake. Anything is possible in politics.
Having said that, the real threat to Jeremiah is not Ariko, Munyes, Nabuin, it is the people in his government, his members of staff, his advisors, the contractors getting tenders from his government. The real threat is the silent majority outsiders, the real threat is the MCAs who have chosen to become sycophants and not do the job for which they were elected to do.
All over history, when the king is naked, the people around him rarely tell the truth for fear of losing on the privileges. Sycophancy is more rewarded than honest advice. This is one of the things that brought down the government of nanok. Life is hard outside here, so it is understandable when people choose survival over honest advice. People would rather the boat burns and sink than tell the king he is naked.
We have three years to the next elections. I want to become an optimist that our leaders can find some middle ground and work together to improve food security among other issues. However, I know this is a pipe dream. Jeremiah knows that 2027 is an open contest, it is the reason he has been campaigning non-stop since 2022, he has the same energy like that of president Ruto. To dislodge him will require the other team to be prepared.
What is my point?
1. Politics is a game of perception , you can use this information whichever way you wish
2. The king must be told the truth
3. All politicians are friends and they talk. It is the electorate who are pawns in a large game of chase
4. Jeremiah is not an enemy, Namoit is not an enemy, andd so are the other leaders. All of them are children of this soul who have decided to seek for the highest honour of representation. The tactics they use is the difference.
5. We are a poor County. We should be thinking more of the ways to develop it together.
6. Politics is a game of divide and rule
7. Members of staff and contractors should decide which poison to take not play games
8. How MCAs will handle the ward development fund will be directly proportional to their re- election.
9. How the MPs and governor run the resources entrusted to them will be directly proportional to their re-election.
As for and my house we shall serve the Lord.
Meanwhile:
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Mbarikiwe
