Raila Odinga and his cronies have been criticized for punishing the ODM Members of Parliament who chose to sit with Deputy President William Ruto in the National Assembly. The decision by the MPs to join forces with Ruto has not only put them at odds with their party leader but could also be seen as a direct opposition to Raila’s efforts to shape the political discourse in Kenya.
Raila’s reaction is not the first time his decision-making abilities have been called into question. For instance, in March 2017 the Supreme Court of Kenya overturned his 2017 Presidential Election win citing irregularities with the outcome. This further undermined his credibility and demonstrates a lack of faith in his leadership among those from his own party as well as the general public.
The ODM party is determined to sideline Ruto who they claim has been advancing his own agenda at the country’s expense. This further complicates the dialogue that is supposed to take place between two political rivals. Thus, Raila’s action is an attempt to ensure that there is no room for dissent in his party. It also serves as a warning to those members who may be tempted to venture away from the party line.
Although it is understandable why Raila would want to maintain the loyalty and unity of his party, it is very detrimental to the dialogue process. Unilateral punishment of ODM MPs sets a dangerous precedent that does not bode well for any future dialogue.
It also presents an obstruction to genuine conversation and portrays the ODM as an uncompromising political entity that is not open to a meaningful exchange of ideas. On the other hand, Ruto’s refusal to enter into a dialogue with Odinga underlines the fact that the two rivals remain unwilling to make any compromises in order to resolve the crisis.
While it is important for political parties to ensure that party members remain consistent in their message and in their loyalty to the party, punishing members who may have perceived the best interest of the party differently is counter-productive. It is evident that there is a lack of trust and genuine commitment to a dialogue process without which, peaceful transition and progress cannot be achieved. Therefore, if Raila is serious about dialogue he needs to recognize that meaningful conversations require both sides to be open to different perspectives and be willing to make compromises.
Source:https://www.facebook.com/Kenyans.co.ke?mibextid=21dgnx6bkhElzLAo
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