- Kang'ara argues that the bill, will not only strengthen the democratic political space but also provide a conducive environment for political parties to thrive.
- "We want the independence to form political parties without harassment to continue flourishing as well as mergers with like-minded ideologies," he said.
Image: WANGECHI WANG'ONDU
Kirinyaga Jubilee party chairman Muriithi Kang'ara has urged law makers to pass the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
The law makers are on Wednesday set to decide the fate of the pending bill.
Kang'ara argues that the success of the bill, will not only strengthen the democratic political space but will also provide a conducive environment for formation and thriving of political parties.
The chairman spoke during a press briefing in Sagana, Kirinyaga county on Friday.
He says vying for an election on a coalition political outfit is not a strange act as it has happened before in many elections.
Kang'ara said politics is about strategy and as such, there has to be like minded groups coming together for a certain goal as unity is strength.
He cited the 2002 election when four political parties came together and delivered victory to former president Mwai Kibaki under the rainbow coalition.
The historic victory brought an end to the three-decade rule of the KANU regime.
"It started with Mwai Kibaki, Charity Ngilu and Kijana Wamalwa 's individual parties uniting. They were then joined by the likes of Raila Odinga, George Saitoti, Kalonzo Musyoka and other former KANU bigwigs," Kang'ara said.
In the subsequent elections after the 2002 polls, there has been formation of coalitions as they have provided easier road maps for seemingly tough elections. Good politics, he says, is anchored on proper planning and agreement.
"Besides the rainbow coalition, TNA and URP in 2013 united to form the Jubilee coalition that formed the current government. Moreover, the opposition team squared it on CORD and NASA coalition in the two previous elections," Kang'ara said.
The chairman said the bill will help strengthen the multiparty system.
He said that no one should be barred from vying on an individual party or a coalition movement.
He added that the freedom to form or join any political outfit is part of expanding the democratic political space in the country.
Anyone advocating for vying on a one party rule wants to take the country back to the dark KANU days, he said.
"After all the struggle that was channeled into fighting for multiparty, it shall be impossible to backslide and allow a one party rule.
"We want the independence to form political parties without harassment to continue flourishing as well as merging of political parties that have like-minded ideologies," Kang'ara said.
The jubilee official said the bill will help to draw clear political leanings of both sitting and aspiring leaders.
Kang'ara also took a swipe at deputy speaker Moses Cheboi for allegedly being biased during the special sitting.
He termed it as flimsy excuse for Cheboi to adjourn the sitting even after it was clear that the bill would sail through courtesy of the numerical strength drawn from the 'Azimio la Umoja' movement.
"What he did was not only a waste of time for the members and the tax payers’ money but also exude outright biasness. He knew the bill would go on to the third round based on the votes cast.
"I urge Speaker Justin Muturi to ensure that no voting takes place again on Wednesday but it picks up from where it was stopped," Kang'ara said.
He also urged members to oust Cheboi for not exercising non-partisanship during the debate.
Cheboi suspended the special sitting to allow for the harmonisation of 17 UDA sponsored proposed amendments into the bill.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)