RAILA'S CANADIAN TOUR A SUCCESS

[miguna]

HON. RAILA ODINGA¡¦S CANADIAN TOUR A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

RAILA ODINGA¡¦S CANADAIAN TOUR
(OCT. 26TH TO 29TH, 2006)

On behalf of the Organizing Committee members Waikwa Wanyoike, Leonard Wandili, Wambui Gaitho, Ben Ondoro, Hon. Raila Odinga, the ODM-K Team, and myself,

We wish to thank everyone for the support and good-will shown before and during Hon. Raila Odinga¡¦s recent brief tour of Canada. Without your well-wishes and support, Hon. Raila¡¦s visit to Canada would not have been as successful as it has been. For that, you deserve a huge ¡§Thank You!¡¨

We look forward to your continued support, proactive and positive engagement during the coming months so as to ensure that Hon. Raila¡¦s quest for the presidency of the Republic of Kenya becomes a reality in 2007. We can do it.

Hon. Raila had a very tight schedule from the date of his arrival on October 26th, 2006 to his departure today (October 29th, 2006). He was interviewed for the CBC Program, Dispatches, by Rick McKenna Ray. That interview will be played on Thursday evening between 7 and8 PM. Please try to find time and listen to the interview.

Hon. Raila also gave a scholarly lecture to the University of Toronto on Friday, October 27th, 2006. The meeting took place at the William Doo Lecture Theatre of the University of Toronto. About 120 people attended. He addressed various governance issues that have affected Kenya since 1963. He also offered his vision and solutions to these problems.

On Saturday, October 29th, 2006, Hon. Raila addressed a large gathering of Kenyans, his Canadian supporters, friends of Kenya and Pan-Africanists (of approximately 250 people) at the Reichmann Family Lecture Hall at the Earth Sciences Building, University of Toronto. This was the biggest single gathering a Kenyan politician/leader has addressed in Canada in the past 15 years.

Hon. Raila was passionate, candid, eloquent and comprehensive in addressing constitutional, governance and historical issues affecting Kenya, the East African Region and Africa. During the Question and Answer Sessions, Hon. Raila demonstrated his impeccable grasp of issues ranging from technological backwardness and challenges facing Africa in general and Kenya in particular as well as his vision for the future.

He specifically addressed issues of conflicts and conflicts resolution in the troubled sub-Saharan countries such as Somalia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others. He challenged Kenyans to aspire to be the best. He articulated his Pan-Africanist vision not only for an integrated and unified East Africa, but also for a United States of Africa.

He enthralled his audiences by giving elaborate and comprehensive comparative examples of how both developed and developing states such as Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea and India managed to overcome significant (historical) disadvantages following World War II, to become major economic power houses. The audiences were fascinated by Hon. Raila¡¦s detailed and accurate grasp of historical, current and complicated world events.

For example, he provided elaborate examples of how Kenya was at par ¡V economically speaking - with Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea in the 1960¡¦s yet these Asian Tigers managed to develop 43 times better than Kenya in the past 43 years. Kenya, on the other hand has stagnated, regressed, decayed ¡V economically, technologically and politically.

Hon. Raila asserted that as a Pan-Africanist, he refuses to accept the myth that Koreans, Japanese, Malaysians and Indians have done better than Kenya because they are superior to Kenyans. He said that he knows from personal experience that this is a myth because he has been to school with Koreans, for example, and they are definitely not intellectually superior to Kenyans, or Africans for that matter.

He sent the audiences roaring in laughter when he stated that Kenya should be a better destination for foreign investment more than China because Kenyans speak better English than the Chinese. He was candid when he pointed out that Kenya does not need foreign aid; Kenya needs foreign investment and trade with the rest of the world. In order to develop, Kenya require fair trade laws.

Hon. Raila raised issue with the NARC Government¡¦s celebration of a purported 5.8% economic growth rate. He not only stated that these figures are suspect based on the ¡§new accounting¡¨ applied on the figures (and that the ¡§old accounting principles¡¨ would have placed the current growth rate at 3.8%; he also explained that the supposed ¡§growth¡¨ is fueled by:

„« money laundering activities;
„« money ¡§returned¡¨ from abroad by those who had stashed such money abroad before; and
„« increased activity in the service industry rather than on the productive areas of the economy such as manufacturing, agriculture and the IT (which ought to be the engines of Kenya¡¦s economy).

Hon. Raila explained that without significant investment in manufacturing, agriculture and infrastructure development, Kenya cannot hope to address the issues of poverty, disease and ignorance.

Hon. Raila convincingly explained that apart from the introduction of ¡§free¡¨ primary education (which is not exactly ¡§free¡¨), the Narc government has failed to deliver on any of its election promises. For instance, he explained that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) accounts for only 3% of the total Government budget. That 97 percent of the annual budget is still controlled, misused and un-accountanted for by the Central Government. He challenged Kenyans to demand to know how the Government spends that 97% of the budget rather than be unnecessary focused on the 3% of CDF.

Hon. Raila stated that the Government must be called to account for how it has used that 97% since taking power in December 2002.

He reminded his audiences that the Narc Government has refused and failed to enact a new people-focused constitution that was prepared at the Bomas Conference within 100 days as it had promised it would do upon assuming power. Similarly, Hon. Raila described how President Kibaki has reintroduced and entrenched ethnicity and tribalism in all sphere of public life in Kenya after we thought we had dealt a blow to these backward tendencies in 2002.

Similarly, Hon. Raila decried the failure of the Government in stamping out corruption from the Kenyan society.

He reiterated that Kenya¡¦s myriad problems can be solved in less than one year if we had a committed, credible and progressive leadership and political dispensation.

Hon. Raila exhorted people to give the Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM-K) a chance to address all these problems. He stated that ODM-K has the requisite vision, courage, commitment and will to bring positive changes to Kenya. He specifically asked for the support of Kenyans so that he could lead this fight to release Kenya from the clasp of poverty, diseases and ignorance. He promised that if elected, he would ensure that we have a new popular constitution entrenched within a speedy time frame.

A detailed account of Hon. Raila¡¦s lectures and discussions will be transcribed and published for wide dissemination in due course.

We urge you to support Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga and the ODM-K vision for Kenya.

Thank You!

[aeichener]

Did he also walk on water, perchance ?

I'll be looking forward to Adongo's report.

Alexander

[mzeiya]

I would to hear Raila speak of his achievements in his Langata constituency.

Talk is cheap.

[abdulmote]

My biggest and largest concern on anything about Raila, is how he intends to tame those 'aspiring' hyenas among hi troops and that is if he may not turn out to be one of them. So many times we have heard the defenders of sitting presidents allocating blames of the president's failure upon 'the people around him'! And please, there is no need for me to mention any names! After all, Kibaki's pledges were similarly encouraging before NARC won the elections, and look what happened after that. The fact that Raila, like the rest of other aspiring presidential candidates are clearly dependent on other 'tribal goons', and continue to vigorously lure and invite them to his side so that they may support his/her ambition, is a clear indication that once again Kenya is certainly destined for the sewers, perhaps even much more filthier than where we would have come from!

On Miguna's summary above, I found Raila's line on Koreans and Indians so bitterly laughable, annoying, self demeaning and simply pathetic for want of a better explanation! Sample this:-

"Hon. Raila asserted that as a Pan-Africanist, he refuses to accept the myth that Koreans, Japanese, Malaysians and Indians have done better than Kenya because they are superior to Kenyans. He said that he knows from personal experience that this is a myth because he has been to school with Koreans, for example, and they are definitely not intellectually superior to Kenyans, or Africans for that matter."

Is that how an aspiring presidential candidate attempts to counter the the silly argument by observing that Koreans "are not intellectually superior to Kenyans, or Africans for that matter" simply because he had been to school with them? What if he hadn't? What some pathetic bulldung for such a gathering! Hata kama he was addressing Kiberans for that matter I would say they do not, categorically, deserve such a self-demeaning and pathetic observation!

[aeichener]

abdulmote said:

My biggest and largest concern on anything about Raila, is how he intends to tame those 'aspiring' hyenas among troops

Oh yes, how true indeed. Hyenas at home, and including those who would want to return, feeling it is their time to eat now.

and that is if he may not turn out to be one of them.

Like, e.g., Koigi wa Wamwere *sigh*.

Alexander

[kamalet]

How many times will this Raila fellow repeat this Money Laundering LIE with regard to the growth of the Nairobi Stock Exchange? Does he want to tell Kenyans that drew out their savings to put in 27billion shillings for the purchase of Kengen Shares that they are money launderers?

It is such bankruptcy of ideas that Kenyans should be wary of!

What about the allegation that the growth has been fueled by "services industry"? Obviuosly he does very little reading of the Kenyan economy and if he had bothered to read the CBK Monthly economic review for Spetember 2006 he would have noted that the growth has been fueled actually by Agriculture and Manufacturing as well as the communication (IT??? - he may not know!) industries. Is it also a lie that mobile phone subscription has grown from 4.5 million in 2004 to 6.5 in 2006?Here is the proof should he wish to know:

www.centralbank.go.ke/downloads/publications/mer/sept06.pdf

When he talks of suspect figures, why would the World Bank report that the GNI per capita has grown from US$ 430 in 2000 to US$ 530 in 2005? Or even the fact that GDP has grown from US$ 12.7Billion in 2000 to US$18.0 Billion in 2005? That to Raila is a shrinking economy that has not performed.

devdata.worldbank.org/external/CPProfile.asp?CCODE=KEN&PTYPE=CP

If you read the speech, not a single figure has been quoted to show the "extent of problems in the country", but this is obviously not done with good reason. Figures do not LIE, but then I forget what happens when you spell the man's name in reverse! A LIAR

That is what happens when a speech is written for one who may not know what he is reading - that is how the Raila speech sounded to me!

[adongo12345]

Alex

I was at the Raila event at U of T when he addressed Kenyans and I am planning to do a thorough analysis of his presentation and discussion with Kenyans. It was quite interesting.

One of the amazing things about the man is how humble and friendly he is. People like Kamale want to make him out to be a monster which is just the opposite of what he is, no wonder Kenyans who interact with him everyday refuse to buy into Raila, the big bad mean LIAR rubbish that the Kamales are beginning to chorus.

Another thing is that Kenyans treat the man like a rock star. They genuinely love him, even those who oppose some of his ideas. People flock to Raila like nothing I have ever seen before. They want to touch him, shake his hands or just stand next to him. Everybody tries to snap a photo next to the man and he obliges with his trade mark smile. Raila is a genuine human being and there are few of those in politics and I think that is part of the reason he drives the Kibaki fakes crazy. Traveling with Raila must be one of the loneliest things for his comrades.

In terms of his politics and massage he had for Kenya, I would summarize it as "Reviving The Kenyan Dream". That to me should be the title of the speech he gave us, but I don't want talk about that until I present the whole speech so we can debate it.

Luckily I recorded the whole thing and will soon have it on line then the debate can begin. My sense is that Raila does not need cheer leaders. He needs to be asked tough questions. ODM has major issues on credibility and we should address them head on, after all it is not like Kibaki doesn't have even heavier questions on credibility. But that is coming in my analysis.

At any rate I think Raila is the luckiest guy around. Imagine he gives a speech in Toronto, ten thousand miles away and the next day he is in the front pages and Editorials of the Dailies in Kenya with all the bankrupt Kibaki political forces condemning him for saying what everybody knows as obvious truths, namely that Kibaki is a flop and an embarrassment as the leader Kenyans elected to bring change in the country (I am actually putting an article on Raila's luck - should be ready by tomorrow).

I don't know what Abdulmonte is talking about accusing Raila of intellectual deficiency when Raila said he know Koreans are not intellectually superior to Africans and citing the fact that he went to school with Koreans. That was just a light hearted inference that sent the crowd roaring with laughter. Growing up we were made to think for example that Asians were superior to us and for me it was not until I joined the University of Nairobi and shared courses in my Bcom undergrad with my Asian compatriots and showed some of them dust that I finally convinced myself that kweli we were just fine. Lets put things in perspective.

As for Kamale I think he is stooping too low even by his limited standards peddling Raila the LIAR mantra. It is not going to take Kibaki and his people anywhere. Trying changing the topic. You guys have been talking about Raila for four years. Whole rallies are devoted to demonizing the man and he is still kicking some behind.

The 5.8% economic growth means nothing to 98% of Kenyans. I don't hear the Kamale talking about the other statistics. Poverty in Kenya has grown from 56% in 2002 to 58%. Meaning close to 60% of Kenyans can barely feed themselves. That sucks. Trying telling those folks that there are better off because Kamale is getting rich buying and selling shares.

The Kenyan middle class has shrunk by ten percent in the the last several years. Meaning some people like Kamale who thought they were on their way to the promised land have landed back to earth and joined the ranks of the absolute poor.

According to UN Human Development Index, Kenyans' standard of living has dropped 20 places since 2002 putting us at # 154 a good ten points behind Uganda.

Kenya is third most unequal country in the world. Phew!!!. At least we get a medal there. How shameful. We are 22nd poorest country in the world. So spare us the economic boom nonsense. The nation is in real trouble and all the ingredients for social upheaval are there when you look at the desperation of the poor and the mess in land distribution as well as the simmering tensions. That is why the battle for devolution is going to be huge in Kenya. People are not going to take any bullchit.

The 2030 tunnel vision is another laugher that I will soon talk about. I don't think one can see far when their head is stuck deep in no man's land and that is where Kibaki's head is. They don't even understand the fundamentals of our economy. We are going to teach them with a whip in hand. Ngoja tu.

Adongo.

[kamalet]

Adongo,

I personally do not have a problem with you peddling negatives about Kenya. Do I deny that they are facts....certainly not! But I think you need to also look at the positives and surely they must have a bearing on an improving Kenya!

What I do not agree with Raila on is his continued peddling of the negatives most of which are LIES whilst failing to recognise the changes that have taken place in the lives of Kenyans. I gave figures to prove the positives and since you did not counter any of these, I can only imagine that you wish to live withing these negatives to just feel like a downtrodden Kenyan.

It is not enough to peddle figures such as the 5.8% growth only benefitting 2% of Kenyans which you surely know is a LIE - and you still have no authoritative source to back up your figures. Why don't you do so then we can share the figures?

Let us not deal with abstract accusation not backed by any meaningful figures!

[aeichener]

Quite a noble answer, Kamalet - thanks !

Alexander

[adongo1234]

Kamale

First let get over with this nonsense of people peddling negatives about Kenya which seems to be the new found phony philosophy of the Kibakites. I am a Kenyan by birth, a patriot and have no apologies to make when I denounce the corrupt incompetent Kibaki regime.

Kibaki is not Kenya. The Kibaki regime is not synonymous with the republic of Kenya. Denouncing the foolishness, failures and yes lies of the Kibaki leadership is actually in the best interest of Kenya. It is an expression of our unending love for the country.

When Moi was raping and tearing the country a part with the support of the Kamales of this world we were accused of being anti-Kenya when we took our battles to the capitals of the world to expose the miscreants in power. We are doing the same with Kibaki and his failed regime.

Now you say Raila is telling lies. Why don't you tell us which lies are those.

Is it a lie that Kibaki renegaded on the promise for a new constitution in a hundred days? Is it a lie that the same Kibaki who denounced the imperial presidency when he was in opposition made 360 degree turn around and embraced the imperial presidency doctrine which was rejected by Kenyans?

Is it a lie that corruption is booming under Kibaki? Is it a lie that people very close to Kibaki including his own personal assistant have been cited on massive corruption accusations?

Is it a lie that under Kibaki tribalism has become a religion of governance? Do I need to remind you about Michuki's Kikuyu ngorota thesis?

Is it a lie that Kibaki, his family and his cohorts were involved in stupid operations like the Artur saga?

Is it a lie that poverty has increased not decreased in Kenya? I gave you the figures indicating that absolute poverty has grown from 56% in 2002 to 58% in 2006. Why are more Kenyans sinking into absolute poverty when the economy is supposed to be booming? Why has our human development index pushed us lower into the ranks of the poverty ridden states?

Those are the questions you should be dealing with instead of loosing sleep over Raila.

Adongo

I forgot to say something about your per capita figures from the world bank. Do you know how they measure per capita? I am sure you do. It is the most hopeless figure to determine improvement in the lives of the population. Once the GDP increases the per capita will increase because you simply divide the GDP with the population. It does not tell you who or which sector earned that increamental amount.

Now if our GDP is increasing and at the same time the poverty level is increasing, you don't need a Phd to figure out that it is a very small percentage that is actually benefitting.

You also miss the fact that horticulture mainly flower farming has become one of the key pillars of the economy and had the biggest increase in the last GDP.

Who owns horticulture facilities in Kenya? Wanjiku? Nop. You need massive initial capital to start a flower farm. I had said before that a smart government(which we can't accuse Kibaki's regime of being) would figure how to facilitate the participation of ordinary Kenyans into this booming industry.

Throwing figures which you don't even bother to interpret and probably don't understand does nothing to advance your argument.

[politicalmaniac]

A.O
Like any true progressive metritrocatic based democrat, You have to fight the good fight with fellows who have tunnel vision and a one tract mind.

As as these folks are concerned, R never did a good deed in his short life here on earth. Never mind that he built an industry from scratch that employs thousands and provides a lively hood for their families.

But when R shouts at the mountain top for justice, decries tribalism, points out the disingneousness of the NARCKies and Baknistas, he is immeadiately condemned by the party hacks. Notice that these same fellows did utter a single word when R was busy campaigning for the sloth, as akina me-chuki, DR CM were chilling elsewhere, or akina njenga were busy campaigning against the sloth! Talk of double standards!

As you pointed out, R is a magnet, he is beloved by more than despised by a large section of the electorate. Is it any wonder that he is the ONLY presidential candidate from an urban constituency?

I will be heading to Houston at the end of the week to get my book autographed, and to get a pic snapped with him if possible. I hope to record the event too.
R will be the ODM nominee. KM will stay in ODM. I am now convinced that inthe event that KM bolts we shall have a plan B to deal with that fallout. Stars are aligning themselves for R, just like they did for the sloth in 02'.

Its a pity that the sloth squandered a golden chance of a lifetime. His legacy is one of a lazy tribal cabal outfit, corrupt GOVT, and sloppy inept management. He will dissapear fast from our consciousness.

May our country be blessed!

[job]

Folks,

The economy to talk (or brag) about is the economy of wenye nchi and not the stock-driven economy driven by the top 5%, period! and that is this;

How much was I paying for a packet of Unga in 2002 ( under Moi's government) ? = shs 27.

How much am I paying for the same packet today (2006) under Kibaki's booming economy? = shs 60.

How much did 1 kg of sugar cost in 2002? what about today under Kibaki's 5.8% economic growth? It has OBVIOUSLY DOUBLED from sh 28 to shs 56.

What was the 2002- price for 1 litre of paraffin? How about the price today under the economic wizards of DP? Of course wenye nchi feel the pain of the more than doubled price.

Hidden taxes (escalating costs) are squeezing the little resources from our super-taxed poor, while tax-evading, exchequer-looting beer-heads and conmen are swimming in luxury.

WHAT IS A LIE ABOUT THAT? Shame on the Kibaki-cheersboys who don't expect accountability questions to be asked. The messenger is never the problem. The message is the problem here.

As AO has correctly pointed out; Kibaki inherited an already economically-thrashed nation with 56% living below the poverty line,.........his genius has pushed the nation back to where we now have between 58% and 60% below the poverty line. This translates to between 600,000 and 1.2 million more Kenyans falling below the poverty line under "economist" Kibaki's watch.

Yet all we witness daily is more looting, Anglo-Fleecing, thieving and plunder of the already mearger resources.

The ruling bunch of seventy-something and eighty-something tribalists masquerading as Visionaries for Kenya leadership must be told to pack and go into retirement. No hungry wenye nchi have time to massage egos of failed, corrupt, tribalistic and inept regimes.

I wonder what is jittering Kibaki (& his chorus-boys) about trips by opposition leaders who are engaging their fellow citizens.
I wish Kibaki would also take a tour around the country to dialogue with Kenyans and answer questions from wenye nchi about his failed leadership rather than bother about opposition leaders facing their countrymen and women to answer very tough questions and real concerns. The buck stops State House Muthee.

Job

[wanyee]

Reality check:

Exposed: The new faces behind molasses plant

www.eastandard.net/archives/august/sun01082004/intelligence/intel31070410.htm

[kamalet]

job said:

Folks,

The economy to talk (or brag) about is the economy of wenye nchi and not the stock-driven economy driven by the top 5%, period! and that is this;

How much was I paying for a packet of Unga in 2002 ( under Moi's government) ? = shs 27.

How much am I paying for the same packet today (2006) under Kibaki's booming economy? = shs 60.

How much did 1 kg of sugar cost in 2002? what about today under Kibaki's 5.8% economic growth? It has OBVIOUSLY DOUBLED from sh 28 to shs 56.

What was the 2002- price for 1 litre of paraffin? How about the price today under the economic wizards of DP? Of course wenye nchi feel the pain of the more than doubled price.

Hidden taxes (escalating costs) are squeezing the little resources from our super-taxed poor, while tax-evading, exchequer-looting beer-heads and conmen are swimming in luxury.

WHAT IS A LIE ABOUT THAT? Shame on the Kibaki-cheersboys who don't expect accountability questions to be asked. The messenger is never the problem. The message is the problem here.

As AO has correctly pointed out; Kibaki inherited an already economically-thrashed nation with 56% living below the poverty line,.........his genius has pushed the nation back to where we now have between 58% and 60% below the poverty line. This translates to between 600,000 and 1.2 million more Kenyans falling below the poverty line under "economist" Kibaki's watch.

Yet all we witness daily is more looting, Anglo-Fleecing, thieving and plunder of the already mearger resources.

The ruling bunch of seventy-something and eighty-something tribalists masquerading as Visionaries for Kenya leadership must be told to pack and go into retirement. No hungry wenye nchi have time to massage egos of failed, corrupt, tribalistic and inept regimes.

I wonder what is jittering Kibaki (& his chorus-boys) about trips by opposition leaders who are engaging their fellow citizens.
I wish Kibaki would also take a tour around the country to dialogue with Kenyans and answer questions from wenye nchi about his failed leadership rather than bother about opposition leaders facing their countrymen and women to answer very tough questions and real concerns. The buck stops State House Muthee.

Job

Job,

According to your economic logic, the price of Unga is supposed to fall when the economy grows ;D!!!

I would have thought you would actually question the figures that I gave but you refuse to see them. But just so that we can get things in their true perspective, very many companies are making huge profits in Kenya some of whom were in perennial losses like Kenya Pipeline. Have you asked yourself why that company is now so profitable? This simply means that the consumption of fuel by industry and others has significantly grown. What about the 12 billion shilling profit by Safaricom recently announced? This is revenue derived from Kenyans making calls - that includes the 60% who according to you live below the poverty line!

What I see is a problem of people living in denial especially those living in the comforts of the west where when lies are peddled they become gospel truth. All I can say is that living in Kenya can be an eye opener, and perhaps you might want to re-locate to see it for yourself rather than have a political liar regurgitate for you in exchange of your CNA dollars!

[adongo12345]

Kamale:

I think there is more to these money laundering claims than Raila telling lies. Check this out.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6123832.stm

What do you think?

Adongo

[politicalmaniac]

AO
My bet is that the individual to whom you have posed the question will NOT bother toanswer, or if he does he will spit out the loyal party line, that the BBC piece is what else but refined western propaganda.
Negatives he calls them.
Or Raila lies.

I have YET to read anything by this indivual pointing out a mistake, error, shortcoming or deficit of this inept, corrupt tribalistic regime.
But the shouts that R lies, lies lies grow louder with each post. Funny thing is that when R talks his commentaries are about the unyielding corruption (a lie so the say), rampant tribalism (another lie), lack of a new constitutional dispensation (another lie they claim), new job claim figures and GDP growth rates that are invisble to the wenye - nchi but very visible to the regime ( a lie, again).
So there you have it.

[job]

Kamale,

First; About economic logics, Mr Einstein; who told you I expected the price of Unga to fall when the economy grows? What is your logic on Inflation? What does a rapid > 100% price increase of basic commodities mean to you, with wages remaining constant? Probably nothing. Is it because you are indeed extremely wealthy? That's a rhetoric question. Implied wealth, relative wealth and real wealth all have different meanings to different people anyway.

Then relate to me how you will tell Wanjiku that the economy is actually booming, because the bourse is in good shape when she can't afford a packet of Ugali. That's the logic that's important to millions.

And to put it in real perspective, since you love politics,....the cost of Unga, Parrafin, Sugar and other basic commodities will only mean much to you when the campaigns start.

Right now, just wallow under the veil of the Nairobi Stock Exchange. You may later come to see the real economics which maters to majority voters.

About Foreign owned companies doing well at the Stock exchange,......that doesn't fit right into my paradigm of justice for Wanjiku. The REAL beneficiaries are a mixed pool of;
Foreigners,.... a coterie of rich politicians,..... Anglo Fleecers,..... Goldenberg looters,....... beneficiaries of government contracts,..... another bunch of corrupt individuals..... and probably just a few genuinely wealthy people ; ALL who invest in more than tens of millions.

Where is the community focus for Wanjiku? Where does she fall in this picture. These guys aren't really investing in job-creating economic activities. They dont build factories or create manufacturing jobs,.....they just buy lucrative shares.

It is fashionable & lucrative for them to buy shares in companies specifically associated with Kibaki, Eddy Njoroge or a Minister-Michuki,..... like say East African Cables.. Which Wanjiku is enjoying in that level of economic boom? Show me any egalitarian or need based efforts that Kibaki prioritizes? A paltry 2.5% CDF effort? eh?

I dont care whether few people are gullible and impressionable enough to be hoodwinked by return of massive amounts of previously looted funds (like Goldenberg ), coupled with the Artur brother related drug proceeds, and money laundering activities that PUMP ALL THAT MONEY INTO STOCKS with a resultant record of sudden increased activity at the stock exchange (or mushrooming apartment complexes).

Real economic growth creates real jobs.

Second; I could be wrong here. You create the impression that you seem to have quite a decent chunk of Diaspora based relatives, friends and people you know who happen to be CNA's. Believe it or not, that acronym confuses even some Diaspora based Kenyans distant from that job whom I have met,...some calling it CNS etc etc.

Don't assume that sample of Kenyans close to you is representative of the general Kenyan population in the Diaspora.

Well, there are many other Kenyans engaged in quite a bit of other lines of activities. You may want to take a trip one of these days over here and find highly placed Kenyans at NASA, MIT, Mayo clinic, Johns Hopkins, World-Bank, IMF, and such other places. Maybe you don't happen to know or share something with them,..... your CNA fellas are good and decent people too, so you may wanna reconsider your belittling attitude to fellows you share a country and other good things with. Respect your fellow Kenyans, relatives, friends etc - even those you don't
know.

Ever since I relocated with my family into the US, I have met quite a bit of young Kenyan CNA's some who transition from a CNA job upon graduation into decent professions,..... even teaching positions at community colleges.

Lastly, Diaspora based Kenyans are not living in denial as your wild allegation suggests. Many actually visit Kenya regularly, and many will infact be coming to vote in 2007. My wife just came back from Kenya two months back and saw those things that seem to impress you so much that you seem to be losing your composure. The thing is,.......with a booming economy,.......then let the Muthendi trickle down to Wanjiku's plate.

Peace.
unedited

Job

[aeichener]

job said:

The ruling bunch of seventy-something and eighty-something tribalists masquerading as Visionaries for Kenya leadership
(...)
Kibaki (...) about his failed leadership

It is obvious not only in the diaspora, but also at home, that to many people the *impression*, thus the mere *appearance* of stern "LIDASHEEP", be it with a flywhisk or with a rungu... is a lot more important than the actual quality of governing and governance under a president who appears (wrongly or rightly) to be weak and undecided in a laissez-faire-laissez-aller manner, no manner what the actual outcome on Wanjiku's level might be in either case.

Alexander