Our elections are a battle of political parties. This is evident in the by-elections taking place in Kericho and Malindi.
It's not surprising for a country where most political parties are ethnic and regional based. Even the major ones that claim to have a national face have majority of its members from one community or region.
Those who try to form or join other parties other than the "community's" party are seen as traitors and don't stand a chance of winning in the elections.
For someone to win all they need is be affiliated to the right political party (read the community's party), and have deep pockets.
That will guarantee them the numbers. It's about the tyranny of numbers and money.
Nobody seems to care about the candidates individual policies and character. That's has led to some people with questionable characters been elected while those with good leadership qualities get no votes.
Potential leaders who have good policies to steer this country ahead lose just because of their political party or lack of numbers and money. It's unbelieveable that this happens in a country where youths and the middle class have the majority votes.
A group which is literate and well informed and has the numbers to make a big political change but retreats to their tribal caccoons when its election time.
For this country to move forward we must revolutionalise our electoral mindset. We must choose to be inspired to elect someone by their individual policies and characters.
We elect an individual and not a political party. As former president Arap Moi said "Siasa mbaya maisha mbaya."