Post by kamalet on Aug 14, 2017 15:24:01 GMT 3
Yesterday at about midday I got an alert that Raila was going to Kibera and later to Mathare, areas in Nairobi that had been hit by violence allegedly because an election had been stolen.
When Raila appeared at Bomas on Friday, I thought he had gone to confirm his defeat by Uhuru which would have been followed by statesmanlike phone call to Uhuru conceding defeat. At about the same time Uhuru was leaving Gatundu for Bomas and all protocols were in place. I deluded myself that I would see the moment when Raila became a true statesman that was willing to ignore his court poets and jesters who keep pulling down and that he would do the imaginable that would get him into the annals of this country's history. When he left and it was left for Orengo and Mudavadi to address the press, I realised how wrong I was. James Orengo as usual disappointed with his belligerent attitude and Mudavadi rejection of the result only meant that there was a problem in the house of NASA and they still thought they could force their way. In the meantime Uhuru did a detour to KICC where there were prayers and praise and a curious group of people waving loaves of bread and the imagery did not require much mental effort - no nusu mkate?
Saturday was a day of a lull and I joined my usual group of friends at Nairobi West where we had a full house of friends all of whom support different political grouping but are joined by the happy political banter we have had every Saturday. So for fun, the NASA supporters decided that the Jubilee supporters had to buy the drinks, and even though I do not drink anymore I felt we owed it to our friends to cheer them up. In the meantime Raila did not show up that day and neither did his surrogates issue any statement.
You then can imagine my anticipation when the alert came through about the visit to Kibera and Mathare. In my mind, I thought this would be that euphoric moment when Raila would be the Kenyan statesman many thought he never would be. I stopped everything else I was doing in the house on sunday and switched to NTV that was going to carry the event live. You can then imagine my consternation when Grace Wanga led the expectant crown in songs suggesting nothing much had changed since Friday. When Raila was given the microphone, I edged closer to my TV to make sure I did not miss a thing and even upped the volume!
Raila started his speech with his usual rhetoric and it immediately dawned on my that he was not going to concede nor ask his supporters to stop the violence as he deals with his imagined (my view!) issues with the elections. He went on an on about how it was stolen, accused police (and inexplicably) the military of being involved in dealing with the violent protesters. He then suggested what I think was his dumbest decision - that people should not go to work on Monday and that he would make a very important statement on Tuesday on the way forward. I am not sure I want to go onto what Orengo said when handed over the microphone after Raila spoke. But I can mention his announcement that the people should boycott the Daily Nation and then at the prompting of Raila, he also added NTV the key units of Nation Media Group on the excuse that they were pro-government. I am not sure they actually realised that NTV was the only TV station carrying the rally live, but even then, like the Raila edict to not go to work, I am not sure how they hoped to succeed on the boycott of the Daily Nation when their audience barely buys newspapers TV boycott would not have hurt the media house much!The other important detail of the Sunday Rally, was how Orengo spoke after Raila - which should never be the case!!! - because it suggested the extent of Raila's imprisonment to a group of people! The media rather wisely did not carry the events in Mathare live - and I did not think I was going to be told anything new.
It does not matter which way Raila and the cabal confusing him look at it - he lost the election fair and square. He created an electoral process that worked well and completely against him. He put himself in a position where the election became so credible with little rigging room as there was an audit trail available for every vote cast. In my other post on why Raila lost the election I have listed out what I think went wrong.
In realisation of the importance of coming out of this defeat as a statesman, he perhaps needs to look at the former presidents of South Africa and Ghana both of whom left office and dealt with their 'dismissals' with dignity and that explains why they were here as observers in the rank of statesmen.Jubilee supporting Lowassa could not be appointed to be one and neither could Bessigye be made one either. They carry political baggage unfit for a statesman. The New York Times Editorial Board has perhaps the best advice for Raila and which is what I have been alluding to. Raila can become a statesman and the fanatical hold he has on his community can be something that would keep them united for now there is going to be a big scramble of who takes over and leads the community if Raila continues in his current self destruct mode.
If there is a lesson to learn, it is the response from Kenyans on the boycott call which has generally been ignored and this story has been repeated by several international media houses.
My unsolicited advice to Raila should be:
1. Find the easiest way of conceding defeat in a manner that does not your ego.
2. Address your supporters at a press conference from a written statement and not with your supporters present
3. Only have Kalonzo stand by you
4. Do not answer any questions
5. In your statement, ask Kenyans to remain united and to work with the government elected by Kenyans
6. Announce that there is a lot to be done and indicate your willingness to work with Uhuru (for now it doesn't matter whether you mean it or not!)
7. Drop Orengo and the group of Luo hangabouts that spoil your name for a while!
Such a statement would be received by Kenyans (and the international community) positively as would the economy. There will be claims (even when some do not mean it) that you are a statesman and your famed description as 'father of liberation' will remain intact at this crucial time in Kenya's history. Remember that you father is still erroneously remembered for his role in Kenyatta senior becoming Kenya's president and their fall out later did not erase that.
You have the opportunity of getting a good political obituary or a bad one - the choice is really yours Jatelo. Seize the moment!
When Raila appeared at Bomas on Friday, I thought he had gone to confirm his defeat by Uhuru which would have been followed by statesmanlike phone call to Uhuru conceding defeat. At about the same time Uhuru was leaving Gatundu for Bomas and all protocols were in place. I deluded myself that I would see the moment when Raila became a true statesman that was willing to ignore his court poets and jesters who keep pulling down and that he would do the imaginable that would get him into the annals of this country's history. When he left and it was left for Orengo and Mudavadi to address the press, I realised how wrong I was. James Orengo as usual disappointed with his belligerent attitude and Mudavadi rejection of the result only meant that there was a problem in the house of NASA and they still thought they could force their way. In the meantime Uhuru did a detour to KICC where there were prayers and praise and a curious group of people waving loaves of bread and the imagery did not require much mental effort - no nusu mkate?
Saturday was a day of a lull and I joined my usual group of friends at Nairobi West where we had a full house of friends all of whom support different political grouping but are joined by the happy political banter we have had every Saturday. So for fun, the NASA supporters decided that the Jubilee supporters had to buy the drinks, and even though I do not drink anymore I felt we owed it to our friends to cheer them up. In the meantime Raila did not show up that day and neither did his surrogates issue any statement.
You then can imagine my anticipation when the alert came through about the visit to Kibera and Mathare. In my mind, I thought this would be that euphoric moment when Raila would be the Kenyan statesman many thought he never would be. I stopped everything else I was doing in the house on sunday and switched to NTV that was going to carry the event live. You can then imagine my consternation when Grace Wanga led the expectant crown in songs suggesting nothing much had changed since Friday. When Raila was given the microphone, I edged closer to my TV to make sure I did not miss a thing and even upped the volume!
Raila started his speech with his usual rhetoric and it immediately dawned on my that he was not going to concede nor ask his supporters to stop the violence as he deals with his imagined (my view!) issues with the elections. He went on an on about how it was stolen, accused police (and inexplicably) the military of being involved in dealing with the violent protesters. He then suggested what I think was his dumbest decision - that people should not go to work on Monday and that he would make a very important statement on Tuesday on the way forward. I am not sure I want to go onto what Orengo said when handed over the microphone after Raila spoke. But I can mention his announcement that the people should boycott the Daily Nation and then at the prompting of Raila, he also added NTV the key units of Nation Media Group on the excuse that they were pro-government. I am not sure they actually realised that NTV was the only TV station carrying the rally live, but even then, like the Raila edict to not go to work, I am not sure how they hoped to succeed on the boycott of the Daily Nation when their audience barely buys newspapers TV boycott would not have hurt the media house much!The other important detail of the Sunday Rally, was how Orengo spoke after Raila - which should never be the case!!! - because it suggested the extent of Raila's imprisonment to a group of people! The media rather wisely did not carry the events in Mathare live - and I did not think I was going to be told anything new.
It does not matter which way Raila and the cabal confusing him look at it - he lost the election fair and square. He created an electoral process that worked well and completely against him. He put himself in a position where the election became so credible with little rigging room as there was an audit trail available for every vote cast. In my other post on why Raila lost the election I have listed out what I think went wrong.
In realisation of the importance of coming out of this defeat as a statesman, he perhaps needs to look at the former presidents of South Africa and Ghana both of whom left office and dealt with their 'dismissals' with dignity and that explains why they were here as observers in the rank of statesmen.Jubilee supporting Lowassa could not be appointed to be one and neither could Bessigye be made one either. They carry political baggage unfit for a statesman. The New York Times Editorial Board has perhaps the best advice for Raila and which is what I have been alluding to. Raila can become a statesman and the fanatical hold he has on his community can be something that would keep them united for now there is going to be a big scramble of who takes over and leads the community if Raila continues in his current self destruct mode.
If there is a lesson to learn, it is the response from Kenyans on the boycott call which has generally been ignored and this story has been repeated by several international media houses.
My unsolicited advice to Raila should be:
1. Find the easiest way of conceding defeat in a manner that does not your ego.
2. Address your supporters at a press conference from a written statement and not with your supporters present
3. Only have Kalonzo stand by you
4. Do not answer any questions
5. In your statement, ask Kenyans to remain united and to work with the government elected by Kenyans
6. Announce that there is a lot to be done and indicate your willingness to work with Uhuru (for now it doesn't matter whether you mean it or not!)
7. Drop Orengo and the group of Luo hangabouts that spoil your name for a while!
Such a statement would be received by Kenyans (and the international community) positively as would the economy. There will be claims (even when some do not mean it) that you are a statesman and your famed description as 'father of liberation' will remain intact at this crucial time in Kenya's history. Remember that you father is still erroneously remembered for his role in Kenyatta senior becoming Kenya's president and their fall out later did not erase that.
You have the opportunity of getting a good political obituary or a bad one - the choice is really yours Jatelo. Seize the moment!