Kenya's democracy has matured to allow for the formation of coalitions in the run-up to general elections.
The days when individual parties formed formidable forces ended with the end, for all practical purposes, of the Kenya African National Union (Kanu).
Today, every political party must work with others with similar agendas as the elections approach.
This is why the Orange Democratic Movement is least worried that some of her staunch members are now seeking election through other parties, albeit on the Azimio la Umoja platform.
Kenyans have witnessed a flurry of activities in the political sphere that includes switching of parties by politicians seeking their best chance of election.
This, however, is not something new, especially during an electioneering period as now. It's everyone's right to belong to political parties of their choice and that cannot be taken away from them.
However, when one party loses more members to another, the perception created is usually to the advantage of the beneficiary party. It creates the image that the popularity of the beneficiary party is on the rise.
The situation is different in the current scenario when we have a number of ODM members ditching the party for other small parties within the Azimio coalition.
ODM respects individual decisions, more so since we have a bigger house in Azimio la Umoja whose presidential candidate is the Right Hon Raila Amollo Odinga.
Even though the ODM party would like to have more members in both houses after elections, we appreciate that we have sister parties with the coalition. However, the sister parties must appreciate that ODM's bedrock areas must remain so.
Their only chance should be in areas considered as swing-vote zones. For instance, it will be impossible for a member of a sister party to win election in an established ODM bedroom.
In a nutshell, the proliferation of smaller parties that have become home for some of our members does not in any way threaten the strength and popularity of the ODM party.
We remain the most popular and organised party in the region.
Kisumu Senate aspirant spoke to the Star
(Edited by V. Graham)
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