Folk wisdom long established, as a matter of native intelligence, that a bull that would fetch the best price is not fattened on the market day. There are processes and procedures.
Another political briefcase party has arrived at an unlikely time to exploit post-election falling out. The butterfly party arrived on the heels of the disputed presidential election.
The party, housed at Butterfly House, Nairobi, might fly, but the speed depends on the direction of the flight. The ability of the Democratic Congress party to carry along its supposed turf is doubtful.
The motive of its visible owner, former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, has triggered snide remarks. Cynics have described the timing as non-strategic.
The proprietor is eying a turf whose residents are still hurting from the outcome of the presidential election. The wished base of the new party is the Orange Democratic Movement stronghold.
Kidero nurses the illusion he may attract a following to rival ODM. Others have assigned vendetta to his motive.
Kidero says: "The people of Homa Bay and the Luo nation must be saved from emotional slavery, a political business cartel, and blackmail by six-piece cultists who don't care about our development."
Kidero was elected Nairobi governor in 2013, on account of ODM's six-piece mantra. He lost the seat during the 2017 election, to Mike Mbuvi Sonko, after ODM gave him a free pass for the second time.
ODM denied Kidero the party ticket to run for Homa Bay governor. The former governor quit ODM in April after he lost the consensual party nomination for the Homa Bay gubernatorial race.
Kidero has filed an election petition, which cynics describe as a 'wild goose chase'. Homa Bay is settling down to the business of reclaiming the promises of devolution. These promises were deferred under former Governor Cyprian Awiti.
Kidero ran on an independent ticket against former Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga. He lost the race, with a wide margin, against the ODM ticket holder and running mate Oyugi Magwanga.
Kidero's loss was expected, even as he nursed the illusion he was the 'most popular' candidate. The elitist city politician had no chance against a party with grassroots networks.
Stephen Omondi Oludhe and Okuwa Oguok also once owned a political briefcase, the Independent Economic Party Kenya, to rival the defunct National Development Party. NDP was Raila Odinga's vehicle when he ran and retained the Lang'ata parliamentary seat after quitting Ford Kenya in 1994.
Oludhe's party did not fly beyond its Kanu-sponsored launch at a press conference in a Nairobi hotel. Oludhe and Oguok were NDP renegades. The Moi regime wanted to use the party to undermine NDP.
Kidero's Democratic Congress relations with ODM echo the abortive tussle between Oludhe's stunted party and NDP.
Raila moved with Ford-K MPs from Nyanza to NDP during the 1997 general election. With 21 elected MPs, NDP was a prime bride when President Moi needed reinforcement to survive opposition onslaught in Parliament.
Can Kidero pull any of the MPs from ODM to the butterfly party? Two MPs, one from Nairobi and another from the former south Nyanza, are singing Kidero's song. Some ODM renegades are also tagging Kidero's coattails.
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado also has a party, but his dear wife did not run for Woman Rep on the ticket of the family party.
Observers say Kidero's ambition to grab Raila's turf is a tall order for a politician who is yet to create rapport with the masses.
People coalesce around individuals who either defend them courageously or have a long track record in empowering them. Kidero has none of these. Spite doesn't work, especially when one is known to disrespect the people's leader.
