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Post by Daktari wa makazi on May 10, 2007 14:43:32 GMT 3
Kamau
You amaze me! By presenting his vision, Raila has made an attempt at formulating a plausible, but attractive vision. It is offered up for discussion. If it is not discarded and replaced with something else better, then it will surely be modified, many times and in substantial ways. Your role as Kibaki protagonist in this debate is to argue against the vision by exposing its weakness, not generalising sweeping bullshit you have so far provided. The truth of the matter is if no one offers up anything for discussion, then the discussion never takes place. Raila has offered a vision which has given specifics, just to show that the goals he wants are possible, but this does not mean that the specifics are the final word. They are meant to begin the conversation on vision, not end it. Afterall, Raila is a mere MP and does not have the resources and data available to Kibaki to formulate a concrete watertight vision. But, nevertheless his vision carries alot of sound and achievable proposals for which I support.
Raila’s vision has two main reasons:- First, because we needs to know where we want to end up if we want to know which path to take, a vision concentrates attention to achieving that path. Every politician Raila included chooses strategy and tactics based on whether or not they bring him closer to his or her goal. Therefore, if he was to choose the appropriate strategy and tactics, he will need to have some rough idea of the goal to which he aspires. It is that idea that forms the premise of his vision. Second, Raila as an opposition politician needs to show people that an alternative is possible. Unless he can demonstrate that our society can be organized to realize our values, it will be impossible to convince people to make the commitment and sacrifices necessary to challenge that status quo. It high time you saw the purpose of the vision and focus your energy in discrediting the principles in the vision rather spew tribal scum against Raila. Let us face the truth, Raila is the most popular politician and has the widest support in Kenya today. Who else supports Kibaki apart the few Kyuks looking to seek his forgiveness after stealing public funds under his nose? I support I disagreeertion by pointing you to the fact that all the articles in the press supporting Kibaki are all written by Kyuks. For the good of the nation, Kibaki must go.
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Post by adongo12345 on May 10, 2007 15:25:20 GMT 3
Pmaniac, The point am making is that the Raila vision is just that a vision. Many critics still do not see how he will achieve these or even the relevance of some of his proposals apart from them being populist! That is why I do not fault your wish to see R elected in as much as there are those that think Kalonzo is even better as he has come up with startling but foolish tax proposals. Kenyans saw through the tax ruse by Kalonzo and will also see the populist ruse in Raila's vision. If you ask me, Kenyans want very simple things - not the grandiose 'let us be like Korea' plots being promised. A Kenyan with a roof, food for his children and opportunities for their education will be more satisfied than one who is promised an airport at Wajir or an international one at Kisumu that has no one travelling! If you ask the rural Nyanza woman or man, they are perhaps more interested in very basic needs such management of floods as opposed to an airport they will never use, but in typical JFP we shall build an airport of international standards just like the one in Eldoret!! Kenyans will elect a leader in December but you can be sure of one thing - he will neither be a flower or an ODMoron! KamaleI think you are finally loosing it. Is it because of too much pressure? If I were you I would stay away from political predictions. Your record is terrible. Let me jog your memory a little. You promised a long time ago that the Anglo Fleecing will be long forgotten in a few months and that Kenyans will barely remember it ever hapenned. We told you it would haunt Kibaki throughout his time in office. Obviously you were dead wrong. Anglo quaqmire is even getting worse as we speak. Two you were very confident that Kibaki would win the referendum. In fact I remember at one time when Kibaki was flirting with Biwott you gleefully told us the combination of Mt. Kenya vote combined with the Kalenjin vote from Biwott meant Kibaki was a winner " and there was nothing anybody could do about it". We told you that was wishful thinking. You were dead wrong again. That is a 0-2 record. That is a hopeless record. Being a status quo person, a role usually reserved for political cowards, you even backed Uhuru and Moi in 2002. You guys were swept under. From your record I wouldn't be suprised if you jump into the ODM bandwagon should they win the elections. You seem to be one of those who follow power just because it is there. I may be wrong. Now you are telling us Kibaki will win as Narc and not as Narc Kenya and you have joined the line up of internet babies who think planting the word moron on ODM actually helps their cause. Welcome. In terms of Raila's vision, it seems it will take you a while to grasp it. I don't want to repeat things already said. For example when you cynically talk about an airport in Kisumu where nobody goes it tells me your idea of Kenya's future has zero imagination. If Raila and his team was to come through with their national infrastructure plan some of you may never recognise the country in about ten years. Kenya with a dual carriage highway from Mombasa to Busia will open the economic veins of the country for all communities in the nation. If we couple it with intensive roadworks across the country and with viable rail systems you have a situation of expanded commerce, you diversify centres of commerce and industry, you give many communities access to national and international market. Can you imagine a situation where people in Budalangi for example, with one of the richest soils anywhere on earth, were able to grow vegetables and other horticultural products be able to process them locally and have efficient means of transporting the same to Kisumu or Nairobi international airport to be exported to global markets. We can do the same with processed and dried fruits, processed fish and other products. Good infrastructure would also open tourism benefits for the whole country and western Kenya one of the most beautiful regions in the country as well as NEP would be great beneficiaries. It is within the context of expanded national commerce and industry that I see the value of new airports. You don't build these airports just for people to stand around and admire them or just to show communities that now they have their airport. That is what happened in the past. It can't work and I am sure it is not what Raila is proposing. The problem with people like you is you want to confine Kenya to village thinking forever. Let everybody think of their small village while the Kamales invest in stocks and the world is wonderful. With that tunnel "vision" for the future of Kenya I am not suprised what Raila proposes has kind of shocked you. You think it would be good but you can't see how it can be achieved. It can and will be because really we don't have much alternative. We cannot confine two thirds of the population to absolute poverty forever. They will not accept it. Raila's vision is not for those who think in the box or the closet. You have to get out first. Meanwhile you can continue dreaming about the big Kibaki parade marching on in Jan 2008. I am sure that is a comforting thought for you. Those of us who want to dream of greater things for the nation will continue working on what we believe. Hopefully we will get there. What is coming is way bigger than Raila Odinga, but we don't begrudge those who have spent four years chasing Raila's shadow 24/7. So far it looks like you guys have only succeeded in making him more popular and relevant to Kenya's political development. Keep it up for our sake and yours. Adongo.
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Post by job on May 10, 2007 21:13:53 GMT 3
Kamau, You need to get serious and start accepting some realities of politics. However superflous Raila's vision is, you will never acknowledge it. One good thing is that you come out in your true colours exposing raw ethnic supremacist attitudes and tribal chauvinism which won't allow you to appreciate any positives from Raila's vision, just in the same way it couldn't allow you to see any positives in Kalonzo's or any other non-GEMA aspirant. So as you continue working yourself into a lather, just like you did prior to the referendum with your we-are-mighty attitude, we shall thus watch you dissipate yet again into miniscule bubbles of foam. This quote is from you....... Perhaps Job will only see a tribalist in this article www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=97704 which if read seriously does articulate some of the stuff we have said here. You are damn right. That fellow supremacist Klan member of yours didn't betray his hateful innerself. He refused to address the substance of the vision but just spun some Railaphobic propaganda as expected. Where is the critique of the vision itself? The fella chose to belittle wananchi's intelligence (as usual) by peddling to them a good dose of fear, ati Raila-will-be-a-dictator-like-Bismarck. Yaani so that pumbavu Kenyans can instead opt to vote again for the ultra-tribalist Kibaki. Get it from me, it ain't happening! Here you go again,...... What Raila should also tell us is how he will raise this money! He did not tell us, and for those that pay taxes in Kenya we would have serious councerns about how much more tax we have to pay to finance all the goodies we are being promised especially when they are shared with those that do not PRODUCE!First of all, he has told you how he will free the money from the hands of Klan members bleeding the nation dry through Anglo-Fleecing, cowboy contracts and other procurement looting,....expand the tax base,......involve all stakeholders, public private, and foreign in prudently funding many projects. If you cared to read the vision, then you would not be talking of fear of raised taxes. Raila in fact sympathised with a tiny pool of overtaxed payers and proposed breaks for them. Thanks for letting this (below) out of your chest. This stupid andu aitu notion of (quoting your own words Kamau) "how much more tax we have to pay to finance all the goodies we are being promised especially when they are shared with those that do not PRODUCE!"Fellows like you (& Kibaki) only help solidify certain bad notions about GEMA who also have very good people. Why the heck do you think only GEMA people pay taxes. Check your facts and you will realize that in fact Central Province remits very little taxes despite having a relatively robust local economy. They lag behing Nyanza, Rift Valley and Coast in tax remittances (Kimunya's own figures) ama you are pretending not to know. Who is trying to fool who here, ama you think Kenyans are such dummie-heads. Get serious and better start corroborating your empty as.sertions, Kenyans know the truth!
You are also crying that development must not be shared with the rest of the country whom you arrogantly dismiss as non-producers. Who says so, Kibaki? Give me a f@#$%^g break! I dare you to repeat this again. Must you express selfishness and greed by rubbing it on peoples noses? Development must go to all corners of Kenya including NEP and the Northern frontier. Which sleuth squad do you belong in? You are certainly not helping Kibaki at all just like the over-zealous Artur squad that broke into the Standard & KTN. Here comes Kamale yet again,...... If Raila will be Kenyas president - AND GOD FORBID!!! - then Kenyans will have made another mistake as they have done the last 40 or so years. After all they seem used to getting mediocre leadership which you so earnestly wish to join!Don't worry fella. God will guide Kenyans to get out of the mouth of a Crocodile with it's mouth wide open, called Kibaki. The same mistake of getting mediocre leadership will not be made again, mark these words. A Kenyan with a roof, food for his children and opportunities for their education will be more satisfied than one who is promised an airport at Wajir or an international one at Kisumu that has no one travelling! If you ask the rural Nyanza woman or man, they are perhaps more interested in very basic needs such management of floods as opposed to an airport they will never use, but in typical JFP we shall build an airport of international standards just like the one in Eldoret!!Who told you those airports will not be used? Another typical Kibaki-esque talk, eh! Those airports will be major projects to stimulate respective local economies. Major slaughter-abbatoirs will be built in NEP and meat will be exported to Middle East right from Wajir airport.
The tired and selfish vision of Jomo and Kibaki of having ng'ombes and poor mbuzis walking 200 miles from Wajir to Dagoretti to Kamale's slaughter house and having him distributing all the meat to butcheries will stop. Pastoralists don't need city cowboys and middlemen in Nairobi to do their thing. Have no doubt, Raila will free the entire nation from stranglehold by a few rich cowboys running the country as if it's their personal property. Ironically, (since you don't belong in that elite class of just about a thousand billionaires), you as Kamale is slated to benefit. Likewise, Sugarcane farmers or fishermen don't need Nairobi barons dictating terms on their source of livelihood. Get it right now from me, Wajir airport will be built, and development will be shared across the whole country,.. not having everything CENTRALIZED in CENTRAL. Without doubt Kisumu airport will be upgraded too and the fisheries sector will be modernized for international commerce. If you missed it, the flood problem in Budalangi and Kano will also be taken care of. Just watch. Another rant from Kamale,...... Kenyans will elect a leader in December but you can be sure of one thing - he will neither be a flower or an ODMoron!Sure indeed. It will be Raila of ODM-K., who's neither a flower nor your ODMoron creation Here is Kamau's rant to Miguna,...... Your claim to visit Nyando every three times every year is not sufficient claim to the mantle of leadership in Nyando... You cannot claim not to live in an area and still try to convince people that you are aware of their issues. Tell us where Kibaki lived before contesting for the Othaya seat. Tell us how many times he visits Othaya as MP. Tell us where Koigi lived before contesting his Subukia seat and whether he knew the local issues of Subukia while in exile. Tell us your true interest in Nyando constituency. You know it's not about Nyando for you, it's about the fear of having a fiery MP in Parliament who will challenge your looting heros. People are not fools, they know the unrest status quo and conservative diehards go through whenever potent reform minded Kenyans express interest for participation in the national political realm. Quoting Kamale again,........ Sadly, it is this way of thinking that keeps Nyanza behind the rest of the country....... just look at the monkeys we ended up with as MPs in Nyanza. It's good Central Province saved the day for Kenya by presenting to our Parliament some imminent, highly educated, exemplary and honorable MPs like Maina Kamanda, David Mwenje, Njenga Karume, et al ...and still promises to send us a life saver like Honorable Ndura Waruinge of the Mungiki fraternity. We can't wait. You're talking of Nyanza being left behind,.....Weren't Kenyans just told by Kimunya and Obwocha's household survey that Nyanza is now number two in terms of economic indices. Give people a break Afande! unedited. Job
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Post by miguna on May 11, 2007 0:18:15 GMT 3
Let Raila take criticism positively Letters Kenya Times,May 11, 2007 Predictably, the colourful launch of Lang'ata MP and Orange Democratic Movement - Kenya (ODM-K) presidential aspirant Raila Odinga’s vision is causing considerable jitters that border on malice and extreme jealousy. However, one commentary authored by lawyer in a local daily cannot go unchallenged. Foremost, the writer claims that what Raila talked about is already being done by President Mwai Kibaki. But nothing could be further from the truth. Three important pillars of governance that distinguish Kibaki from Raila are corruption, the Constitution and tribalism. I would like to start with the Constitution. Emphatically, Raila declared that he prefers a parliamentary system of Government as stipulated in the Bomas draft. He went on to enumerate reasons why he prefers this system, among them, as a means to strengthen political party democracy as well as kill tribalism. If the writer of the article has forgotten the dream of a new Constitutional dispensation, chiefly to dismantle the imperial presidency, was the fundamental ideal behind the struggle for the second liberation which Raila epitomises and which president Kibaki has undermined since his days in Kanu.
On tribalism, Raila noted that overconcentration of power in the institution of the presidency has greatly contributed to tribalism and economic disparities in our country. Those out of Government are starved of resources as the elites close to the centre of power benefit at the expense of the rest of the populace.
While Kibaki enjoys and espouses the status quo, Raila champions a new power dispensation. Of course needless to mention, Raila also proved that he is IT compliant by effectively using a laptop at his launch. I normally find as perverted logic claims made by several analysts that Raila has dictatorial tendencies by the simple fact that certain political heavyweights like James Orengo, Prof Anyang' Ny'ong'o and Joe Donde lost favour with the electorate in Luo Nyanza for disagreeing with him. Is Raila is expected to ditchhis party’s candidate in favour of the opponent to be seen as democratic? In fact, this time round I urge Raila to campaign as hard to make sure Foreign Affairs minister Raphael Tuju, who is in Narc - Kenya loses his Rarieda seat. I wonder why the same criteria is not used in a place like Central Province where, since multi-party elections, we have never heard of President Kibaki campaigning for politicians like Joseph Kamotho, Wanyiri Kihoro, Wangari Maathai, Uhuru Kenyatta and Koigi wa Wamwere. I also find laughable the writer' assertion that those who hail Raila’s impeccable political track record are sycophants and blind. Finally, I would like to urge Raila to take all these criticisms in his stride and prove to all and sundry that he is a democrat of unmatched credentials. It is better to be unfairly criticised than be falsely praised like the current administration. S.M. Gakungu, Nairobi.
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Post by aeichener on May 11, 2007 10:29:26 GMT 3
Let me simply quote Patrick Gathara. From a longer analysis - one of the best written so far -, I shall only quote one paragraph. He is very critical of Kibaki, but not less of Raila: I am starting to hope that Kenyans are finally wising up to the truth: those who seek to supplant Kibaki are no better than he is. Their ineptness is shouted from the rooftops and worn as a badge of honour on their lapels. In a very real sense, by electing them we would simply be playing musical chairs with the Presidency, changing like for like. And I suspect, and fervently pray, that many of my countrymen have grown weary of playing this game.Source: gathara.blogspot.com/
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Post by kamalet on May 11, 2007 11:54:35 GMT 3
As is typical of Jukwaa, the disciples of Raila have come out in true colours - but that the beauty of Jukwaa's debates, all pretty one sided or expected to be so.
Is it possible for Job or Adongo to fault Raila's vision? I think that is a resounding NO as it is flawless!!!
One point though for Job is that Kibaki will be opening the Wajir International Airport at the end of May 2007 - one less headache for the Raila vision. Job appears to see the economic importance of Wajir and the need for an airpor but can actually not show us the need for an international airport for Kisumu!
The Mombasa - Malaba dual carriage way has been on the cards since Raila was works minister and the survey works for it are underway financed by ADB. But this will be a toll road as originally envisaged. On this Job, Kibaki and Raila seem agreed on the importance!
A good voter should read these visions and cut out the rubbish that is unachievable before making judgement on the man. I can confirm that IF Kibaki brings out his vision for the next 5 years, it will be subjected to the same level of scrutiny!
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Post by adongo12345 on May 11, 2007 14:27:00 GMT 3
Kamale
I thought you didn't like airports in places where people don't go, now you are glowing about the great event of Kibaki opening Wajir International Airport in May? Is it just Kisumu you have problems with? The last time I checked Kisumu is still in a country called Kenya. Can you live with that? I hope so.
About Kibaki unleashing his vision, I can't wait. Incidentally Kibaki has been the president of Kenya for the last four years. I would think that is enough time for Kenyans to know his vision as they have seen it unfold and we know it.
Kibaki's vision that Kenyans have seen is that of rampant tribalism, unending corruption ( look at Kimunya, the Anglo thieves etc), gross nepotism, indifference to the security of Kenyans, a welcoming mart to international drug dealers (Artur and co) as long as the money flows to his second wife and disdain for ordinary Kenyans. It is a frightening legacy. He can't shed it off because Kenyans are living it as we speak.
And then Kibaki's lies. I will give Kenyans a new constitution in 100 days and 1,500 days later he is still dithering. "Kenyans do not need an imperial presidency" Kibaki said in a presentation to CKRC and then when he gets to power " we cannot afford two centres of power".
Kibaki actually organized a desperate walkout from the Bomas conference when his band of tribalists could not get their way. That is the same Kibaki who said in a speech at Uhuru Park that they will storm State House if Moi disbanded the Bomas conference. The man is a hypocrite and a liar and he has done all that as the president of the republic of Kenya. So don't worry we all know Kibaki's vision very well.
One last thing, my friend, you say the Mombasa Malaba dual carriage highway has been in the books since Raila was the minister for roads and public works. My guess is that should Raila be our next president, it will not just be in the books, it will become a reality that will mean a lot to the economic development of the country.
I don't think Raila is a saint. I would be scared if he was one. Wouldn't you? If Raila was the president of Kenya and did the things Kibaki has done to ruin the Kenyan dream of 2002, he would be getting hammered by Adongo Ogony daily. That has been my politics for life.
I can see the desparation of those who have now been reduced to the slogan of well "Raila is just another Kibaki". If Raila is just another Kibaki why are they so mad with him and so in love with Kibaki? Talk about hypocrites.
Raila has his flaws, which we will point out as they manifest themselves, but he is surely not another Kibaki. That much I think most Kenyans know.
Tuonane mbele ndugu yangu.
The struggle continues.
Adongo.
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Post by bkichwa on May 11, 2007 23:05:54 GMT 3
Man, one thing that is clear from reading this and other similar jukwaa posts, is that Raila chaps are extremely tenacious in their support and celebration of him. One gets the strong sense that with ya'll it's like Kenya can progress to great heights, ONLY under the leadership of Raila, and no one else. This follows the prevalent attitude whereby no one else ever gets acknowledgement for any worthwhile deed vis a vis the country - they are all failures...and Raila is coming to rescue the country and fix it all.
So then, quick question - if Raila were to pass away today, in your collective opinions, would Kenya then be forever doomed to failure? Man, we venerate these mere mortals way too much I tell ya.
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Post by aeichener on May 12, 2007 2:09:05 GMT 3
Bigmanism.
I told ya.
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Post by adongo12345 on May 12, 2007 2:37:47 GMT 3
bkichwa
History creates leaders and not the other way round. Fidel Castro whom some may say is the architect of the Cuban revolution is actually a product of the Cuban revolution.
I don't hold court for anybody else here in Jukwaa so I will speak for myself. If the truth be known, my entry into the world of struggle for social justice in Kenya was a personal decision as I am sure it is for many people. I personally got to know Raila after joining the struggle as a student activist. I interacted with him here and there during the tumultous days of undeground political tango with the Moi regime. A Raila leadership of Kenya was the furthest thing in my mind.
So, why do I support the ODM and Raila, afterall only four years we were ferociously attacked for supporting Narc and Kibaki. Because as I have said history creates leaders and at that time Kibaki was the right man for the job. So what would have hapenned if Kibaki had died in that nasty road accident? Would our country then have been doomed? Hardly, because the same historical circumstances that gave us Kibaki would have given us other alternatives.
So I don't think any of us spend sleepness nights worrying about what would happen to our country, should Raila die from natural causes or even be killed. The country would rise from those ashes, burry a man who is obviously a national hero and move on and identify new centres of leadership. The more sensible question really with due respect, is what would happen if Raila looses the election to Kibaki? That is a question I usually raise with ODM supporters.
I have said before and I will say it again that it is very possible that Raila could loose to Kibaki, aferall Kibaki is the sitting president. Those guys are not rollovers. Never have been even in the more advanced democracies.
My answer to that question is the need for a cohesive ODM with a national agenda that transcends the quest for the presidency. Raila and his team have been very effective in advancing the interest of Kenya and Kenyans particularly in the last two years when they have been practically in opposition.
By mobilizing Kenyans to reject the Wako foolishness, the ODM made the greatest contribution to Kenya that will put them in the annals of Kenyan history for generations to come. What that tells you is that one does not need to be a president to be a leader. In fact some presidents are not even leaders. I am sure you know a few.
My point here is that I am almost convinced that the ODM will take control of the National Assembly. In my book that is even more important than taking the presidency. Personally given a choice of the ODM taking the presidency with no control of the House, or taking the House and loosing the presidency, I would choose the later and I think we are almost there. We have a few things to iron out and we will get it.
If a cohesive ODM takes control of the house and comes forward with a viable agenda for the country they may very well be in control of things in the country for the next five years or even ten years. That is how far I cast my net, and you know I can fish.
The reason some of us support Raila is that we are not good fence sitters. With me if I try sitting on the fence I am going to fall off, one side or the other. I hate fence sitting, but I do not begrudge those who want to enjoy the comfort of that position.
Thank you, my friend.
Adongo.
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Post by miguna on May 12, 2007 3:36:23 GMT 3
Letters Raila best suited for president -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Raila’s vision for Kenya is a carefully thought out piece of work with policies that are inclusive.
It covers the youth, women, the handicapped and even the aged.
One major factor is evident; that his vision is based on achievable development models, like Malaysia and South Korea.
Kenyans should ignore politicians who promise handouts for their own political gain since these create dependency and this hampers development.
This is the plague that greedy politicians have used to bully Kenyans. We can learn from European governments as they pay their children’s education.
They do not demand that the funding comes from the Government’s central revenues and this is what Raila emulates in his vision.
Notably, Raila is the first Kenyan leader to add an anti-tribalism clause in his vision. This is similar to asking Kenyans to hold him to task in combating tribalism in the event of his regime. What Kenyans need most are tools to ensure economic development.
These involve fair trade, good infrastructure and communication and favourable bureaucratic policy. Raila made this clear in his vision.
We cannot ignore the fact that he is well travelled and is a learned man. Also, his knowledge of the modern world is up-to-date. Raila has proven to be a selfless leader who forfeited his personal ambitions to fight for the people’s desires. He has contributed significantly to improving the democratic space.
Kenyans need a leader who stands for what he says and plays by the law. The people’s choice should be a person who is morally straight and lives by example.
Among the options that we have, Raila is the best and I would like to challenge us not to look at him from a tribal point.
Clement Areke,
Germany
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Post by miguna on May 12, 2007 3:57:21 GMT 3
Good lesson for Raila's rivals
Publication Date: 2007/05/12 Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga’s vision is a lot better than the others unveiled so far by fellow ODM Kenya presidential hopefuls.
The vision has all Kenyans in mind with the one main objective of eliminating corruption, ignorance and poverty, the major causes of underdevelopment.
The other ODM-K luminaries need to learn from the former Roads minister as they continue to hone their political skills.
I wish Mr Odinga all the best in his struggle to lead Kenya into the Second World.
JOHN OWUOR OGUDA, Eldoret
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Post by bkichwa on May 12, 2007 4:26:06 GMT 3
If I am to understand your take AO, you subscribe to a certain personal philosophy on the way forward for the country...and the ODM (not necessarily Raila), is the vehicle in this moment in Kenya's history, that is positioned to make this philosophy a reality. If that is the case, then point taken.
That said, I then do have another question for you - it is well known that a good, solid number of current ODM stalwarts are unequivocally part and parcel of the moi regime that is just 4.5 years removed from severely raping the country and almost choking any remaining life from it. How do you then reconcile the existence of the following scenario whereby these above-mentiond folks, who arguably still have lots of "blood" (vis a vis the country's raping) in their collective hands, are in your opinion the purveyors of Kenya's "liberation"? I know that not all of ODM can be grouped as these said culprits, but truth be told, the rotten ones in the group are a significant enough number such that they render the whole outfit suspect with respect to the maisha bora they purport to deliver to Kenyans.
Your good intentions and forward vision for the country are evident from your postings. If I may though, it really does appear like you invest the realization of these, very heavily on politicians...most of whose intentions and agendas are not as altruistic or benevolent as someone like yours might be (I can bet my grandmother's life on the this).
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Post by miguna on May 12, 2007 22:57:14 GMT 3
OPINION, Sunday Times, May 12, 2007
Raila’s moment of glory, By Jerry Okungu
It was as spectacular as it could possibly be.
It was as glamorous as it could possibly be.
It was as packed at it could possibly be.
What was it that wasn’t done that should have been done?
Who was not there that should have been there?
Who could have done it better than what the Raila team did?
Could it have been executed better than it was?
These questions had a common answer. The answer was No!
Nobody could have done better and nobody will in a long time.
Such attention to detail always never comes cheap.
It requires a combination of brainpower, expertise, desire for the best and cash to execute the plan.
Uhuru Kenyatta skipped the function without apology but Wanyiri Kihoro and Rev. Timothy Njoya were there to take his place on the high table.
Kalonzo Musyoka missed the party but David Musila and Mutula Kilonzo readily filled the vacuum on the front row.
William Ruto gave the party a wide berth but Henry Kosgey, William Ole Ntimama, Sally Kosgey and Kipkalya arap Kones readily took to the podium without apologies to anybody.
Indeed it was Raila’s day. Musalia Mudavadi summed it aptly when declared to the applauding packed crowd at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre that he was greeting them in the name of Raila!
The lineup of who was to do what told it all. Speakers were carefully selected to reflect Raila’s diverse following. Regionally, we had speakers from Gusii, Western, Central, Rift Valley, Coast, Eastern, North Eastern and Nairobi provinces.
Then there were speakers to represent women, youth, the disabled, the marginalized pastoralists, women living positively with HIV/Aids, religious groups and hawkers. Two masters of ceremony were carefully selected from Western and Nairobi provinces.
Interestingly, despite the presence of a galaxy of eloquent speakers from Luoland, not a single one of them; not even Anyang’ Nyongo’, Otieno Kajuang’; his brother Oburu or James Orengo was slotted to speak. It had nothing to do with slighting them. It had everything to do with Raila’s strategy. He intended to present himself as a true Kenyan that had broken the chain of ethnicity.
For those that might have doubted this quality, all they needed was to listen to Reverend Njoya’s sermon and prayer, Kihoro’s pledge, Dr Kosgei and Henry Kosgey’s testimonies, Kones’ confessions and the Somali Mayor of Migori’s sermon, to appreciate that Raila had travelled the long road to freedom from tribalism.
Yes, Uhuru, Kalonzo, Ruto and Nazlin Umar missed the party. Or did they miss the boat? But then, keen observers noted one important thing.
They were the same foursome that almost derailed the London trip. They were the same people who had called a press conference at the last minute to call off their trip to London, claiming that the trip had been hijacked by Raila sympathizers.
Interestingly, Shabanji Opukah, one of the architects of the almost abortive London trip and a leading light in the ODM- UK chapter was at the centre of the Raila Vision launch.
He was one of those individuals who sacrificed every drop of energy and time to ensure detail was in place. At the end of it all, he shared the role of master of ceremony with an equally eloquent but unassuming Kenyan actor, Ian Mbugua of Phoenix Players. Was it surprising therefore that the anti-London trip group found it expedient to skip the event?
Of the eight ODM-K presidential aspirants, Julia Ojiambo, Najib Balala, Joseph Nyagah and Mudavadi joined Raila in his moment of glory. And the crowd recognized them with thunderous applause. That act alone elevated them above the absentees. They were brave enough to confront their most formidable competitor on the same stage on the same podium and say their piece. And they did not disappoint the crowd.
Balala promised that he would try. Najib atajaribu, in the race to the presidency.
Nyagah confessed learning many things from his host, but also pointed out that he had taught Raila humility. Ojiambo acknowledged that without Raila, the democratic space Kenyans now enjoyed would not be the same. She appreciated that Raila’s high level of political campaign had enriched all the ODM-K aspirants. It made them work harder at their campaigns. Mudavadi, who greeted the crowd in the name of Raila confessed that without Raila in ODM-K, the party would not be the same.
The KICC crowd was an amazing gathering of Kenyans with unique backgrounds, interests and political leanings. It was really a Kenyan crowd that was merely blended by a few foreign supporters. What stood out there were the faces that many people had never associated with Raila supporters.
For many years, the anti- Raila campaigners had always tried every trick in the book to stereotype him as a tribal leader that led a bunch of hooligans to cause mayhem on the streets of Nairobi from time to time. To make it worse, being a Member of Parliament for Langata Constituency that includes Kibera made it easier for his detractors to claim that all the thuggery that took place in Kibera and Mathare slums formed the bulk of Agwambo followers.
The Sunday crowd at KICC dispelled all that. Delegations came from Nyeri, Embu, Marsabit, Mombasa, Busia, Bungoma, Narok, Kitui, Nandi, Kipsigis, Migori, churches, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, pastoralists, hawkers, women , the youth and the disabled. The lead entertainer, a one man guitarist was not even Luo in the main event.
That milling crowd on the grounds of the KICC had not a single police presence.
ODM-K security personnel manned every gate and checked every ticket with unparalleled civility. It was the most friendly atmosphere to be in. Five hours later, there was not a single incident of pick-pocketing, thuggery, violence or rowdiness. Guests came and sat as directed. There were no swollen egos to be deflated. The crowd came to the carnival to witness a spectacle and they enjoyed every moment of it.
When the Hummer finally arrived and took to the microphone, did he have substance? Did the crowd find him to be presidential material? Did he move the crowd? Did he make sense to them?
His opening statement was unique to Africa. No presidential candidate in Africa had ever applied for the job of president and asked his people to consider his application.
Only John Kerry of Massachusetts did that to the American people when he was looking for the presidency of the United States in 2004 at the Democratic Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. The fact that Raila found it prudent to apply for the job of President of the Republic of Kenya publicly and have it broadcast live locally and internationally was testimony that he wanted to be considered for the job on merit.
What about his vision? Was it potent, visionary and appealing to the people of Kenya? It is not in my interest to repeat Raila Odinga’s vision in its entirety in this article.
The document is already in the public domain and major websites for whoever cares to read the details.
What I can now recall, three days later, is that the vision touched on every category of Kenyan in our society. He has a vision for the Youth, women, pastoralists, the marginalized, the disabled and every ethnic community in Kenya. More importantly Raila’s vision has probably the most serious focus on infrastructure since independence. He believes, like most of us do, that without a working infrastructure system; without well maintained and expanded, railway, roads, power, water and communications systems, no amount of economic and social development can take place in Kenya.
Perhaps this may be the reason Raila would like Kenya to practice Social Economics. On this infrastructure business, Raila is determined to focus on Kenya’s last frontier; the Northern Frontier Province which has seen a serial neglect over the years since colonial times. In Raila’s vision, North Eastern Province must be developed by his government whether they vote for him or not. It is a moral undertaking that he will deliver on if he occupies State House in January 2007. Raila seems to have come to terms with the fact that his legacy will be worthwhile if in his era, he demystified and downgraded the presidency.
He believes strongly that future governments of Kenya would be run by prime ministers answerable to Parliament so that checks and balances can be effective. And he wants to be that example; that first Kenyan president to cede executive powers to the Prime Minister and Parliament.
Along with this devolution of the presidency, the Central Government as we know it today will not wash with Raila. He intends to implement the Bomas Constitution in six months so that real devolution of government can take place. The people of Kenya have a chance to govern themselves if Raila wins the race to State House at the end of 2007.
In his vision, he assures the business community that he too is a businessman and would be the last person to meddle in economic activities of the nation. What he would not entertain are crafty businesses taking place at the Nairobi Stock Exchange under the guise of genuine investments when in fact they are mere criminal activities.
Raila believes that health care programmes, free Primary and Secondary education in Kenya as well as security of every Kenyan is feasible in his tenure and will be implemented when he enters State House. He is convinced the country has enough resources to undertake such massive social programmes once the economy is made to perform at double digit growth levels. He is determined to drive Kenya to the Second World Status by 2020 and not by 2030 as the Narc Government has projected.
Finally, Raila is set to implement meritocracy in its purest sense. There will be no jobs for relatives, friends and cronies in his government. His State House staffing and the rest of the government will reflect the true face of Kenya; the Kenya of Raila’s vision. With this kind of thinking, could any one have done it any better? The jury is still out there.
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Post by miguna on May 12, 2007 23:06:51 GMT 3
Raila has noble dreams for us Letters, Sunday Times, May 12, 2007
Paul Mwangi’s comments Raila Odinga that appeared in one of the local dailies recently were misleading and untrue.
When Raila launched his vision on how to steer our country to great levels of industrialization by 2020, he didn’t say that he would embark on Bismarck’s dictatorial form of government.
He only told the patriotic and faithful Kenyans who listened to his speech that he would promote cohesion and unity the way Bismarck managed to hold West and East Germany together.
Raila has a very noble dream for us Kenyans and if we shun tribalism and all forms of propaganda against him, then our country will have made the best decision.
Having fought tyranny and despotism for decades, it time Kenyans elected him to lead us to the "Canaan."
Kimanthi Innocent, Eldoret.
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Post by aeichener on May 13, 2007 0:45:56 GMT 3
Pseudo-religious inebriation.
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Post by miguna on May 13, 2007 1:56:46 GMT 3
Raila’s dream for a better country -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ababu Namwamba
It was Eleanor Roosevelt who famously declared that the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Even honest critics will admit that, love him or hate him; no one on the local political scene today can beat Mr Raila Amolo Odinga on the scales of sacrifice, inspiration and belief in the beauty of his dream.
The scion of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga is imbued with incredibly riveting passion and faith.
These attributes were on display last Sunday as the "People’s President" unveiled his epochal vision for Kenya, "Raila Odinga Leadership Themes: A Bridge to the Kenyan Dream".
I could not honour the invitation to attend the landmark ceremony at Nairobi’s Kenya International Conference Centre because I had left for Washington, DC. But the seismic waves triggered by Raila’s "bridge to the Kenyan dream" reverberated even here, 10,000km away. From cyber chat rooms to popular haunts like the Safari on Georgia Avenue, Raila’s vision has received unprecedented attention, with a deluge of reviews by critics and admirers. A good salesman knows that capturing attention is critical to clinching a deal. Raila achieved this with chilling ease.
The overwhelming attention is not without good cause. For starters, the Lang’ata MP draws the eye as effortlessly as nectar pulls in the bees. Raila’s inherent mien and charisma has raised his public stature to levels that even the President of the Republic struggles to match. But the vision he unveiled is also the most persuasive agenda for Kenya put forward by any of the presidential wannabes. And the sheer gusto and conviction with which the man submitted his CV to Kenyans just added to the attraction that was already building.
Critics may argue that the vision is low on novelty. But that would be myopic. Students of history know that the world’s celebrated leaders that left the most indelible marks are not necessarily those who re-invented the wheel. Rather, it is those who inspired more innovative ways of spinning the wheel, some by increasing its pace, others by changing its course.
This is what Raila is offering: a different way of spinning the wheel that drives our nation. Kenyan leaders love to spew rhetoric about confronting the ghost of tribalism and slaying the dragon of corruption. Raila says it is time to move beyond fables, first by calling a spade a spade, and next by drying up the springs that nourish the ghost and the dragon. He offers a frontal battle plan to break a spell that hypnotised the Kenyatta, Moi and Kibaki regimes in equal measure.
His vision targets the presidency as the crucible of tribalism and corruption, and boldly declares a war against all informal tentacles fed by family ties and cronyism, which originate from State House and Harambee House to chock the nation with scams like Goldenberg, Anglo Leasing and the Artur nonsense.
Raila’s personal symbol of an orange sliced into eight pieces, each representing a region of Kenya, affirms his commitment to equalise fortunes of our land, through equity-driven governance. And the vision goes beyond merely making the promise.
It lays down a time-bound strategic plan, which includes both lateral and vertical devolution of power and resources, affirmative measures for historically marginalised regions, massive targeted investment in central beams of the economy like infrastructure, invigoration of quality education and healthcare, and innovative catalysis of industrial take-off.
Raila promises Kenyans to see this country progress to Second World status by 2020, a dream he declares achievable in "our lifetime".
With the benefit of hindsight after the "Yote Yawezekana" Narc dream was aborted by the old ways of the Kibaki regime that is stuck in the selfish and tired traditions of yore, Raila promises a clean break with the old order that he has personally challenged for over two decades.
Projecting hope for a fresh dawn, he venerates team play driven by a corporate-style management philosophy that celebrates the team rather than the player.
His vision is symbolically submitted in the collective "we" approach, making it clear that this agenda is rooted in the dream of ODM-Kenya and shared with his worthy rivals for the party’s presidential ticket.
He also lucidly shares his impressive personal credentials, coming out as a consistent, consummate fighter and liberator who believe in the Kenyan dream. Whichever way the ODM-Kenya presidential nomination turns, Raila has upped the ante and made a strong case why he should steer this country from January next year.
ababu@chambersofjustice.org
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Post by kamalet on May 14, 2007 7:49:21 GMT 3
is it possible for miguna to spare us this drivel of psycophancy in the media? If he wants to be objective, he should also flood this thread with the critical views of others....
...but than can never be miguna! He is too blinded by the same psycophancy!
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Post by Daktari wa makazi on May 14, 2007 19:21:18 GMT 3
is it possible for miguna to spare us this drivel of psycophancy in the media? If he wants to be objective, he should also flood this thread with the critical views of others.... ...but than can never be miguna! He is too blinded by the same psycophancy! Bwana Askari You must have meant - sycophancy - it only shows too much muratina not good for your health, afande! Kibaki toka.
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Post by kamalet on May 14, 2007 19:33:55 GMT 3
el Wakeel,
Thankfully apart from my atrocious spelling you did not seem to have a problem with anything else I said. Is this a sign of things to come?
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Post by politicalmaniac on May 17, 2007 20:33:23 GMT 3
Rs vision, bold, honest , achievable, robust and inclusive domestic agenda. It brought the house down!!
The little twit KM was awed but determined to plough ahead with obstructionism according to a western MP who had lunch with KM somewhere in RValley.
KM is always whinning about Rs press coverage. Yesterday R was chatting up Brit and US businessmen. Why cant he borrow a leaf and generate his own headlines. Kulia kama mtoto nye nye nye is what the empty suit KM does.
It took the baboon 4 yrs to come up with a '2030 plan'. 4 f@cking good yrs!!!.
Of the 02' platform, the baboon and his tribal acoylytes have achieved perhaps 1%. Poverty and insecurity reigns, tribalism at an all time high and grand corruption is still with us big time!
What a pathetic excuse for a human bieng this bald headed bipedal mammal is. The bugger has not even held a press conference to interact with journalists and by extension Kenyans in general. Kwani yeye ni imperial King?Its going to 5 yrs and not a single press conference aside from his bungled inebriated pathetic performance in Washington DC with Bush.
This idiot even makes Bush look good!
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Post by kamalet on May 18, 2007 8:44:36 GMT 3
Did you come to Jukwaa drunk?
This is perhaps one of the most unnecessary diatribes I seen in Jukwaa!
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Post by bkichwa on May 18, 2007 10:50:29 GMT 3
Ok, that was funny, Kamale. Pmaniac comes across as a very disgruntled fella. He appears so impassioned by his hatred for Kibaki and kikuyus, that in the case of a Kibaki victory in Dec, I sometimes think that he would, in an uncontrollable fit of rage, go postal on a crowd of kikuyus, before turning the gun to his head and ending his misery and pain.
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Post by fanyamambo on May 18, 2007 12:27:32 GMT 3
My goodness! What a thread.
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Post by adongo12345 on May 19, 2007 6:07:01 GMT 3
My goodness! What a thread. Fanyamambo,I agree with you. Some things alarm me in this thread. Not least of which is myself. But I can live with that. I think the tribal chest thumbing is bad for both sides of the ODM-v-Kibaki camps. It is actully bad for our country. Somewhere in there is a country called Kenya, and a people called Kenyans. Me and you, and particularly me as selfish as I am, would want to believe, that Kenya includes all and us. My fear is that the tribal sideshows are actually intentional, or as is usually the case, are natural products of the neo-colonial power structures in modern Kenya where political power brokers and their business colleagues enter the political arena as millionaires (or millionaire wannabes) with big stakes. Actually as the only pretended stakeholders to the wealth and destiny of the nation. History tells us they are often wrong. But that takes time. Is it any wonder that even the richest citizens of the nation in the private sector, on parole, in the academia and in the diaspora want to be M.P's? I don't think it is an accident. We all know that gaining a political seat in Kenya today has become the surest way to instant wealth. Millionaire status, no less. How grand! One thing I know for a fact; millionaires have no tribes. They take their kids to the same schools (not those awful public secondary schools where they promise to waive tuition fee in the year 2010 or thereabouts, the budget god(ess) willing!), they go to the same gyms, drive the same cars, fly first class across continents and basically have no clue about the realities of life for ordinary Kenyans. Your average Kenyan politician in any part of the country is a complete stranger to the people they represent; they live different lives. One rich, the other extremely poor. One going up, the dangerous ladder, the other barely making it to the bottom in one piece. The disconect between Kenyans and their M.P's is the issue we should address, instead of cheap tribal pot shots and I for one is willing to take responsiblity for my part. This is the disconnection I am talking about: www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=98333I think the nation is ready for it. Adongo
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