In the political space, Kenya, and I believe many parts of Africa, never lack charlatans, pretenders, and clowns who entertain the public for the entire election cycle but end up in a pit once election results are called.

First, they perform dismally or never participate in any by-election. The legal loophole in law that allows them to sponsor and support independent candidates is never exploited. Quite often, they abrogate the law by championing ideals that run counter to what their sponsoring parties stand for.

But when asked why they are shunning total divorce, every manner of theatrics is deployed to explain away their selfish actions.

Spurious arguments bordering on absurdity are in vogue as they wax lengthy, and sometimes monotonous, reasons for their adamance. Opportunities arise, but they never fill the positions. The few some of them fill end up in defeat. Still, they find space to pontificate on how they are the darlings of Kenyans — because of the entertainment in rallies. Kenyans love rallies and big projects!

In the name of the constitution, today we have experts in opposing the government.

They wait for the next negative thing to talk about but offer no cogent alternative. Instead, they rumble through illusory ideas that underscore their lack of understanding of matters of governance. They do not criticise because they believe in honest change but want leadership to use the same loopholes to exploit the people.

That is why a leader can walk up to a police officer and tell him how he will change his lot when he is elected, forgetting he was in the same position a few months ago but did nothing.

Flip the coin to the young voters and the pretension will be all out.

A pointer that they are mere tools for acquiring power comes to the fore when a proposal to sponsor and support one among them is broached. From lack of experience to lack of campaign finances, the ineligibility list would be endless!

In summary, any politician who thinks they have arrived must test their mettle through universal suffrage that the by-elections offer.

We had a myriad last year, and some will be there in July this year. Without participating in the mocks, the noise about triumphing in the big exam is a mere charade—the noise that fills our ears.

The writer is an economic and political analyst