Raila Odinga- you dont have to be president!

[foresight]

Raila Odingas stature has reached a point where in my opinion he doesn’t need to be the president of Kenya to exert his influence.

He has reached a place of political leadership where his cup is “running over”. At this time he faces opposition from the likes of Ruto and Uhuru, but these guys are still being approved rationally, and they are still busy trying to endear themselves to Kenyans by whipping up emotions etc.

It is my conviction that Raila Odinga has passed that stage and his approval rating in entirely on a different scale. I feel that he has transcendend beyond all these and has entered into peoples' psyche.

Thus he has become the standard upon which political leadership is measured in Kenya.

Let me put it like this, Raila Odinga is the kind of leader whose influence in the Kenya political stage is so great that even if he did not vie for the presidency and leave the position of leadership, without use of force or arms he will still influence any decision to be taken or made in the Republic of Kenya.

For good or for bad, this man has entrenched himself in the politics of Kenya to such an extent that no leader in Kenya ,friend or foe can gain any mileage without either antagonizing or simply riding on his surpassing influence.

Raila Odinga is a leader that is hard to replace, within his own community, nationally and even within the African context.

We can all see the obvious gap that exists between him and say Kibaki, Ruto, Uhuru, Kalonzo, Tuju, Mudavadi, all these leaders are still at a very low level of leadership and can easily be replaced within their own communities.

Again for good or for bad, Raila has reached a place where everything around him has become public and his community has no choice but to let him be public commodity.

I strongly believe that if he only sees himself as far as being the president of Kenya, then he will totally be underrating himself and he will go down the annuls of history as an underachiever and a visionless man.

Kenny Rogers a western country music artist long ago sang a song called MUSIC MAN, Part of the lyrics go something like this “YOU ARE A POWERFUL MAN BUT YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO DEMAND SO LITTLE OF YOU”

As I write it is a fact that Raila Odinga holds Kenya political future to the sway of his influence, it is possible that due to ethnic mobilization, Jealousy, fear, and revenge call it “bad politics” he may never be the president of Kenya, but that should not be a worry because his larger than life space could be dwarfed anyway by a presidency that will chain him other than free him to be all he ever could be.

Working with "minnows" to spearhead reforms could prove frustrating for a man of Railas stature.

You may not agree with me, but real potential and real danger exist that will surround his tenure if he were to become president especially more if the opposition will put roadblocks to stifle him with unnecessary bureaucracy.

Because Railas influence is so great, He might perhaps serve the high office better doing two things, one serving the people, and two, mentoring others in leadership.

In my view he has nothing to prove or lose, nothing to hide or hold back and, at the same time everything to give and gain.

Finally 2012 is Kenya’s election year, even as people offer him and prod him with the presidency as an entitlement, the best and the wise thing I believe he can do is, to detach himself from the feeling and the pressure of that entitlement.

Instead he should endeavour to potray a sense of selflessness as he leads Kenyans. Virtues like, to nurture and mentor new leaders, to help humanity, to empower others and to leave a positive, lasting legacy should be at the fore front of his campaign while he is still alive.[/u]

The overall public expectations at this stage has changed, he should re-invent himself, he should or must showcase more wisdom and model to others portraying genuine humility and service, shower more praise and appreciation to people struggling with hard life and concerns and, probably a culmination or a combination of all, a more display of greatness that kisses goodness.

This is a leadership that Kenyans will cherish.

[job]

That was quite a long-winded hypothesis for denying Raila your ONE vote, in the name of "selflessness". Did you offer such advise to anyone in 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007?

[foresight]

Job Job Job... you are smarter than your two liner! play at your level.

[johns]

A good read and pretty incisive, i wish Raila could spare his time and have a good read of it. Hopefully it will wake him up from his slumber and make him take a good look at the sycophants surrounding his court who have persistently made blunders after blunders in the name of pleasing him.

Midiwo, Oburu and Kajwang should be pushed into the back-burner and i am afraid Orengo is fast joining this group from the way he has become petty and childish. How can you beg someone to endorse your candidate and make a fool of yourself like that?

[b6k]

Foresight, surely you jest. Why would RAO scuttle his life's work that's been 30 years in the making?

[nowayhaha]

Feb 7, 2012 8:45:22 GMT 3 b6k said:

Foresight, surely you jest. Why would RAO scuttle his life's work that's been 30 years in the making?

Imagine this happening and Bingo you have another "statesman" in form of Mandela(not to be misinterpreted to mean he is great though ) and whoever he anoints will be difficult to win against . That can be a game-changer in the upcoming general elections .

[b6k]

Feb 7, 2012 11:18:36 GMT 3 nowayhaha said:

Feb 7, 2012 8:45:22 GMT 3 b6k said:

Foresight, surely you jest. Why would RAO scuttle his life's work that's been 30 years in the making?

Imagine this happening and Bingo you have another "statesman" in form of Mandela(not to be misinterpreted to mean he is great though ) and whoever he anoints will be difficult to win against . That can be a game-changer in the upcoming general elections .

Nowayhaha, there's no way that will happen. It would make for great drama if Raila stepped aside for Mudavadi like Balala did with tears flowing the last time ODM "elections" were held. I won't hold my breath for that Kodak moment though.

[mzee]

Why can't any other person give it up for Raila. Why is Raila always expected to sacrifice for others?

[johnmaina]

I would suggest foresight set an example by terminating his membership of Jukwaa since he does not have to be one as he has already made substantial contributions

[merlin]

Foresight,

You are right; Raila is already a statesman without ever being president of Kenya. He does not need to become Kenya’s next President to show statesmanship. He can do more with his talents but it is not the needs of Raila we are discussing but My - or would I say our - needs to have him as President.

Maybe Raila does not need Kenya though Kenya needs Raila especially in this crucial time where we can wrest ourselves from the dictatorship of a dishonourable thieving elite which keep us imprisoned in eternal poverty.
So please for my sake; give him your vote.

[foresight]

Job –Mzee- B6k- Johns- JohnM- Merlin- Nowayhaha

You will probably agree with me that Kenya is still a country of so many tribes; I mean it is NOT YET A NATION, even though some believe it is.

I am trying to point out that unless Kenya produces a political leader/leadership who is/are statesmen, the dream of being a nation will never happen.

At the moment, those who are offering their candidature to oppose Raila Odinga for president in my view have no capacity to unite Kenyans into one nation of one tribe called Kenyans.

You all know that Kenyas history is strewn with leaders of political parties who have inspired large numbers of Kenyans to give them and their parties the power to govern her and, Kenyans have had the confidence in their tenure.

Kenyatta- Moi- Kibaki and all the politicians that served in those dispensations labored in the “service of the people” and produced many good things to the benefit its citizens, but failed miserably in turning KENYA INTO A NATION united, peaceful, orderly, disciplined and productive.

The reason for this is simple- Politicians tend to abuse a democratic system for their own selfish interests; candidates who go for electoral office exploit the opportunity to the detriment of democracy.

Man is selfish by Nature, in my essay I am trying to urge Kenyans [Raila] to see beyond themselves and be more concerned with the greater societal good and I see Raila Odinga as the only politician with the perspicaciousness to achieve that which has been elusive.

Look at Eugene Wamalwa, Raphael Tuju, Chirau Ali Makwere, Kalonzo Musyoka, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, then look carefully at the crowd of politicians following them, especially at this time, surely is it difficult to see that personal benefit is at the forefront of their agenda?

It takes or will take a strong leader to guide a society made up of such people.

And there are many like them who surround Raila Odinga as well. Let me add that, it takes even a stronger leader to try to move a people in an unpopular direction.

Do you know where Kenyatta- Moi- Kibaki failed? I will tell you, when you consider that democracy involves frequent re-issuing of the mandate from the people to lead, i.e., elections, there is this usually this temptation for the leaders to be more concerned about being re-elected.

Here is a classic example, when Jomo Kenyatta became president he found a ready nation, Kenyans were united shoulder to shoulder, ready KUJENGA NCHI, when he took over the reins, Kenyans were very optimistic and very excited, a free nation at last! what will independence bring? Everyone knew the answer “MATUNDA YA UHURU”

but Kenyatta failed to exploit and build on the unity that existed, instead he fragmented Kenya into tribal politics, so much so that, up to this day, it has become difficult to heal.

I will skip MOI and come to Kibaki… don’t you recall how Kenyans were united when Kibaki came to power?

It is a fact that at that time Kenyans were considered the most optimistic nation in the entire world, again this supposedly second liberation or opportunity came, Mwai Kibaki also could not capitalize on it, in the end it turned to be a huge huge failure, within a short time Kenyans were back to square one.

Then came the ODM wave, when elections failed to usher in the much desired change, the inevitable happened, the thought of the status quo was unbearable.. to the marginalized Kenyan it was let-down yet again..

why are these leaders failing to captilize on such ripe opportunities? Where did this KENYATTA and KIBAKI go wrong?

They focused on what will make the people happy, other than what is best for the society. They were elected NATIONALLY, but reverted into tribal cocoons..

But Why? Simple, selfishness and the trappings of power. They focused on quickly making sure they were rooted. In ministries , defense, finance, communication, etc.

They wanted to stay in power. It is a pattern in Africa! This is consistant with a man's selfish nature, equipped with power. IT IS WHAT IS HURTING NATIONS. Instead of embracing the nation first, they embraced their tribes, their friends then others...

I think the electorate i.e. you and me are also driven to choose leaders who will give us want we want, so we drive the politician to focus on his political future. This has the potential to inspire the destruction of a democratic society.

Raila Odinga should not pushed into a corner by being made to feel that he has to fight for his survival as a politician, he is beyond that, leave that to Makwere! with due respect to the man from coast.

I plead with you, Lets not turn him into this kind of a politician..

Raila Odinga has within himself the capability to make nation building his first priority, he is capable of setting national goals of peace, order, discipline, productivity and nationalism. He is made for that, he has championed that all his life.

Time will vindicate me, the next president will inherit a very fragmented Kenya, unless that president has the mandate to do things he has to do to make Kenya one nation, like a willing government to exercise powers which it possess, then that presidency will be a failure.

His tenure will be full of constrains and reluctance to take action and, that in my opinion will create huge division in an already fragmented environment. Am further saying that should Raila Odinga be mixed within such a system he will struggle with his leadership.

Once again he has no business at this stage in his life being too concerned with ensuring that his party is elected he must let Mudavadi do that, He must not see himself so much as ODM but as KENYAN, he must do everything necessary to be seen to champion what is in the best interests of the nation, NOT SO MUCH ODM

And am ALSO saying if he fails to win the presidency, it will not mean that he has necessarily failed but he must quickly think OUT OF THE BOX!

Given that the Common Good is the greater good, a Raila who focuses on service to the people, a Raila whose main concern is not to be elected, would be empowered to take whatever action is required to make KENYA a nation - strong, united, peaceful, productive and prosperous, he has the capability to do that more than anyone else.

[nereah]

foresight ;D

i will be back,that's a promise but before i go, here is a token (no pun intended) for the effort. tinyurl.com/89kt9uj

[foresight]

My Sister Nereah

The following appear at the conclusion of THE PMs biography posted on the link you have refered me to.

Power-sharing under the National Accord and the Grand Coalition Government has proved problematic, however.

The lack of the necessary concomitant reforms to the Constitution leaves excessive power vested in the presidency, and this has prevented the progress towards reform that Prime Minister Odinga would like to initiate and drive.

A highly partisan parliament and hostility between MPs on the two sides of the Accord have paralysed most parliamentary activities, and small parties' decisions to ally themselves with PNU have meant ODM has no clear parliamentary majority to institute constitutional change.

Prime Minister Odinga remains committed to far-reaching constitutional and institutional reforms that will redefine and promote justice, equality, prosperity and progress in Kenyan society.

I see him as committed as well, but lets package this vision for KENYA in a broader manner, let him be surrounded by men and women who also think nationally and globally men and women who will embrace change...

Nereah do you remember the washing detergent OMO?

Years back competitors flooded the market and the detergents sales and public appeal waned, the manufucturers withdrew it from the shelf for a while...

When it re-appeared it was no longer just OMO, but OMO with POWERFOAM..[/u]

Suddenly the commercials were killing it with women in Kenya rural saying the omo with POWER FOAM "INAONDOA MADOADOA YOTE"

Result- It took back its position as number one powder detergent in Kenya1

There is RAILA ODINGA but now competitors have flooded the MARKET, there has to be atleast one smart guy who will rebrand and create a RAILA ODINGA with POWERFOAM.

Thats the essence of relevance!

[nereah]

foresight ;D

its been a long day here in nairobi. wedenda,which in luo means dont praise me, is the title of this song by the irreplaceable crooner.

now lets go to the dance floor, shall we?

[nereah]

foresight, ;D

i have a pending date with our very own jakaswanga here tinyurl.com/75pcpk4 but that wont inhibit me from attempting to understand where you are coming from.


for clarity and to enable us do justice to this issue, could you be bold enough to declare your assessment and conviction on raila's electability and in doing so conflate the old order and the new constitutional dispensation.

and for purposes of this dialectic, lets be courageous and honest enough to provide the desired alternative to raila and in effect the fallacy that raila remains the preeminent agent of reformation but a risk as as president.