A Preliminary Assessment of Tuju's New Chama

[Onyango Oloo]

demokrasia-kenya.blogspot.com/2005/09/preliminary-assessment-of-tujus-new.html

[Onyango Oloo]

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[job]

Assessment of Tuju's New Chama by Onyango Oloo. Posted by Job
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Tuju's blanket condemnation of the Luo and his stereotyped generalizations of the entire community calls for immediate rebuttal. His launch of a new Chama at this particular time can be extrapolated as a diversionary tactic to shift the focus of Nyanza people & Kenyans at large, off the Constitution debate.

How can Tuju claim that the Luo just "follow members of one family, left, right, and center like sheep"?. Does Tuju know that KANU has supporters in Nyanza, with pointmen like Dalmas Otieno, Ndolo Ayah et al ?. What about Ochuodho's Spark? Does he know Otieno Kopiyo and Achieng Oneko are members of Ford-K?

His formation of a political party is inconsequential and he himself knows that,..that does not deserve much contemplation from many.

We know this guy and his intentions and he will not go scott free, figuratively. His glass house will shatter before he hurls the next stone.

A reflection of his last days of stay in the US will clearly expose Raphael Tuju for exactly what he is, a shrewd opportunist who thrives on reaping from where he never sowed. This is the same guy who indicated to some Kenyans in the DC/ Maryland area that he intended to relocate his NGO & businesses from the US to Canada prior to the 2002 elections.

After bidding guys farewell, the guy stops over in Nairobi, finds the NARC euphoria slowly building up, meets some politicians and see's an opportunity to "buy" his nomination to Parliament.

Loaded with some dollars, and armed with his private Audio/Video/Broadcasting equipment he "volunteers" to play a key role in the NARC campaigns, filming the "Rainbow Rally Videos" and oiling a few errands here and there.

He quickly fitted in the Rainbow/LDP top brass, rubbing shoulders with the who-is-who's of NARC, while masquarading as it's documentary specialist. While making friends to these Rainbow leaders, he must have been scheming ahead, and making parallel connections with NAK leaders, especially those at the very top. He does possess some unique double dealing feat's too, as you all see.

Word has it that KBC's 2002 election coverage bias was countered by Tuju's innovation, where he would film sensational rally tapes and hand them to private broadcasting stations, local and International. He would then rush the tapes to various NARC leaders who marvelled at his quality productions that were rejuvenating the masses. The man knew what he was doing...see the connection with his later appointment as the Minister of Information.

While his gift for siezing business opportunities may make him arrogant, his political opportunism is beginning to lead him astray.

A while back, there were (unsubstanciated) complaints by some business partner who claimed he unilaterally and craftily "took over" their joint Media Promotion venture, by capitalizing on his closeness to some powerful people, then in Kenya.

The assertion was that he fled to the US to run this business from overseas to kind of get away from the "aibu" as he couldn't face the aggrieved. While we may not know the accuracy/truth, there's a saying that "palipo na moshi, hapakosi moto!"

Tuju, who had never participated in politics before, vied and heavily LOST the NARC nomination ticket for the Rarieda parliamentary seat to Mr. Malo Malo, period. His deep pockets may have bought him back the ticket through rigging. Tuju has never won any fairly contested seat by any means. The rest is history.

Power has now gotten into his head and he imagines he is Kibaki's favourite son. His level of sycophancy has reached unprecedented levels, only comparable to Mukisa Kituyi who interestingly also behaves as if he is Kibaki's son.

Could there be some salient relationship between these people that we don't know? Time will expose. Are some Ministers being overzealously loyal to hide some terrible things or what?

Tuju is now being used in an attempt to divide an otherwise united community, and distract Kenyan's attention from the Constitution /referendum campaigns. The YES proponents of the Wako draft are sensing a humiliating defeat and are trying to give Raila some distraction at his political base. Well, let's put it plainly, it will not work.

Recently, several Kenyans gathered with some MP's for a discussion on the Wako draft in DC, namely Kenneth Marende (Emuhaya), Moses Cheboi (Kuresoi), and Macharia Mukiri (Molo), all lawyers around the time the Kenyan Ambassador was recalled.

The initial part of the discussion was very objective with almost unanimous consensus that the Wako draft could not stand the test of time. Later, tribal feelings creeped into the discussion culminating in raw emotional outbursts and eventually a walkout by Mt. Kenya leaning participants who noticed a solid galvanization of the rest of the nation against this Murungi document.

The eloquent Hon. Cheboi, verbally escorted those leaving with these parting words, "be ready to hear these same words from Kenyan voters come November, start preparing to walk back to us" I hope Tuju reads the mood of the nation correctly. Time will tell.

unedited.

Nimesema.

Job.

[roughrider]

We’ve been here before. Moi, for many years tried to use such divide and rule tactics. We will just see if those who are pulling the puppet strings behind Tuju are better political operators than Moi and Kenyatta ever were.

Contrary to public statements, we will not ignore Tuju and his henchmen (the political have-beens and election losers he brought together). That is not how politics goes. Instead we will do two things:
1. We will not allow this divisive nonsense to prevail even on an inch on Rarieda.
2. We shall take the battle to the puppet masters from Mt Kenya.

Yours is a good analysis. However you missed out some relevant bits. This party according to ‘our son Ralph’ is funded by the Norwegian private sector.

What exactly is that?

Why would the Norwegian private sector be interested in sponsoring a ‘people’s progressive party’ for Luos in Kenya? Care to share some thoughts?

(By the way, Bro Tuju from-a-humble-background, Norway is a parliamentary system)

A second area you need to look at is Kibaki’s use of Moi era Machiavellian tricks – sponsoring nuisance politicians to destabilise potential rivals. Tuju a flea in Raila’s face; Mukhisa and Kulundu to trouble Kombo; Ngilu to check Kalonzo and whenever Ngilu is reticent Mutua Katuku and Adelina Mwau are brought centre stage.

Third is whether or not this is not merely a moneymaking scheme.

Lastly we must examine Tuju’s cast of supporters. They are in two categories:

1. Election losers and other political have beens: this group including – Oselu Nyalik, Onyango Midika, Tom Obondo, Clarkson Otieno-Karan, Oluoch Kanindo former Kanu leaders, Jalang’o Anyango and Joel Nyaseme, Ken Opande etc – are political orphans from the Moi ‘error’. As soon as Kanu and NDP went into cooperation then merger in 2002, they became irrelevant and were rejected by the electorate. They trace their problems to Raila’s ascendancy as foremost political operator in Kenya today. Many eke out a living from peddling political support. Take Tom Obondo, for instance; a few weeks ago he was a staunch Biwott supporter, before then it was Shem Ochudho, today it is Ralph. Others are living in the illusion of past glory; Oselu Nyalik and Oluoch Kanindo can tell stories of how mighty they were.

2. The second category is most curious: they are former supporters of Raila and Jaramogi. Herbert Ojwang, Odhiambo Olel, and even Rateng Ogego. They all got jobs. These ones offer advise Mt Kenya on Raila and how he operates. Unfortunately for them raila turns out to be an enigma. Nobody knows how he plans his moves or exactly what course he will follow next. And a bit of advise for Tuju: Beware of friends

I think the name is ‘Agwenge’ and the CMG is actually ‘Chiedo Moa Gem’…. But since I am only a jagem asumbi, I can’t hold a candle to the real jogem from 'loka', can I?

[kamalet]

Don't you just feel sorry for Tuju?!! His political future was purely dependent on sucking up the collosus from Langata and Bondo, and now he has thrown this away by associating with the dreaded people of Mount Kenya. He now joins the likes of Mwakwere, Nyachae, Kirwa and the Luhyia group who cannot think for themselves but only gravitate to the same Mt. Kenya people with an ethnic agenda!!

What hogwash!!!

Tuju must be allowed to think for himself, commit political suicide for his beliefs, and at the same time build the mobile health centres that will save lives in Rarieda. If after 2007, this is not important, then the people of Rarieda must tell him they no longer need him!

Having known him for a long time, I can vouch for his independence of mind when it matters to his principles, and he continuously makes me proud as a leader.

Certainly this pride I have in him cannot translate to political survival if the argument by Oloo and Job holds true.

"An army of sheep led by a lion can defeat an army of lions led by a sheep"

[Onyango Oloo]

"asego2002" <asego2002@...>
Date: Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:03 am
Subject: Re: A Preliminary Assessment of Tuju's New Chama

>After bidding guys farewell, the guy stops over in Nairobi, finds the NARC euphoria slowly building up, meets some politicians and see's an opportunity to "buy" his nomination to Parliament.

onyango oloo,

raphael tuju did not buy his nomination to parliament. nobody was ever paid at ldp. infact, ralph's entry into politics was very accidental.

the truth goes like this....

a guy who comes from rarieda (currently resident in canada) has an argument with the then mp odeny ngure. odeny shouts back and he shouts back. he tells odeny "i will make sure you never see the inside of parliament". 30 minutes later ralph and his current ps arrive. the guy asks ralph whether "he is enough" - iromo - umekuwa. ralph laughs back as he usually does. he says politics is not for him. the guy insists (and persists) - august 2002, september 2002 (this is when ralph is introduced to agwambo as contender for rarieda). several meetings to press on ralph to take on odeny take place at otieno kopiyo's restaurant. another guy arrives from the uk to work out the campaign strategy for narc around november 2002. he does the script and ralph implements the script. ralph accepts to be ldp candidate. the rest is history.

the point is that there is a tendency for those who have been pushed into politics and who have been mentored by people close to agwambo to later get the illusion that they can measure upto him. the case of ralph and shem is example. both men are young, nice, intelligent, initially reluctant to get into politics, find themselves closer to people who are trusted by agwambo, are initiated into the think-tank group and because they realize they are not upto the nitty-gritty of political to-ing and fro-ing opt to rebel hoping that by rebelling, they stand to gain in some way. the ppp is a non starter. ralph tuju is not a fool. he knows it. those around him know it. i think ralph knows he is done with politics. what matters now is what is in it for him (as long as it lasts). its harvest time and ppp is just a harvest basket.

ps: i think the press has also over-blown this thing of "one family dominating luoland". there is no family hat dominates luoland. that raila is jaramogi's son is a biological accident in which neither raila nor jaramogi had no control. besides, there are many families who were prominent politicians before jaramogi entered politics. some of them being sen. apolo ohanga and gor ogallo before him not to mention mboya ndiege and agwenge kodhek (amongst others) during jaramogi's time.

ralph tuju is certainly better placed running his business empire (ace communications amongst others). he is quite a gentleman and may not have mastered how to manouvre within the muddy and dirty waters of kenyan politics.afterall, you cannot blame him. he has only been there for 3 years.

anyone imagining that ralph poses any threat to raila in nyanza or even nationally is certainly a clear case of infinite foolishness. ralph will not go back to parliament to represent rarieda. that is as certain as the second coming of jesus christ.

asego

[kamalet]

It is intriguing that Ralph needed the blessings of Agwambo to get the seat in Rarieada, and poor Shem Ochuodho lost out because he grew horns mbele ya Agwambo.

But then the media is wrong to suggest that luoland has been dominated by 'one family', yet Ralf cannot THREATED Raila in Nyanza, and will certainly not go back to parliament according to Asego!

If this is not denial, then the word lost meaning ages ago!!

[nyabindu]

A big supporter of Tuju ,i was also disheartened when they banded this rag tag PPP.

it is no secret he needed Raila to endorse his candidacy and the timing ,circumstances of this new outfit etc is just plain wrong.Those alluding that the odinga family do not dominate nyanza politics particularly central nyanza are certainly in denial.

The rarieda campaign during the last elections was marred with violence and rigging and most fingers were pointing at malo malo with his hired youths for hire. Fearful of defeat his hireling went round our villages terrorsing old poor women for those are the majority of who are left to vote and tend to the "dala" these days with the able bodied men outside rampaging confiscating or even burnin down Tuju's campaign bill boards and just being a terror. This is the maddnes our good people of rarieda rejected in malo malo. This very hard working residents of asembo,uyoma saw in Tuju a new beggining, a time to move forward and really pursue "dongruok." even as the narc/ldp wave swept through the country. Men and women want opportunities,and a chance to live like men are supposed to since many of our people have been exposed to at least a form of urban life with it's amenities .

On a personal note i have seen many peple including one i dearly loved almost lose or even lose thier lives due to lack of adaquate manpower ,equipment and transportation in my beloved asembo. Those bellitling the efforts being made to have my mother live a decent life and have tapped water instead of drinking "kulo" dirty water i do not understand. Those who bellitle the long needed ambulance to transport my sister in law in "difficult labor" to new nyanza for a ceasarean are not my country men or brother but strangers who i do not know. If he is being voted out because he made my niece whose dad the sole provider died of aids and even me due to struggling i cannot provide for thier needs and Tuju makes them through his efforts sleep better knowing she will recieve free education without the mother wondering which kuku to sell amognst the two still remainig from the "liel" she has to sell ,then what is the point of even " ringo goyo ombulu".Tuju continues to fulfill his mandate to date but has beeen facing stiff resistance for his choice of associates and hirtherto independent thoughts. His development record nothing short of remarkable considering the time frame and opposition. For those who do not know it is only on record that he was born in Uyoma but he was raised, went to school outside uyoma just like many of you were. His loyalty and pride of his parentage and his witness of the immense suffering our mothers have to go through everyday is what drives him to champion our needs and put them before anything even to the obvious tough decision of forming a new party. We all know through history of such who oppose the odinga hold as pointed out before. In my opinion it shows his brave and definetly not a fool for he knows he cannot win against raila. I am just tired of him being likened to great leaders like Mboya. I do not think he would like to be compared to any of this great luo leaders for he is comes from a different school. This thread rub off sentimental for the cynical among you but those are my thoughts. "saa oromo"

[Onyango Oloo]

I am still insisting Tuju could have played his politics differently.

For the record,on Satudary January 17th, 2004 I wrote the following essay when I defended Tuju's right to independent political activity in Nyanza:

www.mashada.com/forums/index.php?az=show_mesg&forum=22&topic_id=36014&mesg_id=36014&listing_type=search


Some people did not take too kindly to my remarks.

When I said in my more recent essay that Tuju completely misread the mood, I was reflecting on Orengo's disastrous Presidential run in 2002. Do not get me wrong: Orengo IS Presidential material and in that year I was on record as endorsing him at one point for the highest office in the land. It is just that at that particular time in December 2002, the ONLY PERSON who qualified for the job of defeating Uhuru Kenyatta and being elected President of Kenya was Mwai Kibaki- he was the consensus candidate, the leader of the official opposition, the person who had got the second highest votes in the 1997 elections after Moi. Orengo was WAY MORE PROGRESSIVE than Moi AND Mwai; had struggled harder and more consistently against repression- it was just that year Kenya was NOT looking for a progressive candidate- just someone who could beat Uhuru Kenyatta. That of course, is part of the problem we have in Kenya today in the sense that in 2002 people were not so much voting FOR Kibaki as they were voting AGAINST Moi- we never got a real serious chance as Kenyans to examine Mwai Kibaki's politics a little closer. To that extent Orengo was a victim of circumstances. Unfortunately towards the end of that campaign he was OBJECTIVELY helping KANU more than he was hurting it by running. Was he really paid off with 70 millions as some political wags posited? Who knows?

The fact is that he lost and to his credit, he went on a two year hiatus reflecting on his past, present and future in Kenyan politics.

Some of us have always said that when Orengo is aligned with popular democratic sentiments he is hard to beat- it is when he ventures off into his solo forays that he becomes very worrisome- like that sordid episode when he turned around and stabbed the very Prof. Anyang Nyongo who had invited him into the SDP fold.

These days we see Orengo making a step by step political recovery and there is no doubt in mind that it is only a matter of time before the old Orengo is back- and his brother in law Archbishop Ondiek had better start quaking in his boots.

Unfortunately, Tuju is no Orengo. My friend Mwandawiro who was a year mate of Tuju at Starehe tells me that Tuju is very intelligent and quite compassionate. He also supports a lot of worthy causes- very few people know that he is one of the people who bankrolled Suzzana Owiyo's first CD which we all know was a hit(even though a lot of people spent a lot of time pirating the recording). At least two other sources very close to me vouch for the man's personal integrity. Since he is independently wealthy, he is very unlikely to be "bought" by anyone.

Let us put it this way:

Raphael Tuju is a hardworking technocrat and tycoon who may well be remembered as one of Kenya's great philanthropists in the making. What he does not have is credible political skills. If he formed a national foundation to alleviate property in places not just Rarieda, but across the country, I am pretty sure he would be crowned with success.

When I tag Tuju's political naivete, it is not so much that he dared to take on Agwambo, but rather in his very obtuse and selfish trashing of our people's collective aspirations.

It is simply unsmart to juxtapose "politics" to "development". At one level, "politics" is all about how people live, including whether they have access to safe drinking water, healthy communities, food security, stable employment, good educational facilities. No politician runs for parliament pledging that if elected they will make a thousand speeches. Nay on the contrary a politician's bread and butter is, you guessed it- "development" going to the ridiculous extent as one famous world leader once observed, "promising to build a bridge where there is no river or body of water."

When Tuju trashes Kenyans clamouring for a Katiba as just merely "politicking" he is directly saying that he, Tuju is OPPOSED to "development".

Why?

Look at the contents of the Bomas Draft. It speaks at length on precisely the issues that people lump together as "development."

It is this fatal disconnect that will spell doom for Ralph Tuju and any political aspirations he may have harboured that will see him rubbishing the legal constitutional framework of a development paradigm, not only in Rarieda, but across Nyanza and the rest of the country.

Onyango Oloo
Toronto