Jubilee grand merger and ODM @10: Split TV screens and the role of media in political communication

Jubilee grand merger and ODM @10: Split TV screens and the role of media in political communication

photo credit:tuko.co.ke

By MUSYOKA NGUI

A big whale swallowed 11 fish at Kasarani in Nairobi. At the same time, the “largest constitutional party” in Kenya got its electricity transmission outage when its foremost principal was on the lectern. Welcome to Kenya 2017 Elections.

I must say that I spent the better day doing my thing as it were. The Idd Ul Adha Monday holiday break just extended my otherwise short weekend full of the green dot online omnipresence.

Journalists of repute flocked to Safaricom Stadium to “cover history” while others flew to the blue waters of Mombasa to witness either Raila declared de facto presidential flag bearer for Cord or shelving his fourth presidential dream.

Word went round that delegates at Kasarani were pocketing Sh.10000 per day translating to 30,000 for the three days of convention. The red party had logistical issues covered. From standby generators to mellow music to lots of space to dance and everything in between.

At one point, JP resorted to ushering in opposition party rebels and sitting politicians from the entire breadth of Kenyan ballot. Clearly, it was harvest season for JP that fashioned itself as the “national” and “unity” party while hurling epithets at the checker of government excesses that the latter were ethnic enclaves.

But on Friday night delegates threw a stinking egg on the face of DP Ruto when they claimed that they were not paid their allowances raising questions of cash flow. DP, with his charm straight from the land of Magufuli landed and went headlong to pander the whims of the party loyalists saying that “we are not just the JP but we are the government”.

But the straw that broke the proverbial Cord camel’s back was the eloquent UK’s speech that chose not to dwell on the Opposition but concentrate on the 2017 agenda and the perceived government “achievements”.

40 MPs, senators and governors crossed the floor and sat at the presidential dais. Yet they did not lose their seats and continue to draw salaries from their sponsor whom they have formerly filled the divorce papers. The season of political prostitution cannot be more scandalous.

But the self-acknowledged minorities in the Jubilee train chose to wax how they were lost and now they have been found and they have broken the shackles of Pharaoh and headed to Canaan. Ukambani artists namely Chipukisi and Vaati headlined the show that was filled with flamboyance and opulence. Have you asked yourself why the majority owners chose to watch rather than act? It’s PR. You got it.

Anyway, while JP was organized and calm, ODM was chaotic and restless. But the embarrassment of letting Baba terminate his speech prematurely will be the bane of KP who have now become the poster child of rude customer service and incompetent state company.

Without a doubt, the conspicuous absence of Cord co-principals Musyoka and Weta will only cement the JP’s propaganda rhetoric that there is discord in Cord. But the unnoted no show of the so called Third Force will remain the regret of prodigal sons who bit the hands that fed them. Over to you the voter.