CORD AND RAILA MUST RE-PLAN AGAIN FOR 2017

MOVING FORWARD 2017 - 2022 .
2013 General elections came and went . With it a lot of costly lessons have been learnt. We went into the elections as clear favorites and it was ours for the taking. As we all know it was not to be so. The outcome of this particular election was far below our potential as CORD. Although it is common knowledge that the Jubilee team hatched a plot to rig their way into power by ensuring they got the 50 + 1 vote , we failed to put up a spirited , effective, pro active , energized and strategic campaign that would have resulted to maximum vote harvesting.
The factors affecting the performance of CORD and more specifically ODM in my opinion have to do more with internal factors rather than external factors. ODM since inception in 2005 has always captured the imagination s of the average Kenyan and has always been seen as the true champion for democracy and proponent for change. However with time and moreso the period after 2007 the party has gradually become stagnant and has not evolved and mutated visibly to be relevant with the current social , economic and political trends .
For us to pick ourselves up and move forward, we need to look at the side mirror first and critically analyze what went wrong and with diligence take sound and sure measures of solving the issues within. Only by doing so can we MOVE FORWARD on the journey of reclaiming the party's lost glory.
Some of the internal factors include :-
- Political influence and cronisym.
- Nomination fiasco.
- Corruption and lack of transparency.
- Tribalism , nepotism
- Lack of astute leadership and planning at the secretariat.
- Lack of professionalism and inclusive strategic management .
- lack of deployment of party structures in the election.
- Unmotivated and demoralized staff.
- Failure of the national officials to project a unified party.
- Lack of internal mechanisms to monitor trending patterns especially external threats .
- Lack of space for succession in the party hierarchy .
- Electoral fraud. lack of internal monitoring system that can detect and avert attempts to steal and elections.
- lack of political goodwill between officials and members as well.

Unless we embark on straightening out our structures and systems then we can only say that we have moved on and not moved forward. We cannot repeat the same mistakes and expect a different result therefore it is imperative that ODM moves quickly to do the following.

- Complete overhaul of the party secretariat starting from the office of Executive Director .
This process is underway . My prayer is that the selection will be done purely on the basis of merit and that the process shall be depoliticized. The panel of MP's include Honourables Andrew tobiso, Joyce lay, Timothy Bosire, Joshua Aduma, Florence Mutua, Abdikadir and Junet Mohammed. I have gone on record to support Mr. Ceasar Asiyo for ED without fear of contradiction. What ODM needs is a results oriented manager/administrator and networker with a profound understanding of the political dynamics of the country . A person of forthright character, transparent and with unquestionable loyalty to the party and party leader. ODM does not need failed politicians who are looking for a soft landing post elections such as the likes of Langat Magarer ,Ken Butiko, Nabii Nabwera etc . If we go down that road then we will be repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results and it will be very costly for the party in the long run. Further more , we need to desist from using the position to appease particular regions or tribes for that matter. Regional balancing is a political solution and it's purpose can best be served through the upcoming national party elections. Indeed the ideal situation would be that we accommodate those politicians in positions such as deputy party leader, chairman, S.G, OSG etc .

- Party Elections from Grassroots to National level .
The party conducted its elections in 2012 from the grassroots level and ended in the county level. This means the top leadership remained whereas there was urgent and dire need for reforms at the helm. Now more than ever , the party needs to overhaul its top leadership to be consistent with the " new political order" . On the grassroots level many of the officials decamped to other parties during the campaign period leaving a vacuum in many positions within it's structures. This vacuum if not attended to would affect the effectiveness of the party in the grassroots moving forward. Let those who have left go , and we replace them with true ardent supporters of the party.

- Realign , reestablish and refocus the CORD secretariat and demystify the secretariat by setting clear rules of engagement and crafting a unified accord that represents the aspirations of the entire CORD family. It's imperative that members understand the secretariat and if possible present a face of the secretariat that will run specific joint programs .

If these recommendations amongst others are swiftly implemented , then we ODM and by extension CORD have a real chance of forming the next Government in 2017 . If not , then the future will hold no promise and other political organizations will transform, merge or emerge to take advantage of our own failures. This are my personal opinion of which I take full responsibility.