With party hopping now almost becoming impossible after the IEBC amendment bill sailed through the third reading at the National Assembly without changes, many politicians are now pretty sure that they are now doomed politically at least for now.
Many MPs who had expressed dissatisfaction with this particular clause in the bill had argued incessantly during the debating of the bill that regulating party hopping would cost some of them political careers for obvious reasons.
However, after they met their respective party leaderships, they all withdrew their proposed amendments after they were reportedly reprimanded for supporting party hopping. In doing so to please their masters, the said legislators with no doubt left their careers in a limbo as they themselves had warned. It was the last nail in their political coffins.
So, what is next for the party hoppers who are sure they cannot bag nomination certificates for their respective parties come 2017 after party primaries?
Well, there are literally no options apart from waiting for 2022 electoral cycle to try their luck again or retire from politics once and for all. Five years from politics is such a long time to be rendered irrelevant unless your zeal and vigour resembles that of Cord leader Raila Odinga.
However, there is a sure way to ensure their names will be on the ballot paper. And that is to go it solo. This is likely to be the path that many unpopular candidates will opt for. 2017 is likely to see an unprecedented number of independent candidates as politicians who fear losing party nominations will definitely go for this option.
Alternatively, considering that many are now being regarded as 'damaged goods' by voters and with slim chances of winning their current party nominations , they can sweet talk their party leaders for direct nominations.
Finally, they can opt the ODM way of party nominations. Ensure the nominations are conducted clumsily with an aim of creating confusion and eventually get a chance to somehow rig themselves in.
Otherwise, many just signed their political death sentences by supporting regulation of party hopping.