05/09/2026
From our inbox
"The recent pronouncement by Nick Karanja, an MCA aspirant, is, to me, a very unfortunate development. If this is indeed the decision taken by the DCP Party, then it leaves a lot to be desired.
What many Kenyans are running away from is a culture of dictatorship and unequal opportunity a system where some people are favored while others are denied a fair chance before the contest even begins.
If this has happened in the race for MP, where Wakili Shadrack Wambui, a strong aspirant, and Hon. Onesmus Ngogoyo, a founding member of the party, have both expressed interest in contesting, then the most democratic path would have been to allow them to compete and let the strongest candidate emerge through the will of the people.
That would have sent a powerful message that DCP is truly a party of equal opportunity.
As someone who has been seriously considering joining DCP to vie for MCA, this decision leaves me with a bitter taste. If a direct ticket can be issued for one position today, what guarantees that the same will not happen for MCA positions tomorrow?
What will stop those making these decisions from choosing candidates behind closed doors instead of allowing wananchi to decide?
His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua has repeatedly said that everyone would be given an opportunity to contest and that the people not consensus or boardroom decisions would determine the winner. If we truly listen to the ground, then we should trust the people to make that choice.
This feels like a small smoke that could signal a bigger fire ahead. I sincerely hope this is rectified because many of us have no political godfathers. We rely solely on the goodwill of wananchi and the promise of a level playing field.
But I remain encouraged by one truth: regardless of what is decided around the table today, the ultimate decision belongs to the people. The people will decide who leads them into the next dispensation.
A direct ticket for Ngogoyo is endorsing a culture of dictatorship"
Otieno Ong'aro ( 2027 Ong'ata Rongai Ward MCA aspirant)
