President Uhuru Kenyatta's move to consolidate political leaders into Jubilee Party should be a worrying reason for Kenyans who fought for and celebrated the achievement of a multi-party state, Citizen TV anchor Yvonne Okwara states.
The News Gang panellist opined that Kenyans should mourn the new-found unity between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leaders such as Raila Odinga (ODM), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Isaac Ruto (Chama Cha Mashinani).
On Thursday night, June 18, Okwara lamented that Kalonzo and Isaac Ruto's decision to sign a post-election deal with Jubilee, coupled with Odinga's handshake with Kenyatta had crippled the opposition and multipartyism.
"The images seen at Jubilee headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi does not fit a robust multiparty democracy. It is 28 years since the repeal of section 2A of the constitution but lately, our parties are displaying serious symptoms of a hangover of the single-party era.
"They all seem to fall short of doing the honest thing, forming a party dubbed the Single Party Movement of Kenya. Kenyans who celebrated multipartyism should mourn as there is no other alternative leadership. Our multiparty system is sick," Okwara stated.
She went on to argue that the handshake, despite uniting Kenyans, would offer the government a leeway to conduct uncouth businesses as the opposition would no longer play the watchdog role.
"Who will hold the government into accountability? The handshake initiated a series of political events that now include unbelievable outpour of love for the government.
"The opposition benches are virtually empty as the entire landscape turns to one huge party. How will the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Investments Committee offer check and balance to the government?
Okwara added that another reason why Kenyans should mourn is that politicians will tend to assume the role they played in fighting against multipartyism while campaigning ahead of 2022 elections.
"In 24 months time, they will approach you with promises and manifestos while turning a blind eye to the bear hugs they exchanged," she warned.
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