Independent candidates is solidarity during the launch of the Kenya Alliance of independent candidates. [Photo/KBC TV]
NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his Jubilee rival President Uhuru Kenyatta have repeatedly engaged the massive number of independent candidates emanating from their parties nominations defeat to join forces and work with them instead of going solo.
According to political pundit Kibisu Kibatesi there are at least five reasons why the two main presidential hopefuls are trying their best to neutralise the impact of the independent candidates.
First, there is the push to get a sizeable amount of the Political Parties Funds
"Only ODM, TNA and URP consumed the money, or so you think. Unfortunately, the three only shared 0.03 per cent or Sh300 million a year since 2013. Still these are huge sums that have party apparatchiks smiling all the way to the bank," said Kibatesi.
"The stakes in this election are too high and independents are about to spoil the party. Qualifying conditions were carelessly set too high in the amended law. A party requires three per cent of the total votes cast on top of having three governors, three senators, 20 MPs and 40 MCAs," he added.
The second reason could be that independent candidates can only work well in a coalition when mobilising the presidential vote but what of in a party structure like Jubilee.
"Fine how do you accommodate both independent and party candidate in the campaign," asked Kibatesi.
The analyst says the third reason could be because of the independent candidates may not be loyal to regional caucuses because after all they didn't find themselves in parliament because of party sponsorship hence once in the August house they may pursue personal vendetta and spew venom on the big parties.
"Whether it’s lack of confidence, poverty of ideas or pocket, there are certainly laggards in the backyard of ODM’s Raila Odinga, ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi and Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka that independents will produce.This partially explains NASA’s disdain for independents," he said.
The fourth reason is that most of the independent candidates in either NASA or Jubilee perceived strongholds may affect the 25 percent magical vote in the 24 counties because of sharing the votes.
Finally Kibatesi says some independent candidates are branding their posters with NASA and Jubilee symbols thus stealing a lot of votes from the two major political fronts.