KIBRA by-election...It is easier said than done!

THE campaigns to inherit the Kibra Constituency's seat  in the National Assembly that fell vacant in  July this year following the death of Hon. Ken Okoth have reached fever pitch as the date for the by-election fast approaches. The three arguable front-runners in the race are criss-crossing the constituency in a bid to convin

ce the electorate in this largely slum constituency to vote for them. Each of the candidates, characteristic of our political culture, is promising  residents heaven once elected. 

For example the ruling Jubilee party's candidate, former international midfielder, MacDonald Mariga has promised to double mama mboga's profits from Ksh. 2,000 to Ksh. 10,000, double the allocation of National Government Constituencies Development Fund and create jobs for the thousands of unemployed youth living in Kibera. Raila Odinga's ODM candidate Imran Okoth who is also the late MP's brother, Musalia Mudavadi's ANC candidate Eliud Owalo and Bungoma Senator's Ford Kenya candidate Engineer Khamisi Butichi have made similar promises. 

From Left: ODM, Jubilee and ANC aspirants for Kibra by-election. PHOTO: The Star

In the world of politics, it is easier to make promises; beautiful and grand promises that leave electorates salivating for one's leadership. Machiavellian's believe in the use of all means necessary to get elected. Such means include but not limited to promising heaven even if one does not know where heaven is. Such promises are not bad; if anything, they are the necessary ingredients or additives that garnish the political diet of our region.

However, the real problem lies in the post-election period. As an elected Member of Parliament, you start your mandate with a plate full of issues to tackle. The greatest challenge for every elected leader is the management of the badly inflated expectations of the people. Those who voted for you want to see immediate results. They want to see an overnight transformation of their lives. By your election, your supporters think that responsibility to handle all their earthly problems has been transferred to you. Such problems include provision of jobs, school fees, sorting out medical bills, rent, funerals, church fundraising, provision of water, construction of roads, bridges, houses, hospitals and everything. People have not understood the roles of Members of Parliament and what to expect from them and matters have been worsened by the very politician's campaign behavior of over-promising stuff.

Whoever wins will be shocked at how hard it is to deliver to the expectations of the people!