Thirdway Alliance plot to end Kenyatta-Odinga dominance

Dr Ekuru Aukot, a respected academician and constitutional expert, is a man on a mission to rescue Kenya from what he terms as shackles of poor leadership and tribalism.

Dr Aukot will be vying for the presidency in a movement he has christened Thirdway Alliance Kenya and his approach depicts a man fed up with the status quo.

Thirdway Alliance has good dreams, which if actualised would save Kenya from a malaise of poor leadership that it has had for decades.

He is presenting himself as an alternative to the established politicians; the son of a Turkana nomad who is not entrenched in the ways of the political dynasties that have ruled the country since Independence.

His is a vision that others before him like Martha Karua, Peter Kenneth, James Orengo, Koigi wa Wamwere and Prof Wangari Maathai harboured but were swept aside by the financial muscle and tribal mobilisation of the entrenched political leaders and their parties.

Dr Aukot aged 44, knows this reality too well but assures that times have changed and “Kenyans have learned from the past”.

He identifies constitutionalism, dealing with corruption, depolarising Kenya and youth and women empowerment as the four main pillars to guide his presidency.

CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY

“People do not run to their tribe when rent is due, or to pay hospital bills.  We must celebrate our diversity. On youth and women it will be a paradigm shift. My administration will adequately reach out to these two groups and ensure they play a key role in nation building while fighting corruption vigorously,” he said.

Concerning the current crisis, Dr Aukot said though he helped bring forth the IEBC, the two sides of the coalition, Jubilee and Cord are being dishonest.

“Cord with all their demonstrations have not given us a single crime the commissioners did. It cannot be all commissioners conspired to steal,” he said.
He also condemned President Uhuru Kenyatta for double standards on corruption.
“The President sacked Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau and others on mere allegations. Why has he okayed IEBC to stay in office yet he has access to the best intelligence reports arguably in the region,” he wondered.

He says his biggest problem now is to tell Kenyans that tribal politics won’t deliver the promise of a prosperous nation.

He says his funding for campaign will come from fundraising from Kenyans across the country like President Barack Obama did.
“I want Kenyans to own the movement. I want Kenyans who will contribute Sh50 and Sh100 to be the owners of the movement.”

He says the networks he established both in Kenya and internationally will come in handy in ensuring President Kenyatta does not get a second term.

Mr Miruru Waweru the deputy leader of Thirdway says they are confident Kenyans will support their quest.

“We are educating Kenyans about the benefit of being patriotic rather than the tribe or tribal leader,” he says.

Unlike Narc that had promised total change but instead delivered cosmetic changes, Mr Waweru says Thirdway is rooting for an ideological revolution.

“We need a paradigm shift in how politics is done in Kenya. A shift from tribal politics, lies and bribery resulting in replacement of the same old faces to new brand of leaders,” he poses.