Watch Kenya
Nov 19, 2002
THE GENERAL Election campaign in Kenya has got underway in earnest with the nomination of candidates for the presidency
THE GENERAL Election campaign in Kenya has got underway in earnest with the nomination of candidates for the presidency.
The campaigns promise to be very colourful, with alliances being drawn up across the political divide, and individuals crossing from one political grouping to another. KANU, the ruling party that has been in power since independence in 1963, is pitted against a coalition of opposition parties, plus others that have opted to go it alone. Besides the presidential poll, the 10 million-odd Kenyan voters will elect members of parliament as well.
Ugandans will be eyeing events across the border with a lot of interest. Kenya’s is the third multiparty election in a decade. We do not know yet whether our polls in 2006 will be contested on the individual merit basis of the last few years, or on a multiparty platform.
But the biggest parallel Uganda can draw with Kenya is in the transitional nature of 2006 and 2002. President Moi is not standing. After 24 years in power, he is handing over the reins - whether to his preferred successor or another person, the electorate will decide. When 2006 comes around, President Museveni would have served 20 years, including the constitutional limit of two terms. It will be transitional time in Uganda.
There should be many lessons for Uganda to learn from Kenya. There will be positives that would be worth emulating, and negatives for which we should stand warned. Most of all, Kenyan stability in vital to Uganda, so in watching events across the border, we can only wish our friends and neighbours all the best.
The campaigns promise to be very colourful, with alliances being drawn up across the political divide, and individuals crossing from one political grouping to another. KANU, the ruling party that has been in power since independence in 1963, is pitted against a coalition of opposition parties, plus others that have opted to go it alone. Besides the presidential poll, the 10 million-odd Kenyan voters will elect members of parliament as well.
Ugandans will be eyeing events across the border with a lot of interest. Kenya’s is the third multiparty election in a decade. We do not know yet whether our polls in 2006 will be contested on the individual merit basis of the last few years, or on a multiparty platform.
But the biggest parallel Uganda can draw with Kenya is in the transitional nature of 2006 and 2002. President Moi is not standing. After 24 years in power, he is handing over the reins - whether to his preferred successor or another person, the electorate will decide. When 2006 comes around, President Museveni would have served 20 years, including the constitutional limit of two terms. It will be transitional time in Uganda.
There should be many lessons for Uganda to learn from Kenya. There will be positives that would be worth emulating, and negatives for which we should stand warned. Most of all, Kenyan stability in vital to Uganda, so in watching events across the border, we can only wish our friends and neighbours all the best.