Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has launched a scathing attack on the growing trend of political parties endorsing relatives of deceased leaders, warning that the practice threatens the very foundation of Kenya’s democracy.
Alai’s remarks come as most ODM politicians rally behind Boyd Were, son of the late Kasipul MP Ongondo Were, in the ongoing party polls in the constituency. The youthful MCA said the move reflects a “dangerous pattern” of leadership based on bloodlines rather than merit.
“This practice is eroding the very soul of our democracy,” Alai said in a strongly worded statement. “We are creating a culture where leadership is reduced to bloodlines and entitlement rather than service, merit, and the will of the people.”
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Alai warned that normalizing such successions undermines the aspirations of ordinary citizens, particularly the youth, and entrenches political dynasties.
“When Kenyans start believing that only certain families are ‘destined’ to lead, we damage the national psyche, kill ambition among the youth, and entrench dynasties instead of democracy,” he said.
The MCA cited several recent examples of family-driven endorsements, including contests in Malava, Bobasi, Kibwezi West, Kanduyi, and Matungu, saying these were not isolated incidents.
“We have seen it recently in Kasipul, where a family member was quickly fronted to replace their kin. In Malava, the same story. The same has happened in Bobasi, Kibwezi West, Kanduyi, and Matungu in the recent past. These are not isolated cases; they form a dangerous pattern,” Alai noted.
He questioned whether Kenyans can continue to trust political parties if they appear to serve family interests rather than public ideals.
“Who will have faith in political parties as institutions of ideas, fairness, and inclusivity? This practice makes political parties in Kenya vehicles of entitlement and private inheritance,” he posed.
Calling for a radical shift, Alai urged ODM and other political formations to prioritize vision and competence over family ties.
“We must say no. Leadership should be about vision, competence, and commitment to service, not about who you are related to. Kenya’s democracy deserves better,” he declared.
Alai’s statement has sparked debate within ODM ranks, with some members defending the endorsement of Boyd Were as a show of solidarity with the late MP’s family, while others echoed Alai’s call for merit-based leadership.
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