by Jeff Otieno, Kisumu
Wed, 5 Mar 2008 00:24:25  

Fresh fears have emerged that the death of opposition politics to put the government on its toes could be in the offing.
   
This follows last week historic agreement where the Mwai Kibaki led party PNU and Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) entered into a rare historic Grand Coalition arrangement to accommodate each other.
   
At inception, things appeared completely unworkable under the tutelage of former United Nations Chief Kofi Annan with both divides on the negotiation table exhibiting a hardline stance.
   
The Ghanian-born Annan was undeterred with the protagonists, his consistency and shrewdness ultimately became fruitful after a staggering 41 sleepless nights.
   
Kenyans sighed with relief and celebrations were held in major towns and cities. Camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) where thousands have braved the chilly nights for fear of attacks were  memorable.
   
The onus is now on the tenth parliament to entrench the legislative framework to make the deal become law. Granted, as envisaged by the majority of Kenyans who would want the barbaric scenes of the December 27, 2007 postelection to be confined to the doldrums, these changes will likely cool tempers across political divides and enable reconstruction and the resettlement of IDPs.
   
One intriguing issue remains: who will dangle the official opposition flagship for the purpose of creating checks and balances?
   
Since the advent of pluralistic politics in 1991, Kenyans have benefited from the vibrant opposition which to-date has become moribund.
  
“As an alternative Kenyans must surge ahead and form citizen groups to offer social and public accountability or risk the emergence of abuse of power at the expense of tax payers,” said a local NGO operative in Kisumu, Sam Odondi.
   
“It’s unfortunate that some of our civil rights crusaders have joined partisan party politics and only used the forums as spring boards,” Odondi quipped in an interview.
   
With the latest political arrangements entrenching roots, almost every politician is lobbying to be considered in the Grand Coalition setup and none wants to jump ship to play a credible pivotal role as a dissenter.
   
For any semblance of good governance to be sustained there must be a vibrant opposition to keep the government on its toes or else Kenyans  must brace themselves to see the re-emergence of single party dictatorship and misuse of power. 
   
Some keen political pundits also opine that if an internal political party rebellion can be sustainable to serve as awakening calls to the ruling class, then it can also be a good option for the purpose of accountability and good governance.

This last view, while not impossible, may be improbable.
   
END