Kenya: Balala is a Disaster for Any Presidential Aspirant

6 August 2011

Presidential candidates popping out every passing day, are angling themselves to get a stake at regional voting blocs. The key presidential aspirants must make a date with regional kingpins who hold sway in specific regions. No presidential candidate can claim to be a national leader such that he or she doesn't need the backing of the regional kingpins to catapult their bid. And in all the eight provinces in the country, kingpins are to be found. The key presidential aspirants must identify with them if they are to make any headway in those regions.

Apart from Nairobi, the other seven provinces have defacto leaders or smaller kings who define the politics in those regions. In Luo Nyanza, we have Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is an 'idol' and his word is the glue that holds his people together. Any politician, no matter his level of education who opposes Raila finds himself in political wilderness. Professor Anyang Nyong'o and James Orengo know this pretty well.

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