Cord faces a dilemma in picking a presidential candidate

Cord faces a dilemma in picking a presidential candidate

By MUSYOKA NGUI

Cord logo

All Cord co- principals have declared that they will run for presidency in 2017. Tension is building up on who the coalition will settle on to carry the party flag. Unlike Jubilee Coalition that has his ticket figured out up to 2022, Cord faces stark choices that could make or break it.

The party may choose to conduct a joint primaries or build consensus of who will be the ultimate candidate to face President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto in 2017. Whichever way Cord selects its presidential flag bearer, it may spark splits particularly should either of the three feel the coalition undemocratically chose its top candidate.

Raila and Kalonzo parted ways in the lead up to 2007 general elections and this weakened their chances of clinching the State House. Wetang’ula, if he is to be believed to be serious, will be taking his first stab at the presidency.

NEED FOR COMPROMISE

Raila’s handlers have dismissed both Kalonzo and Wetang’ula as inconsequential and asserted Raila remains the candidate to beat. What’s more, they have even said he could get an automatic ticket, something that has angered the allies of the other two co -principals. 

Despite general elections being three years away, Cord principals are busy jostling for the presidential tickets instead of checking Jubilee government-the primary role of the Opposition. Methinks if Raila’s henchmen to do not exercise humility they will scatter Cord.  At the same time, compromise should be seen to prevail in negotiating for the coveted candidature.

They should come up with a candidate who is popular enough to give Uhuruto a run for their money. Many think that that candidate still remains Raila but the supporters of Kalonzo and Wetang’ula also feel their candidates must be considered. Is Raila a first among equals? Is Cord an Animal Farm? George Orwell famously quipped that all animals are equal but some are more equal than others and seemed to have had Cord in mind when he wrote so.

Kalonzo admitted that Jubilee has been dangling carrots to lure him ditch Cord. This threatens the Cord unity. ODM, Wiper and Ford Kenya ought to strengthen internal democracy within their individual parties and in the Cord coalition if they are to give Jubilee a serious challenge come 2017. A botched primary will give Jubilee a walk over. In the meantime, let them not play hard ball. Someone will have to give up their political ambitions for the sake of their party. Any grandstanding is a sure recipe for disintegration of the Opposition.