Post by miguna on Mar 11, 2007 2:00:14 GMT 3
ODM-K STUMBLES AS KIBAKI REPLACES NARC-K WITH HANDSHAKES
By MIGUNA MIGUNA* - © 8 March 2007
By MIGUNA MIGUNA* - © 8 March 2007
EMBEDDED Internet-based idlers primarily from abroad are chattering away at the apparent major stumble by the ODM-K over their aborted UK bonding trip. There is a frenzied rumour mill being churned over by the instant pundits for free. Speculations are rife.
Coming in the wake of the past two week’s machinations over power struggles within the party and (mis)perceived skirmishes between Raila Odinga’s and Kalonzo Musyoka’s forces, this latest escapade leaves political refuse that needs cleaning.
ODM-K‘s stumble is not a fall. ODM-K must quickly and efficiently steady itself and continue the race it has been running if it expects to be on the medal podium in December this year.
According to many of these foreign-based Kenyan chatterers, Uhuru Kenyatta, Kalonzo Musyoka and Julia Ojiambo cancelled their UK trip in order to save both William Rutto and Musalia Mudavadi the embarrassment of having being denied travel visas by the UK government.
It is being speculated that the UK refused to permit the duo travel papers because they have either been adversely mentioned in corruption-related cases or due to ongoing criminal cases in Kenyan courts.
Although Mudavadi has been featured prominently in the Goldenberg scandal; he was vindicated by the Bosire Inquiry.
Rutto, on the other hand, is facing serious charges over corruption allegations. However, under the principle of “innocence until proven guilty;” Rutto must be presumed innocent until a competent court of law either convicts or acquits him based on credible evidence that would have been tested through cross-examination.
One expects that the UK government would be sensitive to both Messrs Rutto’s and Mudavadi’s rights.
There are many cyber pundits who have used the fiasco surrounding the failed trip by the ODM-K luminaries as an excuse to hurl attacks at Raila Odinga. Conveniently forgotten is the fact that it was Kalonzo Musyoka – not Raila – who publicly revealed the UK rendezvous last Friday at a rally in Kakamega.
Newspapers quoted Kalonzo as stating that: “ODM presidential hopefuls will travel to London in a week’s time to bond and do everything to agree on the best method of picking the flag-bearer without splitting the party.”
Although many ODM-K presidential hopefuls subsequently confirmed and concurred with Kalonzo, there was no report of Raila’s position. One can then surmise that Raila was not the driving force behind this initiative. From the sound of things, Raila supported this initiative rather than having been its principal architect, and is reported to be on his way to London (or already there), in order to proceed with the plans that he can undertake on his own.
It has not escaped the notice of careful analysts that those staying at home have tried to spin this story in a manner that refuses to acknowledge the visa hiccup. If the cyber romour mills are to be believed, then Uhuru, Rutto, Kalonzo and Ojiambo have tried to cover up the main story; which is the alleged refusal by the British to grant travel visas to Rutto and Mudavadi.
At least Musalia had behaved as a true gentleman and indicated, earlier on, that he did not intend to travel to London because of his ongoing engagements. Najib Balala is reportedly hospitalized and could not honestly have traveled. Rutto, on the other hand, had declared not just that he would obtain the visa; he was categorical that he would attend the bonding exercise.
Why then are we now hearing about the exercise having been hijacked by others and the sensitivity to “Kenyans’ concern” over the perception that they were going on a begging mission? When did Kenyans make these proclamations? And have the stumbling ODM-K team cowering in fear in Nairobi just heard about these?
If in fact the ODM-K bonding trip was about mediation, then Rutto, Uhuru and Ojiambo have done a disservice to Kenyans. Mediation is a peacemaking exercise aimed at generating goodwill, unity and hopefully long-lasting resolution to existing or perceived disputes. It matters not where the exercise takes place, who the mediators are or where they come from as long as the result is achieved. Hence, those claiming that the ODM-K bonding trip was a begging mission or intended to mortgage our leaders to the British must be told to get off their high horses.
Over at State House, President Kibaki seems to have woken up from the Narc-K reverie with stamina. Narc-K has had more than its fair share of political stomach upsets lately, culminating in the unprecedented cancellation of its much touted leadership and grassroots elections. Narc-K faced a potential split with two major factions supporting Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, on the one hand, and Prof George Saitoti, on the other, refusing to blink.
With Health Minister Charity Ngilu adamantly refusing to hand-over the reigns of power in the original Narc; Kibaki has literally become party-less. Without a viable political vehicle, Kibaki’s re-election efforts have been rendered comical.
Yet, rather than take over, form or transform any of the moribund parties littering the Kenyan landscape, he has taken to the countryside, shaking hands, smooching and dishing out goodies. If handshakes and dishing out of political candies alone could determine election results, then Kibaki would have already been crowned.
But the political matrix in Kenya is not that simple. A candidate needs more than handshakes to win. Kibaki knows this from his mediocre performance in 1992 and 1997. His 2002 victory was mainly brought about by forces and factors more formidable than his personal appeal. That much he knows. And that is what he dreads.
Unlike Raila who is an experienced and battle hardened mobilizer; Kibaki is facing real dilemma of his lifetime. It is ironic that a president better known for a hands-off approach to all public affairs rather than proactive engagement with the populace is now trying to score A+ on the battle for handshakes. In the past two weeks, Kibaki has been shaking hands with chiefs, provincial administrators, regional political tin pots and with all manner of people that one would mistake this to be the recipe for “building the nation” mantra that he tried but failed to sell to us when he assumed power more than four years ago.
Scandals – especially those of a political nature – sell in Kenya, as they do elsewhere around the world. So, we should perhaps be a bit skeptical about the swirling reports of scandals surrounding both ODM-K and Narc-K. It might well be that most of it is concocted elsewhere for the sale of newspapers and the ratcheting up of TV ratings. After all, what will the majority of unemployed Kenyans do without the rumours?
They may think of more creative ways of replacing their lazy, fleecing and incorrigible leadership!
The main trouble for me is that this rumour-mill culture has infested Kenyans abroad, even professionals and PhD holders that we should expect more from. It is a pity and may turn out to be a national curse.
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*The writer is a Barrister & Solicitor in Toronto, Canada
Miguna@migunamiguna.com
