By Anderson Ojwang
Odhiambo Mboya was assassinated on August 5, 1969, when Kenya was still an infant republic, as the wave of independence swept across Africa. Mboya was an influential trade unionist, politician, and Pan-Africanist who had big dreams for Kenya.
August 22, 1978: Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, passed away in office in Mombasa, leading to the succession of Daniel Arap Moi.
August 1, 1982: Rebel air force soldiers staged a failed coup attempt against President Daniel Arap Moi’s government in Nairobi.
Vice President Wamalwa Kijana, who served for only nine months, passed on August 23, 2003, and Moody Awori was appointed Vice President.
Tragedies and National Crises
August 7, 1998: Al-Qaeda operatives bombed the United States Embassy in Nairobi, killing 224 people and injuring thousands.
August 13, 1997: The Likoni tribal and political clashes broke out in the coastal region, resulting in dozens of deaths and impacting the tourism sector.
Constitutional Developments
Kenya voted for the 2010 constitutional referendum on August 4th, 2010, and the constitution was approved by 67 percent of voters.
The constitution was promulgated in August 2010.
August is the month that Kenya’s election calendar falls on, with next year’s election falling on August 10th, 2027.
Warm Up
Finally, the teams are warming up, and the supporters are ready to cheer, eat, mourn, and celebrate altogether.
It is the year of harvest for political players and bankruptcy for the losers in the contest. The referee, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), is making final arrangements for the game to be played on a level ground and ensuring all the tools are assembled for the event.
Defections
From August, Kenyans will be witnessing mass exodus from political parties and formations to another – from President William Ruto’s broad-based government to the opposition, and from the opposition to President Ruto’s fold.
Already, former Cabinet Secretary and key ally of President Ruto, Aisha Jumwa, defected to the Linda Mwananchi group.
Siaya Governor James Orengo wrote while receiving Jumwa: “Signing ingine mwecheche, Hon. Aisha Jumwa (Shangazi Wa Taifa) Kilifi is locked!”
In Mt Kenya, movements have already been witnessed from UDA to the DCP of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
DCP has become the party of Mt Kenya, and currently there is a mass exodus from UDA to the party.
On Wednesday, Gachagua declared: “The mass exodus from UDA, TSP, and other wheelbarrow outfits to DCP is gaining momentum, and by December, they will be mere shells.”
Gachagua received into the party Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha of the county and the entire County Assembly into the DCP Party.
“They have assured me that they will defend their seats on DCP Party tickets, and they shall form part of the aspirants in the party primaries next year. I have assured them that the party primaries will be free and fair,” he said.
The Governor said he was responding to the wishes of the people of Nyandarua and Mt Kenya.
“Today, in solidarity with the wishes of our great people of Nyandarua County, I have visited the former Deputy President H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, where I’ve declared my unequivocal support to the common cause and aspirations of our people, region and the country. Accordingly, in joining and fully supporting the DCP, I shall seek re-election on the party’s ticket,” he said.
Political Pacts
ODM and UDA are expected to sign pre-election political pacts, while the opposition is also expected to unite to face Ruto in next year’s elections.
Linda Mwananchi
Linda Mwananchi will finally walk from ODM to form its own political party to face President Ruto in the presidential contest and ODM and other parties in the various elective posts.
Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna said the Oburu Oginga-led ODM had dispensed with them.
“The Swahili saying ‘he who chases you doesn’t tell you to go.’ It is clear that those in the leadership of ODM today are done with us.”
He said the Oburu-led faction has severed links with the Sifuna team and cannot reconcile.
“They are basically done with us. It is them kicking us out. On Saturday, when we finished our rallies in Kitale, I just saw all of us being removed from the ODM WhatsApp group,” he said.
Sifuna said it was no longer tenable to fight and appeal over his sacking.
“We have kept a good fight. I feel I have kept my promise to my boss that I would not be the one to wreck the party. They came after us. Decisions of the party are taken from State House because they now claim to be part of the government,” he said.
He said they were concerned with the 2027 general elections and the expectations the public have bestowed in them.
Resignations
Several government officers will begin resigning to contest various posts in the 2027 general election, now that the country is in the electioneering year.
Casualties
As the country enters the electioneering year, the political pit will be smiling and waiting for its next casualties. Among them would be losing governors, senators, MPs, MCAs, and candidates.
It is opening up as another season of harvest for the electorate but expenditure for the aspirants.
Time to eat and time to cry, depending on the side you stand.
