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Post by owuor on Mar 5, 2011 4:53:04 GMT 3
This wikileak seems to have damaging information on the reform and management capacity of the defacto opinion poll president even from his trusted lieutenants. I wonder if James Orengo will be christened Judas Orengo. US ambassador Michael Ranneberger met both Mr Orengo and head of Public Service Francis Muthaura in mid 2009 to press them to push Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga to speed up the process of reforms. In his meeting with Mr Ranneberger, the Lands minister shared his frustration with the PM. “After I reviewed the state of play along lines similar to those I employed with Muthaura, Orengo admitted frustration about the slow movement on the reform agenda. He said that Prime Minister Odinga must bear substantial responsibility for this. Orengo made clear his view that Kibaki and his people do not favour far-reaching reforms, but at the same time, he said, Odinga has not been forthright in driving implementation of the reform agenda. Odinga has done nothing to reorganise his office to make it more effective; Odinga is a poor manager who does not follow up; and he is primarily focused on preparing for his presidential run in 2012, Orengo said.Bwa ha ha haaaaaaaa ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/What+Americans+really+think+of+Kibaki+and+Raila/-/1064/1119370/-/jllfyj/-/index.html |
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tom
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Post by tom on Mar 5, 2011 11:32:39 GMT 3
OwuorI have had you under my microscope for sometime now, and I can tell that anything that seem to portray Raila negatively is a boon to your health. Are you part of the MPs for rent? Your face literally radiates with heavenly lit glory whenever you conceive of Raila's misfortunes. You must be a very close Ruto ally.  Kenyans are excited at the thought of fellow Kenyans leaking their folly before a mere US representative here.... Kie Kie Kie The most hilarious thing is that we swallow it hook, line and sinker when it comes from a person who's skin colour dulls ours. ;D ;D Is a black man ever going to heed Bob Marley's wisdom? Emancipate yourself from mental Slavery,
None but oursleves can free our minds,
Have no fear for atomic energy,
Cause none of them can stop the time...
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Post by mzee on Mar 5, 2011 13:36:11 GMT 3
This wikileak seems to have damaging information on the reform and management capacity of the defacto opinion poll president even from his trusted lieutenants. I wonder if James Orengo will be christened Judas Orengo. US ambassador Michael Ranneberger met both Mr Orengo and head of Public Service Francis Muthaura in mid 2009 to press them to push Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga to speed up the process of reforms. In his meeting with Mr Ranneberger, the Lands minister shared his frustration with the PM. “After I reviewed the state of play along lines similar to those I employed with Muthaura, Orengo admitted frustration about the slow movement on the reform agenda. He said that Prime Minister Odinga must bear substantial responsibility for this. Orengo made clear his view that Kibaki and his people do not favour far-reaching reforms, but at the same time, he said, Odinga has not been forthright in driving implementation of the reform agenda. Odinga has done nothing to reorganise his office to make it more effective; Odinga is a poor manager who does not follow up; and he is primarily focused on preparing for his presidential run in 2012, Orengo said.Bwa ha ha haaaaaaaa ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/What+Americans+really+think+of+Kibaki+and+Raila/-/1064/1119370/-/jllfyj/-/index.html has carried out himself well for the past three years inspite of the fact that he was once Railas political rival. We will not accept people sowing seeds of discord between Agwambo and Nyatieng (Orengo). |
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Post by merlin on Mar 5, 2011 22:03:59 GMT 3
It is all emotional response and little wisdom when anyone says something about Raila.
Raila has exceptional talents though he is a mortal being and not a saint. He has many strong qualities though also weak ones. Clever people recognise, acknowledge and accept their strong and weak qualities. Only exceptional people take the next step and deal with this by forming people around them who strengthen their weak qualities. They become a powerful team. Bill Clinton and Obama and some CEO’s in Kenya are exceptional. They are team players.
Raila could be an exceptional person though he is surrounded by admirers which are exceptional bad mirrors to discover weak qualities. Maybe James Orengo is a truthful valuable mirror for Raila.
Let us drop the devotion veil and become clear valuable mirrors for Raila. Take part in building a phenomenal strong team in making clear which direction we like to go. Give it hands and feet so people will understand where ODM is aiming for. This message should be repeated again and again.
ODM is too much in a defensive mode against the slander of the opposition. ODM loses too much energy in these defensive discussions and keep talking about the opposition while ODM should be talking about it selves, explaining how ODM builds a strong organisation and why this will be good for Kenya.
Raila tried to form a team, the Pentagon though it was not based on strength and weakness qualities.
The strongman syndrome makes leaders lose their clothes, walking alone and bear in public while only their admirers see the golden garments.
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Post by johns on Mar 5, 2011 22:27:25 GMT 3
It is all emotional response and little wisdom when anyone says something about Raila. Raila has exceptional talents though he is a mortal being and not a saint. He has many strong qualities though also weak ones. Clever people recognise, acknowledge and accept their strong and weak qualities. Only exceptional people take the next step and deal with this by forming people around them who strengthen their weak qualities. They become a powerful team. Bill Clinton and Obama and some CEO’s in Kenya are exceptional. They are team players. Raila could be an exceptional person though he is surrounded by admirers which are exceptional bad mirrors to discover weak qualities. Maybe James Orengo is a truthful valuable mirror for Raila. Let us drop the devotion veil and become clear valuable mirrors for Raila. Take part in building a phenomenal strong team in making clear which direction we like to go. Give it hands and feet so people will understand where ODM is aiming for. This message should be repeated again and again. ODM is too much in a defensive mode against the slander of the opposition. ODM loses too much energy in these defensive discussions and keep talking about the opposition while ODM should be talking about it selves, explaining how ODM builds a strong organisation and why this will be good for Kenya. Raila tried to form a team, the Pentagon though it was not based on strength and weakness qualities. The strongman syndrome makes leaders lose their clothes, walking alone and bear in public while only their admirers see the golden garments. @merlin, You have spoken the truth about what should be made out of this observation on Railas lack of managerial skills. If you take a look at the way he has continued to fumble with lack of clarity on issues he believe in, then you start forming a clear picture on where the deficiency lays. I have always been baffled why for instance there is no clarity on why his office failed to give a clear picture on the importance of saving for instance Mau forest vis a viz special and tribal interests surrounding this noble exercise. They are many national issues where i think clarity and consistence of purpose could have achieved the intended objectives desired but he seem to be incoherent in explaining his goals of why such exercises must be followed through to a concluded end. Raila basically need a team around him to manage his office effectively so it can be seen to also have teeth in the management of state affairs. The constitution has given him the authority but he seem to be always playing catch up to Kibakis schemes and forever reacting. I dont know whether it is deliberate or not but it should be a concern to those who want kenya to do better. |
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Post by job on Mar 6, 2011 2:43:19 GMT 3
It is all emotional response and little wisdom when anyone says something about Raila.
Raila has exceptional talents though he is a mortal being and not a saint. He has many strong qualities though also weak ones. Clever people recognise, acknowledge and accept their strong and weak qualities. Only exceptional people take the next step and deal with this by forming people around them who strengthen their weak qualities. They become a powerful team. Bill Clinton and Obama and some CEO’s in Kenya are exceptional. They are team players.
Raila could be an exceptional person though he is surrounded by admirers which are exceptional bad mirrors to discover weak qualities. Maybe James Orengo is a truthful valuable mirror for Raila.
Let us drop the devotion veil and become clear valuable mirrors for Raila. Take part in building a phenomenal strong team in making clear which direction we like to go. Give it hands and feet so people will understand where ODM is aiming for. This message should be repeated again and again.
ODM is too much in a defensive mode against the slander of the opposition. ODM loses too much energy in these defensive discussions and keep talking about the opposition while ODM should be talking about it selves, explaining how ODM builds a strong organisation and why this will be good for Kenya.
Raila tried to form a team, the Pentagon though it was not based on strength and weakness qualities.
The strongman syndrome makes leaders lose their clothes, walking alone and bear in public while only their admirers see the golden garments. Before I come to the issue of gross ineptitude and negligence at the PM's office, for the umpteenth time, I want to PUBLICLY remind the PM that the best he can do for his family under the tough situation in Kenya is to steer them off government affairs. Anyone deliberately misleading the PM that his relatives have been doing him wonderful service in government probably borders on being a disingenuous sycophant with little regard for the PM's own future political prospects. Agwambo should know that in the eyes of the greater public, his relatives (in and out of government) may not neccessarily be serving him quite well. I know this breaks the hearts of some of my beloved JUKWAA brethren but please let us agree to disagree. To begin with Oburu, records here in JUKWAA will bear out my consistent thought that it wasn't particularly fair for an elder-brother to exert self-serving demands (such as appointment as Asst Minister) under the tough circumstances of NARA. Old bro should have said - thanks but no thanks. Neither is it fair for cousins to plant themselves (or be planted) as chief whips - who turn out to be largely ineffective put-offs and party repellents. I'm not in the busines of engaging in blame games, but these have always been my thoughts here in JUKWAA. ODM lacks a charismatic, responsive, dynamic, and effective whip who brings in more parliamentary support than repels out. Anyone willing to debate this FACT?Can Agwambo HIMSELF (not staff or family) please say amen to this truth-telling! One of the biggest distractions to the PM are these intermittent stories about his own family members making unwarranted newspaper headlines through dabbling into government. For heavens sake, why does Ida have to butt into an official gender conference in New York and start jostling for the microphone with a cabinet Minister responsible for gender affairs? The PS in the ministry happens to be my former colleague at KNH. Why couldn't PS Dr Nyikal stop being disingenuous and tell Ida the possible negative ramifications of the fiasco....they all knew politics was going to be played out even if it was a non-issue. Why take the risk? PNU will never waste an opportunity to propagandize the PM. Is Ida aware of this? What about other family members? What about internal ODM folks facilitating or carelessly endorsing such risky endeavours? There you now have it. The perception that the PM is rumming his relatives into formal and informal government affairs. In as much as I also respect Dr Wenwa Akinyi, I have repeatedly asked what value her posting at the LA Consulate adds to streamlining the PM's role and effectiveness and nothing comes out except political liability to the PM. Shedding off the nepotism tag can be quite difficult. On any day, the PM could refer Wenwa to work in a local or foreign based private Oil firm and earn twenty times more than she's making in government without makelele.It seems the folks around the PM would rather not be quoted questioning such appointments - well some of us will do so. They say, truth shall set you free....ODM members should engage in some frank truth telling, rather than sheer sycophancy. Coming to the issue of the PM's office. The brutal truth is that folks like Caroli Omondi and Isahakhia are grossly incompetent and inexperienced when it comes to navigating the terrain of public service and managing the daily intrigues of a complicated & corruption-riddled civil service.
Like Merlin points out, Raila himself could have his own strengths and weaknesses but every manager knows that his or her organizational ability largely depends on the cast surrounding him/her. Competent and credible staff by all standards almost invariably help a leader achieve set goals and objectives within required time.
We all saw the naivety of the staff in the PM's office during the maize scandal, after which I concluded here in JUKWAA that the PM should RELEASE BOTH Caroli & Isahakhia. Even William Ruto was able to rope in (set up) Isahakhia with a small order of importation of maize bags through Isahakhia's moribund 'computer company'. The optics were terrible. Little did I know the two would be back so fast to continue the ineptitude right where they left. Right in front of our eyes, we've patiently watched these two folks perennially set up for failure without even realizing. They have suffered combined and chronic back-bitting right under their noses. The experienced insider and down-to-earth Francis Muthaura has wiped the floor with both of them, the latest episode culminating in the nomination fiasco in the Judiciary. Why should one pretend to be cringing at Michael Ranneberger's Wikileaks cables when we know there's at least some truth in them. The PM has not been served well by his supporting administrative cast leading to general ineffectiveness - what Americans like Ranneberger colloquially refer to as being FECKLESS. Caroli and Isahkhia's presence and the lack of competent alternatives is the source of this undeniable fecklessness. I held my breath recently when I saw Agwambo board a plane to an international diplomatic assigment in Abidjan, accompanied by three local ordinaries, with no internationally-trained diplomatic advisor, no internationally acclaimed spokesman, and an uninspiring security entourage. Did he have talking points? Codes and protocol guidelines for addressing media in such scenario? All he had was good old Caroli...and probably Isahakhia....what a disservice this was! We even desperately tried to relay word that international diplomacy requires a lot of consultation from the right people - international diplomats like Kofi Annan - but I guess all that was crowded out by the voices of the know-it-alls like Caroli. Those who have worked in the civil service (like myself) know that the last thing one wants to do is bring in an arrogant, abrassive, know-it-all or smart-Aleck type of attitude into government offices. You don't just floss-in ati you came from the World Bank thinking that peers, leave alone gava clerks and juniors, will let you walk on their backs. You will be sabotaged from the get-go. Many of those clerks behind the simple desks have stringed not-so-clean but sophisticated processes that have them owning lots of properties & ego's & pockets to support the same. You can't change these realities overnight. Juniors can plot sophisticated and daily embarassment. From all initiatives the PM has supported, whether the Kazi Kwa Vijana program, or Mau Conservation effort, or humongous role in reforms (constitution et al.,), the PM seems to be either playing catch-up or his role is completely blacked-out. No savy media follow-up is made to reflect and connect these realities to the public. The impunity merchants are having a field day in propaganda warfare. The biggest threat that the internal mediocrity in the PM's office poses to Kenya is that it might hurt the implementation of the new constitution. How can this inept office guarantee to shepherd all the constitutional requirements of the PM. Thanks to the Speaker of the national assembly, the Judicial reorganization that started on a sour note was temporarily halted. Are we always going to rely on the Speaker to have the PM exercise his mandate as required by NARA and the constitution? This same mediocrity has failed to effectively respond or counter to the relentless shuttle diplomacy aimed at scuttling ICC prosecutions. It's time for the PM to take a hard look at the closest people surrounding him and start calling for accountability. Most would end up gone immediately! For the umpteenth time, I call for action..in all these aspects! |
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Post by toddo on Mar 6, 2011 3:22:21 GMT 3
Owuor I amy not be in agreement with most of your views because they are often laced with unnnecessay hate for Raila.
At the same time, I have been thinking about thr prospect of building a Kenyan political party that could last for a longer time. Am not talking about a KANU-like party. In the US, they have the Dems and the GOP, In the UK they have the Conservatives and Labour, In Canada, there is the Liberals and the Conservatives.
I am hoping that ODM would be that party that could last longer than just winning an election. To succeed in this endeavor, it must set up long lasting structures that effectively deals with party issues. A strong team that ensures this happens seems to be lacking and the faster the party works on these issues, the better for democracy in Kenya. Since our politics and democracy has been parliamentary and party driven for a long time, it is sad that individuals from both sides of any debate tend to use party machinery and parliamentary machinery to satisfy their goals. Now we are questioning Raila's ability to manage and yet when the party was formed, some of the same people ( I assume ) were aware of the weaknesses within the party.
Johns, I share your sentiments about the ODM leader. Dont get me wrong, fo rthe most part, if I look at the current crop of leaders, none of them get close to RAO. My observations of Raila is that he does have challenges when it comes to clarifying policy and development. He is no doubt a popular nationalist and if he gets a better team to help him with goals and the nitty-gritty issues that are relevant to the party. Events often overtake the ODM party and reaction has been the name of the game since PNU is planning things ahead of them. It started with the day elections were stolen and ODM has been doing catch up. But you cannot take away from him this fact - he knows how to connect with Kenyans and to read the mood well so that he hits the right note politically.
Additionally, as a Kenyan, I have been thinking of who succeeds Raila for the future. Is it Mudavadi?. It would be better for Raila to start grooming from the party if possible but the current situation does not seem to suggest that the party is structured properly in the event that their leader is unable to continue leading For example,(God forbid something terrible happens to RAO), does Orengo have the capability to mobilize wananchi the way Raila has done in the past?
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Post by toddo on Mar 6, 2011 3:40:20 GMT 3
This same mediocrity has failed to effectively respond or counter to the relentless shuttle diplomacy aimed at scuttling ICC prosecutions. It's time for the PM to take a hard look at the closest people surrounding him and start calling for accountability. Most would end up gone immediately! For the umpteenth time, I call for action..in all these aspects!
Thanks Job for your insight. It is always good to hear it from people who have familiarity with the system. I have often though that the shuttle diplomacy is a good example of the failure of ODM to counter their government partners - PNU. Instead of letting them run amok with shuttle diplomacy, ODM should have countered the shuttle diplomacy with diplomatic actions at every juncture. Instead, they have been silent internationally and this allows Kalooser to have his day. Kenyans will loose confidence in them and will look for a viable alternative. The current Kenyan is more educated and has access to information and will smell it if it does not give them hope. Hard work cannot stop because ODM is in power. In fact, hard work should not stop at all. |
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Post by gachquota on Mar 6, 2011 3:42:08 GMT 3
It is all emotional response and little wisdom when anyone says something about Raila.
Raila has exceptional talents though he is a mortal being and not a saint. He has many strong qualities though also weak ones. Clever people recognise, acknowledge and accept their strong and weak qualities. Only exceptional people take the next step and deal with this by forming people around them who strengthen their weak qualities. They become a powerful team. Bill Clinton and Obama and some CEO’s in Kenya are exceptional. They are team players.
Raila could be an exceptional person though he is surrounded by admirers which are exceptional bad mirrors to discover weak qualities. Maybe James Orengo is a truthful valuable mirror for Raila.
Let us drop the devotion veil and become clear valuable mirrors for Raila. Take part in building a phenomenal strong team in making clear which direction we like to go. Give it hands and feet so people will understand where ODM is aiming for. This message should be repeated again and again.
ODM is too much in a defensive mode against the slander of the opposition. ODM loses too much energy in these defensive discussions and keep talking about the opposition while ODM should be talking about it selves, explaining how ODM builds a strong organisation and why this will be good for Kenya.
Raila tried to form a team, the Pentagon though it was not based on strength and weakness qualities.
The strongman syndrome makes leaders lose their clothes, walking alone and bear in public while only their admirers see the golden garments. Before I come to the issue of gross ineptitude and negligence at the PM's office, for the umpteenth time, I want to PUBLICLY remind the PM that the best he can do for his family under the tough situation in Kenya is to steer them off government affairs. Anyone deliberately misleading the PM that his relatives have been doing him wonderful service in government probably borders on being a disingenuous sycophant with little regard for the PM's own future political prospects. Agwambo should know that in the eyes of the greater public, his relatives (in and out of government) may not neccessarily be serving him quite well. I know this breaks the hearts of some of my beloved JUKWAA brethren but please let us agree to disagree. To begin with Oburu, records here in JUKWAA will bear out my consistent thought that it wasn't particularly fair for an elder-brother to exert self-serving demands (such as appointment as Asst Minister) under the tough circumstances of NARA. Old bro should have said - thanks but no thanks. Neither is it fair for cousins to plant themselves (or be planted) as chief whips - who turn out to be largely ineffective put-offs and party repellents. I'm not in the busines of engaging in blame games, but these have always been my thoughts here in JUKWAA. ODM lacks a charismatic, responsive, dynamic, and effective whip who brings in more parliamentary support than repels out. Anyone willing to debate this FACT?Can Agwambo HIMSELF (not staff or family) please say amen to this truth-telling! One of the biggest distractions to the PM are these intermittent stories about his own family members making unwarranted newspaper headlines through dabbling into government. For heavens sake, why does Ida have to butt into an official gender conference in New York and start jostling for the microphone with a cabinet Minister responsible for gender affairs? The PS in the ministry happens to be my former colleague at KNH. Why couldn't PS Dr Nyikal stop being disingenuous and tell Ida the possible negative ramifications of the fiasco....they all knew politics was going to be played out even if it was a non-issue. Why take the risk? PNU will never waste an opportunity to propagandize the PM. Is Ida aware of this? What about other family members? What about internal ODM folks facilitating or carelessly endorsing such risky endeavours? There you now have it. The perception that the PM is rumming his relatives into formal and informal government affairs. In as much as I also respect Dr Wenwa Akinyi, I have repeatedly asked what value her posting at the LA Consulate adds to streamlining the PM's role and effectiveness and nothing comes out except political liability to the PM. Shedding off the nepotism tag can be quite difficult. On any day, the PM could refer Wenwa to work in a local or foreign based private Oil firm and earn twenty times more than she's making in government without makelele.It seems the folks around the PM would rather not be quoted questioning such appointments - well some of us will do so. They say, truth shall set you free....ODM members should engage in some frank truth telling, rather than sheer sycophancy. Coming to the issue of the PM's office. The brutal truth is that folks like Caroli Omondi and Isahakhia are grossly incompetent and inexperienced when it comes to navigating the terrain of public service and managing the daily intrigues of a complicated & corruption-riddled civil service.
Like Merlin points out, Raila himself could have his own strengths and weaknesses but every manager knows that his or her organizational ability largely depends on the cast surrounding him/her. Competent and credible staff by all standards almost invariably help a leader achieve set goals and objectives within required time.
We all saw the naivety of the staff in the PM's office during the maize scandal, after which I concluded here in JUKWAA that the PM should RELEASE BOTH Caroli & Isahakhia. Even William Ruto was able to rope in (set up) Isahakhia with a small order of importation of maize bags through Isahakhia's moribund 'computer company'. The optics were terrible. Little did I know the two would be back so fast to continue the ineptitude right where they left. Right in front of our eyes, we've patiently watched these two folks perennially set up for failure without even realizing. They have suffered combined and chronic back-bitting right under their noses. The experienced insider and down-to-earth Francis Muthaura has wiped the floor with both of them, the latest episode culminating in the nomination fiasco in the Judiciary. Why should one pretend to be cringing at Michael Ranneberger's Wikileaks cables when we know there's at least some truth in them. The PM has not been served well by his supporting administrative cast leading to general ineffectiveness - what Americans like Ranneberger colloquially refer to as being FECKLESS. Caroli and Isahkhia's presence and the lack of competent alternatives is the source of this undeniable fecklessness. I held my breath recently when I saw Agwambo board a plane to an international diplomatic assigment in Abidjan, accompanied by three local ordinaries, with no internationally-trained diplomatic advisor, no internationally acclaimed spokesman, and an uninspiring security entourage. Did he have talking points? Codes and protocol guidelines for addressing media in such scenario? All he had was good old Caroli...and probably Isahakhia....what a disservice this was! We even desperately tried to relay word that international diplomacy requires a lot of consultation from the right people - international diplomats like Kofi Annan - but I guess all that was crowded out by the voices of the know-it-alls like Caroli. Those who have worked in the civil service (like myself) know that the last thing one wants to do is bring in an arrogant, abrassive, know-it-all or smart-Aleck type of attitude into government offices. You don't just floss-in ati you came from the World Bank thinking that peers, leave alone gava clerks and juniors, will let you walk on their backs. You will be sabotaged from the get-go. Many of those clerks behind the simple desks have stringed not-so-clean but sophisticated processes that have them owning lots of properties & ego's & pockets to support the same. You can't change these realities overnight. Juniors can plot sophisticated and daily embarassment. From all initiatives the PM has supported, whether the Kazi Kwa Vijana program, or Mau Conservation effort, or humongous role in reforms (constitution et al.,), the PM seems to be either playing catch-up or his role is completely blacked-out. No savy media follow-up is made to reflect and connect these realities to the public. The impunity merchants are having a field day in propaganda warfare. The biggest threat that the internal mediocrity in the PM's office poses to Kenya is that it might hurt the implementation of the new constitution. How can this inept office guarantee to shepherd all the constitutional requirements of the PM. Thanks to the Speaker of the national assembly, the Judicial reorganization that started on a sour note was temporarily halted. Are we always going to rely on the Speaker to have the PM exercise his mandate as required by NARA and the constitution? This same mediocrity has failed to effectively respond or counter to the relentless shuttle diplomacy aimed at scuttling ICC prosecutions. It's time for the PM to take a hard look at the closest people surrounding him and start calling for accountability. Most would end up gone immediately! For the umpteenth time, I call for action..in all these aspects!U nailed it Son.very true. |
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Post by phil on Mar 6, 2011 11:02:00 GMT 3
It is all emotional response and little wisdom when anyone says something about Raila. Raila has exceptional talents though he is a mortal being and not a saint. He has many strong qualities though also weak ones.
I do not entirely agree with some of the sentiments you express above. You need to appreciate the environment the fellow is working under. Raila Odinga has done exceptionally well for someone who is being constantly hunted by the powers that be. To fight incumbency at elections and defeat them is no easy task. Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo might be Raila's cousin, but Jakoyo is among the most effective MPs of the 9th and 10th parliaments. This is a recorded fact. His CDF record speaks for itself and Gem constituency ranks only second to Peter Kenneth's Gatanga in terms of CDF project implementation. The fact that he defeated many big names for the ODM nomination in Gem tells you how much Gem people value his leadership. For his contribution to ODM, Jakoyo actually deserved a full cabinet position, rather than chief whip, and I am sure he could have done a much better job than the likes of Sambili of UDM. My humble view is that there is not a single MP in the entire Nyanza province - and most of the country - that is outperforming Jakoyo. There are those of us who feel Jakoyo would do a better job than Prof. Nyongo as the party's secretary general. The man is clearly committed to the ODM dream and those of us who know him know that he is among the few ODM leaders who openly disagree with the PM and have been known to confront him when he makes unpopular decisions. Jakoyo is the kind of person you need to take the Isaac Ruto's of this world head-on! Jakoyo is not a sycophant like for instance the colourless Mudavadi! Sometimes in politics, especially our Kenyan politics, diplomacy never just seem to work. You need not to be Dr. Robert Ouko to understand this. You also need to remember that apart from addressing his numerous prime ministerial duties (while in competition with Muthaura), Raila must also stem rebellion in ODM, engage with international partners, tour the country officially and politically, always be wary of a dishonest coalition partner, push for implementation of reforms and still look after the interests of his demanding Langata constituents. Not so easy for a sexagenarian who spent nearly 10 years in solitary confinement at some of the country's maximum security prisons. Mau reclamation was was a commendable effort and sacrifice on the part of Raila. That tells me that the fellow will do what it takes for the country rather than for partisan political reasons. Mind you, Raila was not responsible for the appointment of some of these characters you see at his office and actually you can count less than 5 people he forcefully created offices for at OPM, Caroli Omondi being one of them. Some of these people are not paid by the civil service but they have been working for the prime minister because they receive allowances through the goodwill of donors who are financing some operations at OPM directly. That is how difficult it is. Do you remember the story about Raila having worked as prime minister for years and not having collected his salary? Do you know how that ended? Back to party politics, it is a fact that the ODM campaign machinery of 2007 was driven almost entirely by volunteers, majority of whom were professionals in their own fields and almost all of them have gone back to their regular jobs. The highly regarded presidential campaign team disbanded almost immediately the elections were disputed. Over reliance on volunteers is what has left the party naked and rudderless. The party now relies on politicians to run its affairs and some of these politicians have an eye on the party finances while other are working with PNU to undermine the party. I can tell you for a fact, Tony Gacoka who worked with Raila at one time was one the people who followed him everywhere to gather intelligence for the other side. There are still people working at OPM who are there strictly for purposes of political espionage. One of these is Isahakhia. How do you work for and deliver services efficiently to the populations under such difficult working environment? If Raila were to retire at the same time with Kibaki, my opinion is that he has done for this country much more than most of these people calling themselves leaders and 2012 presidential candidates. |
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Post by b6k on Mar 6, 2011 12:27:26 GMT 3
Interesting. Finally some honest truth about ODM shortcomings from Phil instead of the usual spin. So Caroli is by RAO's side without a salary? Thank God for small mercies. The fact that he has RAO's ear however means that he may have alternate ways of making a living in the corridors of power.
@ Job in at least one of the Abidjan trips RAO was accompanied by Salim Lone. One would've have expected his UN experience to have brought some dividends but I guess that's sort of like the over reliance on a former World Bank crony who has proved ineffective for reasons you have explained.
RAO does need to raise his game and as he appears to be the only proponent for real change he needs to start with radical surgery of those around him. That talent that he allowed to slip quietly back to their day jobs should be where he head-hunts from. Recycling compromised individuals clearly isn't working well.
Phil criticizing RAO should not be contrued as Railaphobia. If indeed he is the best midwife the new constitution has then we have to ensure he goes about it effectively. Nepotism & cronyism has to take a back seat.
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Post by mzee on Mar 6, 2011 13:27:30 GMT 3
Jukwaa,
Raila being a human being has his short comings. The fact that people expected real change after 2007 elections and are still seeing him as their only hope for change, but at the same time failing to appreciate the position he finds himself is a big problem.
The fact that the OPM is underfunded is a major obstacle to the promotion of the good ideas Raila has. The OPM operates almost at the mercy of the treasury and donors. Such an important office must not and cannot rely on charity to run.
The area in which the OPM could have done better is that of self promotion via the media. The PM does loads of good things for the country but we are never told about them. Infact you hear more about Railas political rallies than his tours in line of work, which are by the way numerous. This is where people such as Dennis Onyango would have done better. But because of fear or incompetence he has not been able to match his countepart Dr. "Goebbels" Mutua. Why not hold rolling press conferences to address what the PM is doing/has done? Its a pity that the OPM lost Salim Lone.
Besides, what the OPM does needs the cooperation of the whole government to implement. But as we all know, the other side of the coalition does its very best to see to it that anything that makes RAO look good is frustrated, if possible. RAO has to fight tooth and nail for "his stuff" to see the light of day. So to throw a blanket condemnation on RAO is to be a little naive.
One cannot claim that RAO is a bad manager having biuld Spectre International from the ground. Revived molasses plant in Kisumu. Piloted ODM through tough times. Operated the OPM under difficult circumstances etc. The man is a good manager. But as they say, a prophet is never accepted in his own hometown. I have found Ghanians, Ugandans and Nigerians who have the utmost respect for Raila and wished they had such a forthright leader. We on the other hand just see and amplify his short comings while ignoring the circumstances under which he operates.
I disagree with Job that Oburu does not deserve the asst ministers post, he does for he has all the qualifications . But my problem with Oburu is that he does nothing of substance in his Bondo constituency. Kazi yake ni kulala. He has refused to borrow a leaf from my MP Jakoyo Midiwo who has been fantastic in terms of development . Oburu could be the worst MP in the former Nyanza province.
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Post by nok on Mar 6, 2011 14:32:23 GMT 3
It is all emotional response and little wisdom when anyone says something about Raila.
Raila has exceptional talents though he is a mortal being and not a saint. He has many strong qualities though also weak ones. Clever people recognise, acknowledge and accept their strong and weak qualities. Only exceptional people take the next step and deal with this by forming people around them who strengthen their weak qualities. They become a powerful team. Bill Clinton and Obama and some CEO’s in Kenya are exceptional. They are team players.
Raila could be an exceptional person though he is surrounded by admirers which are exceptional bad mirrors to discover weak qualities. Maybe James Orengo is a truthful valuable mirror for Raila.
Let us drop the devotion veil and become clear valuable mirrors for Raila. Take part in building a phenomenal strong team in making clear which direction we like to go. Give it hands and feet so people will understand where ODM is aiming for. This message should be repeated again and again.
ODM is too much in a defensive mode against the slander of the opposition. ODM loses too much energy in these defensive discussions and keep talking about the opposition while ODM should be talking about it selves, explaining how ODM builds a strong organisation and why this will be good for Kenya.
Raila tried to form a team, the Pentagon though it was not based on strength and weakness qualities.
The strongman syndrome makes leaders lose their clothes, walking alone and bear in public while only their admirers see the golden garments. Before I come to the issue of gross ineptitude and negligence at the PM's office, for the umpteenth time, I want to PUBLICLY remind the PM that the best he can do for his family under the tough situation in Kenya is to steer them off government affairs. Anyone deliberately misleading the PM that his relatives have been doing him wonderful service in government probably borders on being a disingenuous sycophant with little regard for the PM's own future political prospects. Agwambo should know that in the eyes of the greater public, his relatives (in and out of government) may not neccessarily be serving him quite well. I know this breaks the hearts of some of my beloved JUKWAA brethren but please let us agree to disagree. To begin with Oburu, records here in JUKWAA will bear out my consistent thought that it wasn't particularly fair for an elder-brother to exert self-serving demands (such as appointment as Asst Minister) under the tough circumstances of NARA. Old bro should have said - thanks but no thanks. Neither is it fair for cousins to plant themselves (or be planted) as chief whips - who turn out to be largely ineffective put-offs and party repellents. I'm not in the busines of engaging in blame games, but these have always been my thoughts here in JUKWAA. ODM lacks a charismatic, responsive, dynamic, and effective whip who brings in more parliamentary support than repels out. Anyone willing to debate this FACT?Can Agwambo HIMSELF (not staff or family) please say amen to this truth-telling! One of the biggest distractions to the PM are these intermittent stories about his own family members making unwarranted newspaper headlines through dabbling into government. For heavens sake, why does Ida have to butt into an official gender conference in New York and start jostling for the microphone with a cabinet Minister responsible for gender affairs? The PS in the ministry happens to be my former colleague at KNH. Why couldn't PS Dr Nyikal stop being disingenuous and tell Ida the possible negative ramifications of the fiasco....they all knew politics was going to be played out even if it was a non-issue. Why take the risk? PNU will never waste an opportunity to propagandize the PM. Is Ida aware of this? What about other family members? What about internal ODM folks facilitating or carelessly endorsing such risky endeavours? There you now have it. The perception that the PM is rumming his relatives into formal and informal government affairs. In as much as I also respect Dr Wenwa Akinyi, I have repeatedly asked what value her posting at the LA Consulate adds to streamlining the PM's role and effectiveness and nothing comes out except political liability to the PM. Shedding off the nepotism tag can be quite difficult. On any day, the PM could refer Wenwa to work in a local or foreign based private Oil firm and earn twenty times more than she's making in government without makelele.It seems the folks around the PM would rather not be quoted questioning such appointments - well some of us will do so. They say, truth shall set you free....ODM members should engage in some frank truth telling, rather than sheer sycophancy. Coming to the issue of the PM's office. The brutal truth is that folks like Caroli Omondi and Isahakhia are grossly incompetent and inexperienced when it comes to navigating the terrain of public service and managing the daily intrigues of a complicated & corruption-riddled civil service.
Like Merlin points out, Raila himself could have his own strengths and weaknesses but every manager knows that his or her organizational ability largely depends on the cast surrounding him/her. Competent and credible staff by all standards almost invariably help a leader achieve set goals and objectives within required time.
We all saw the naivety of the staff in the PM's office during the maize scandal, after which I concluded here in JUKWAA that the PM should RELEASE BOTH Caroli & Isahakhia. Even William Ruto was able to rope in (set up) Isahakhia with a small order of importation of maize bags through Isahakhia's moribund 'computer company'. The optics were terrible. Little did I know the two would be back so fast to continue the ineptitude right where they left. Right in front of our eyes, we've patiently watched these two folks perennially set up for failure without even realizing. They have suffered combined and chronic back-bitting right under their noses. The experienced insider and down-to-earth Francis Muthaura has wiped the floor with both of them, the latest episode culminating in the nomination fiasco in the Judiciary. Why should one pretend to be cringing at Michael Ranneberger's Wikileaks cables when we know there's at least some truth in them. The PM has not been served well by his supporting administrative cast leading to general ineffectiveness - what Americans like Ranneberger colloquially refer to as being FECKLESS. Caroli and Isahkhia's presence and the lack of competent alternatives is the source of this undeniable fecklessness. I held my breath recently when I saw Agwambo board a plane to an international diplomatic assigment in Abidjan, accompanied by three local ordinaries, with no internationally-trained diplomatic advisor, no internationally acclaimed spokesman, and an uninspiring security entourage. Did he have talking points? Codes and protocol guidelines for addressing media in such scenario? All he had was good old Caroli...and probably Isahakhia....what a disservice this was! We even desperately tried to relay word that international diplomacy requires a lot of consultation from the right people - international diplomats like Kofi Annan - but I guess all that was crowded out by the voices of the know-it-alls like Caroli. Those who have worked in the civil service (like myself) know that the last thing one wants to do is bring in an arrogant, abrassive, know-it-all or smart-Aleck type of attitude into government offices. You don't just floss-in ati you came from the World Bank thinking that peers, leave alone gava clerks and juniors, will let you walk on their backs. You will be sabotaged from the get-go. Many of those clerks behind the simple desks have stringed not-so-clean but sophisticated processes that have them owning lots of properties & ego's & pockets to support the same. You can't change these realities overnight. Juniors can plot sophisticated and daily embarassment. From all initiatives the PM has supported, whether the Kazi Kwa Vijana program, or Mau Conservation effort, or humongous role in reforms (constitution et al.,), the PM seems to be either playing catch-up or his role is completely blacked-out. No savy media follow-up is made to reflect and connect these realities to the public. The impunity merchants are having a field day in propaganda warfare. The biggest threat that the internal mediocrity in the PM's office poses to Kenya is that it might hurt the implementation of the new constitution. How can this inept office guarantee to shepherd all the constitutional requirements of the PM. Thanks to the Speaker of the national assembly, the Judicial reorganization that started on a sour note was temporarily halted. Are we always going to rely on the Speaker to have the PM exercise his mandate as required by NARA and the constitution? This same mediocrity has failed to effectively respond or counter to the relentless shuttle diplomacy aimed at scuttling ICC prosecutions. It's time for the PM to take a hard look at the closest people surrounding him and start calling for accountability. Most would end up gone immediately! For the umpteenth time, I call for action..in all these aspects!But I see little Raila can do to change it. There are just to many fires that need to be put off, bringing in a new sekratariat at the eleventh hour ummmm... I see that almost impossible in the jungle we call Kenya, the webs are just too thick to easily undo. And just out of curiosity , do you have any ideas who can replace Caroli, Isahkhia ? Why not you?And today where are we ? |
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Post by adongo23456 on Mar 6, 2011 16:56:28 GMT 3
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Post by jakaswanga on Mar 6, 2011 18:39:14 GMT 3
Job,
You raise very valid points, the 'let those who have heads take note' type.
Before I comment further let me say this. Inspite of what I think of Obama's america as an imperialist bastion, her ambassadors have grudgingly won admiration from me. The humour, lucidity and rawness with which they write and commentate on their stations outrank some would-be pullitzer journalists I have read.
The descriptions of the double act of Medvedev and Putin! the court of Silvio Berlusconi, the character of the Trabelsi wife of the former Tunissian dictator, the loveless marriage of Mugabe and Tsivangirai, the butt-kicking delivered to Kagame and M7 by Gen. De Matos of the Angolan armed forces when they thought they could change presidents in Kinshasha at will. They are reads you wouldnot want to miss if world events interest you.
Bellamy and Ranneburger's dispatches are equally worthy. But at them I do not laugh. It is like the political leadership owe the USA explanations; they are like children before a headmaster, forced to rat on each other. And the ambassadors can ask, and demand things of them as if they owe him allegiance --which in neo-colonial terms they do. He, the US ambassador, is their confessor.
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Coming from Nyanza where we know the kitchen politics in Raila's court, I am sometimes surprised at how the non-nyanza Luo who support Raila go on the defensive when Agwambo is criticised. In Nyanza he will be voted for, but that does not mean he is worshipped [like nairobi based commentators would have it].
In nyanza we know the man has been the de facto Luo Ker for close on two decades. That is enough to reveal shortcomings which can only be invisible to the mentally zero.
There was even a popular song, lok pachi, whose grit was the coalition is rotten and he must not praise it.
By the way on the maize scandal, Jirongo was the evil genius. Ruto wanted to eat it all himself. Jirongo adviced him politicians would immidiately gang against him and sink him, so he should spread the scam to immunise himself. Jirongo, a man with some odd talents, then tutored Ruto on who would be gullible enough to canvass. He came up with Jimmy Kibaki and the whole of Raila's closests! Hooked.
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Post by johns on Mar 6, 2011 19:01:07 GMT 3
I dont know why anyone would want to give credence or excuses to something as obvious as it is. I dont think Orengo can be accused of not knowing the thought and work habit of the Prime Minister on a mere basis of ignorance. It is not an indictment on Railas reform credentials but a pointer to the things he could do to make the ideals he fights for work effectively. There are so many things which inform this doubt that now exist. How many times have people of goodwill call for the creation of a professional secretariat to run the affairs of ODM? A lot of material has also been written to question why Raila keep having people of questionable characters around him and yet we claim we are a party for reform? From the cabinet he named right to the way nominations of parliamentarian candidates were done, a lot is left to be desired the way the top leadership keep failing to recognize what progressive minds think. phil, this is not to slight the Hon. Prime Minister influence or fail to appreciate the conditions in which he has been compelled to operate from. People are only asking for decisiveness on matters dealing with reforms and management of his office to make it effective. If we are going to complain about Dennis Onyango ineffectiveness but his appointing authority does not see any merit to our complains, who then should we blame? Take Issakhar whom you have also acknowledge is not effective, are you telling me that Raila does not have any power to influence the kind and type of person he should work with in his office? Look, in our defence for the noble causes the Prime Minister has stood for, let us also call for his attention on areas he is slipping, that to me is what i consider truth to power. I wont touch anything to do with nepotism but the optics are just bad for one who is held above the all lot of vinyangarikas who are challenging him. |
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Post by merlin on Mar 6, 2011 22:33:03 GMT 3
Raila's Exceptional TalentsI perceive three types of reactions on Raila’s exceptional talents. First types of reactions are a long list of the ‘wrongs’ which could be split-out in incapable personalities and poorly managed issues. They say, truth shall set you free....ODM members should engage in some frank truth telling, rather than sheer sycophancy. Coming to the issue of the PM's office. The brutal truth is that folks like Caroli Omondi and Isahakhia are grossly incompetent and inexperienced when it comes to navigating the terrain of public service and managing the daily intrigues of a complicated & corruption-riddled civil service.
I held my breath recently when I saw Agwambo board a plane to an international diplomatic assigment in Abidjan, accompanied by three local ordinaries, with no internationally-trained diplomatic advisor, no internationally acclaimed spokesman, and an uninspiring security entourage. Did he have talking points? Codes and protocol guidelines for addressing media in such scenario? All he had was good old Caroli...and probably Isahakhia....what a disservice this was! Second types of reactions are in the defence of Raila giving reasons why issues did not work-out perfectly. Raila Odinga has done exceptionally well for someone who is being constantly hunted by the powers that be. To fight incumbency at elections and defeat them is no easy task.
One cannot claim that RAO is a bad manager having biuld Spectre International from the ground. Revived molasses plant in Kisumu. Piloted ODM through tough times. Operated the OPM under difficult circumstances etc. The man is a good manager. But as they say, a prophet is never accepted in his own hometown. I have found Ghanians, Ugandans and Nigerians who have the utmost respect for Raila and wished they had such a forthright leader. We on the other hand just see and amplify his short comings while ignoring the circumstances under which he operates.
You also need to remember that apart from addressing his numerous prime ministerial duties (while in competition with Muthaura), Raila must also stem rebellion in ODM, engage with international partners, tour the country officially and politically, always be wary of a dishonest coalition partner, push for implementation of reforms and still look after the interests of his demanding Langata constituents. Not so easy for a sexagenarian who spent nearly 10 years in solitary confinement at some of the country's maximum security prisons. Mau reclamation was was a commendable effort and sacrifice on the part of Raila. That tells me that the fellow will do what it takes for the country rather than for partisan political reasons. Third type of reactions points to ways and means how things could be done better. I perceive it to be fruitful for ODM and Raila if these suggestions are brought together and focused on. Revision of his supporting teamAnd just out of curiosity, do you have any ideas who can replace Caroli, Isahkhia ?
Why not you?
The area in which the OPM could have done better is that of self promotion via the media. The PM does loads of good things for the country but we are never told about them. Infact you hear more about Railas political rallies than his tours in line of work, which are by the way numerous. This is where people such as Dennis Onyango would have done better. But because of fear or incompetence he has not been able to match his counterpart Dr. "Goebbels" Mutua. Why not hold rolling press conferences to address what the PM is doing/has done? Its a pity that the OPM lost Salim Lone.
RAO does need to raise his game and as he appears to be the only proponent for real change he needs to start with radical surgery of those around him. That talent that he allowed to slip quietly back to their day jobs should be where he head-hunts from. Recycling compromised individuals clearly isn't working well. I perceive it could be of value when a Raila team profile is made with complementary skill requirements. Party structureI am hoping that ODM would be that party that could last longer than just winning an election. To succeed in this endeavor, it must set up long lasting structures that effectively deals with party issues. A strong team that ensures this happens seems to be lacking and the faster the party works on these issues, the better for democracy in Kenya. Since our politics and democracy has been parliamentary and party driven for a long time, it is sad that individuals from both sides of any debate tend to use party machinery and parliamentary machinery to satisfy their goals. Now we are questioning Raila's ability to manage and yet when the party was formed, some of the same people ( I assume ) were aware of the weaknesses within the party. I wonder what happened to the many volunteers. Why does ODM do not have a vibrant youth wing? Why not initiate a Research project in cooperation with a University (Management or Political Science) to analyse and suggest structural party changes. Focus on IssuesI have often though that the shuttle diplomacy is a good example of the failure of ODM to counter their government partners - PNU. Instead of letting them run amok with shuttle diplomacy, ODM should have countered the shuttle diplomacy with diplomatic actions at every juncture. Instead, they have been silent internationally and this allows Kalooser to have his day.
Kenyans will lose confidence in them and will look for a viable alternative. The current Kenyan is more educated and has access to information and will smell it if it does not give them hope. Hard work cannot stop because ODM is in power. In fact, hard work should not stop at all.
Events often overtake the ODM party and reaction has been the name of the game since PNU is planning things ahead of them. It started with the day elections were stolen and ODM has been doing catch up. But you cannot take away from him this fact - he knows how to connect with Kenyans and to read the mood well so that he hits the right note politically. ODM could be much clearer on issues. Often it takes a long time before ODM becomes clear where it stand; ICC, Shuttle policy, Privatisation of Port Authority, etc. Raila is afraid for the perception that he is ‘guilty’ for sending Ruto and Uhuru to ICC in The Hague. However he should change this feeling of guilt into being his duty as a leader to stop impunity and upheld Justice in Kenya. He should explain to the voter that at this moment in time Kenya is in no-way ready to bring justice to the suspected criminals and we need the ICC to bring justice to Kenya. The MessageThere should be a message with the reason why people should vote for ODM and Raila for president. This reason should have to do with the direct living condition of the voter. The message should be understandable for the voter; something in the order why people voted for the new constitution. Raila, Martha Karua, William Ruto, Kalonzo Musyoka, Uhuru Kenyatta, all are calling ‘vote for me’ as President. However none of them explains what it will mean for the voter when they become president. Their argumentation is that ‘they’ will be better than the others. The result is that people start to believe that their favourite person for president is the best. It means a hardening in their conviction of their initial choice. Not one voter will move from one candidate to another as there are no comparable arguments for a change of choice. ODM and the other parties don’t offer the voter a choice. Though the voter needs an argument and by missing an issue content one, will fall back on herd or tribal arguments or take distance from the voting process and turn his voting card into cash. ODM should explain what it will mean when Raila becomes President, what will improve in the living condition of the voter. The light at the end of the tunnel sounds good but should be substantiated. Leadership SuccessionAdditionally, as a Kenyan, I have been thinking of who succeeds Raila for the future. Is it Mudavadi?. It would be better for Raila to start grooming from the party if possible but the current situation does not seem to suggest that the party is structured properly in the event that their leader is unable to continue leading For example, (God forbid something terrible happens to RAO), does Orengo have the capability to mobilize wananchi the way Raila has done in the past? ODM should do some succession planning and broaden their leadership base. The world of kings has come to an end.
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Post by owuor on Mar 7, 2011 5:17:23 GMT 3
Kudos to Merlin, Job and other honest folks.
Finally, its good to read of others who are ready to face the bitter truth and ask the tough questions and criticize the excuses that are always traded in Jukwaa on behalf of raila by the usual fellows.
The beauty of this is that this thread seems to highlight feasible proposals that the pm can adopt to increase his appeal and silent his critics. However, what many are afraid to ask is whether the FISH IS NOT ROTTEN FROM THE HEAD. For a man who was able to successfully outwit Kibaki in the recent CJ, AG..appointment saga and have the names revoked by the former, one wonders why its a GIGANTIC TASK TO REPLACE CORRUPT AND INEFFICIENT FELLOWS IN HIS OFFICE. One can be forgiven to correctly assume that raila is keeping them because he finds them beneficial to him in ways that may not be pleasant to the ears of his fanatical followers.
Folks, Orengo knew very well what he was talking about. After all he has been Raila's confidant for a long time.
Owuor
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Post by job on Mar 7, 2011 18:32:53 GMT 3
PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT ON ALLEGATIONS BY WILLIAM RUTO, UHURU KENYATTA AND US WIKILEAKS CABLESSTATEMENT ON ALLEGATIONS BY WILLIAM RUTO, UHURU KENYATTA AND US CABLES:
In light of recent political events that have picked up in earnest since
Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s rally at the Country Bus station two weeks
ago and recent leaked US diplomatic cable; we wish to make the following
clarification:
1: PM NEVER MENTIONED NAMES.
At the Machakos Country Bus stage event, the Prime Minister talked in
general terms, asking young Kenyans to avoid pitfalls like drunkenness,
corruption and theft if they aspire to lead the country. He warned the
youth against taking shortcuts to wealth and against equating ill-gotten
wealth to leadership acumen. His message to the youth was that if they
work hard and play by the rules, their country should give them a chance
to go as far as their God-given ability can take them. The Prime
Minister never mentioned any specific thief or drunkard. He is therefore
shocked and perplexed that since then, some politicians have come out to
specifically claim that he referred to them as thieves and drunkards and
then he insulted them. The PM stands by his advice to the youth.
2: MAIZE SCANDAL:
The Forensic Audit on this scandal, conducted by Price Water House
Coopers, did not mention Mr Odinga or any of his family members and
associates as having been involved in this scandal. The PM however notes
that some politicians are clutching to the leaked cables from the US
Embassy in Nairobi to claim that he or his family may have been involved
in the maize scandal of 2009. The PM considers this belated attempt to
link him or his family to the scandal an act of desperation by
politicians looking for companions in corruption. Mr Ranneberger’s
cables clearly went to Washington, DC, before the Price Waterhouse Audit
was conducted. The views the ambassador wired were therefore rumours and
speculations as he does not say he conducted any investigations on his
own that came up with results different from that of the Price Waterhouse.
3: SELECTIVE REJECTION AND ACCEPTANCE OF RANNEBERGER REPORTS:
The Wikileaks cables have indicated a general belief that some of the
leaders may have been behind the post election violence of 2008. Some of
the reports indicate the said leaders have categorically told US
officials that they do not want any investigations into the violence
either by the International Criminal Court or a local process. The PM
sees a continuation of a culture of dishonesty and impunity when leaders
who have condemned America and the international community for demanding
action on the violence, turn around to accept cable reports on the maize
scandal. This selective acceptance and rejection speaks of dishonesty,
desperation and impunity.
4: ANTI-REFORM CARTEL SHOUTING THE COUNTRY DOWN:
The Prime Minister believes an anti-reform formation, strengthened by
common accusation of having formatted post-election chaos is taking
shape in the country to deflect attention from the serious charges they
face…crimes against humanity…and to frustrate the implementation of the
new constitution. That group of politicians wants to create the
impression that Kenya will either collapse or be ungovernable if they
are held to account. The PM remains firm that those who planned funded
and executed the mass murder and relocation of Kenyans must be
determined and punished.
5: SOURCES OF RANNEBERGER’S REPORTS:
The Prime Minister has serious doubts about the credibility of the
sources of the information Mr Michael Ranneberger cabled to Washington.
From the reports, it is clear some of the ambassador’s sources were
former government officers who had themselves been sacked and clearly
had scores settle or were on their way out. It is instructive that some
of those the ambassador quotes have since fled the country or have been
unable to find any useful engagement since leaving government services.
6: YOUTH, CIRCUMCISION AND LEADERSHIP:
The PM continues to acknowledge the youth as a significant component of
our society that has brought vigour and fresh views in the struggles for
a better Kenya. But he rejects the notion that being young alone is a
leadership quality. This is a distinction and judgment Kenyans have made
before, and he trusts that they will make it again in2012. When
confronted with the choice of a young, inexperienced candidate against
an older, tested leader in the 2002 elections, Kenyans made resounding
and categorical decision. The PM equally rejects the idea that all
Kenyans need to seek circumcision and prove that they are circumcised
before they can go for leadership. He also believes that when it comes
to standing up against or supporting dictatorship, Kenyans know his
record, compared to that of his opponents.
DENNIS ONYANGO I specifically want to address the PM’s issue # 5 – Sources of Ambassador Ranneberger’s Reports.It is clear the PM is being misled by the folks in his immediate surrounding – Omondi Caroli and Mohammed Isahakhia – into assuming that Ranneberger’s sources for the Wikileaks cables are disgruntled former civil servants in that same office who had beef with the duo (principally Tony Gachoka). As Omondi and Isahakhia steer the PM on a goose chase in the wrong direction, subsequent Wikileaks cables now reveal the REAL source of the most damaging information as emanating from none other than the Agriculture Minister (fromer Higher Education Minister) Dr. Sally Kosgey - whom Ambassador Ranneberger and US Asst. Secretary of State (Africa), Johnny Carson, both hosted for dinner at Muthaiga back on May 12th, 2009. That information was closely corroborated by a follow-up with James Orengo. That dinner is where the issues about the PM’s purported ‘indiscipline’, or ‘managerial ineffectiveness’ and ‘lack of focus on the reform agenda’ all began. It is instructive to remember that shortly after that dinner, Johnny Carson publicly lamented and quipped "what happened to Raila Odinga the Reformer (that he used to know)." That perception (rightly or wrongly) hasn’t been helped by the ACTUAL and GLARING mediocrity in the PM’s office.Dennis Onyango and the incompetent crew in the PM's office should know that the May 2009 meeting between Sally, Ranneberger and Carson is where the US position that exists to date – that both Kibaki and Raila are unable to undertake reforms - was contextualized. That is also where the US got wind of Uhuru and Ruto’s political dalliance, Uhuru’s laziness, Saitoti’s lack of leadership skills, Kalonzo’s insecurity and fear of being overshadowed by even close allies like Mutula Kilonzo, Musalia’s lack of energy, and more. The US must have put a lot of premium (& credibility) in this 'valued' source (Sally Kosgey) which the PM seems to until today still miss due to the myopia and ineptitude of his fumbling handlers inaccurately pointing fingers at Gachoka. Here's the story... www.nairobistar.com/national/wikileaks-/16366-ruto-can-dump-uhuru-wikileaksRuto Can Dump Uhuru- Wikileaks
WILLIAM Ruto could dump Uhuru Kenyatta, according to the latest Wikileaks cable quoting Sally Kosgei.The cable on June 2, 2009 says that ambassador Michael Ranneberger dined on May 12 at his Muthaiga residence with the then Higher Education minister, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie Carson and National Security Council director for Africa Michelle Gavin. "She expects that Ruto will abandon Uhuru if he stumbles or is no longer useful," said Ranneberger in the cable.
She confirmed that Ruto, Uhuru and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka were working on an alliance primarily as a reaction to the Waki Commission. "Ruto, in Kosgei's view, is working with Uhuru to block key reforms and scuttle the Waki Commission's call for a local tribunal to investigate post-election violence," said the cable which noted that "Both Ruto and Kenyatta are believed to be on the Waki Commission's sealed list of 10 architects of post-election violence". "Kosgei (an ethnic Kalenjin) expressed doubt that Kikuyu voter in Central and Kalenjin voters in Rift Valley will be willing to set aside the violence suffered at each others hands to form a coalition in 2012," the cable states.
In 2009, Kosgei had not yet switched to join the rebel ODM group around William Ruto but she was still privately critical of party leader Prime Minister Raila Odinga. "Kosgei believes that Odinga truly wants to achieve the reform agenda but does not have the organisational discipline to do so. Raila had not office structure and no discipline in his life or schedule," the cable states.
She "quote former Salim Lone as observing that Odinga has made it this far in politics by the force of his personality without having to demonstrate managerial acumen". "Odinga is unwilling to sack corrupt deputies and is overly focused on protocol issues and ODM inclusion in appointment decisions such that it distracts his attention from the broader reform agenda," the cable states. "Though Kosgei and her ministers have access to Odinga, he often agrees to meet late at night when he is tired and unfocused".
However Kosgei concluded that "Odinga, despite his flaws, remains the strongest candidate in a crowded field thanks to strong opposition credentials and an accessible personality".
She was dismissive of other candidates. "Uhuru is hindered by laziness and a very hands off approach to running the Ministry of Finance" and had also been damaged by the fiasco of financial inaccuracies in the 2009 budget.
"Minister of Internal Security George Saitoti has been appointed to every position he has held and lacks the skills to fight effectively for the Presidency." "Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi lacks the energy and money to seriously challenge Ruto," she said. "On the PNU side Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka is a diminishing asset who frets that he will be overshadowed by Mutula Kilonzo," the cable states.
Kosgei told the Americans that Kibaki and Raila "have no difficulty reaching agreement on issues but for different reasons are each incapable of advancing reforms. She noted from her own experience in Cabinet meetings that two principals are in a mutual admiration club (in Cabinet they always agree)." "Kosgei noted that Kibaki agrees to reforms in principle but is beholden to the corrupt interests of his inner circle."
She agreed with the Americans that Civil Service boss "Francis Muthaura has accumulated inordinate control over government functions". She defended Martha Karua who had just resigned as Justice minister. "Karua is a good woman, and an ally for reform, but she fell into the trap of believing that Kibaki actually seeks to reform the judicial sector," the cable states. "Karua's replacement as Justice Minister, Mutula Kilonzo, used to to be the lawyer to former President Moi. Kilonzo is a windbag and not strong enough to take on the vested interests of the current regime, Kosgei observed, but she expressed the hope that he would undertake at least minimal reforms of the judiciary."
In response to a question from Carson about extra-judicial killings, "Kosgei responded by noting that all security organs remain under the control of Kibaki's PNU party. Because PNU leaders believe that Police Commissioner Ali did them a favour during the past election by cordoning ODM strongholds, Kosgei expects that PNU will block any substantial police reforms and will retain close control of the police, GSU (paramilitary), and military in advance of the 2012 elections".
"In this context, Ali is permitted to utilize extrajudicial killings to control organised gangs such as the Mungiki, which threaten to disrupt Kikuyu politics by operating in the heart of Central Province", the cable quotes her as saying. "The police freelance in extorting money from the gangs and execute legitimate critics such as the Oscar Foundation principals", the cable states.
She was also critical of NSIS director Gen Michael Gichangi as "a man who has no energy" and "is more interested in collecting information on ODM leaders than issues of national importance".The conclusion of the dinner was that "sustained broad public pressure will be required to move leaders beyond their marrow political interests to serving the interests of the country".
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Post by mzee on Mar 7, 2011 19:22:03 GMT 3
Job,
This is more than interesting. Let em absorb it before commenting.
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Post by tnk on Mar 7, 2011 21:00:51 GMT 3
interesting enough sally says that
==
Close advisors to Odinga include the ODM whip Jakowo Midiwo, Agriculture Minister William Ruto, several members of Odinga,s extended family, and his wife Ida
==
now if ruto was a close advisor, why all the animosity
but on another note, why did ranneberger, carson give so much weight to what sally had to say? given her rather weak kneed toeing of ruto's line, can they re-evaluate their opinion of what she had to say?
===
overall i think listening to these leaders gossip about each other is both hilarious and confounding. its like a game of football where no one plays the ball and everyone is out tripping and fouling each other. no body knows there the ball is, and they are not even aware that there are goal posts involved in the game
surely
i mean the entire PNU + ODM rebels is set to fight raila, no one is telling us what they intend to do with the presidency
good grief
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Post by owuor on Mar 8, 2011 4:39:07 GMT 3
interesting enough sally says that == Close advisors to Odinga include the ODM whip Jakowo Midiwo, Agriculture Minister William Ruto, several members of Odinga,s extended family, and his wife Ida == now if ruto was a close advisor, why all the animosity but on another note, why did ranneberger, carson give so much weight to what sally had to say? given her rather weak kneed toeing of ruto's line, can they re-evaluate their opinion of what she had to say? === overall i think listening to these leaders gossip about each other is both hilarious and confounding. its like a game of football where no one plays the ball and everyone is out tripping and fouling each other. no body knows there the ball is, and they are not even aware that there are goal posts involved in the game surely i mean the entire PNU + ODM rebels is set to fight raila, no one is telling us what they intend to do with the presidency good grief The closing remark is the same old tired excuse that seems to quench the guilt of sycophants. So and so is fighting Raila, and with that we trash away the mounting evidence incriminating the defacto opinion poll president. What a load of #$%@ For those keen to derail this thread and as always personalize what Orengo confided with the mzungu, I advice you to follow the honest analysis of some Jukwaa members, strong raila supporters by the way, who commented earlier and admitted that Orengo was accurate to the dot. Otherwise, one can always start a new listing of how Agwambo, Arap Mibei, njamba, obama kasin, or whichever seasonal name you prefer is being fought by ABC.... Owuor |
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Post by abdulmote on Mar 8, 2011 21:40:36 GMT 3
Let me say many thanks to Daktari Job for such sober and compelling observations. Indeed it is always critical to take objective stoke of affairs and seek to have clearer direction of the desired endeavours.
In my own non-detailed observation on Raila, I think he is at a risk of losing the game in a disappointing style; Without a shred of doubt in my mind, Raila has done for Kenya what others cannot compare with even by a fraction. That he had a good margin of good intent is clear for all to see. Raila must have incurred considerable sacrifice in order to bring about change, which many a citizen may so much identify with and desire for.
But all that effort seems somehow marred by some ‘pollutants’ of the said intent. In this regard, I may have to repeat what I have stated before about the same; in accommodating significantly and potentially corrupt individuals within his ranks, Raila has in a way compromised his own standing, his own potential and indeed the nation’s potential towards achieving what we all may demand for or desire to have. I need not repeat what those ‘pollutants’ are.
Others argue that by having to associate with such scumbags, Rails’ strategy is influenced more by desirable political acumen and expediency rather than signifying his own ‘compromised’ qualities and so it should be taken as a necessary evil. But I disagree.
In my opinion I think it is true to say that Raila has been focussing too much on the final ‘trophy’ and therefore “by any means necessary” he desires to win it, so much so that it sometimes does become difficult to fully appreciate his compromised efforts and sacrifices, as if made free of personal ego and selfishness, which has engulfed almost each and every aspiring leader in our Kenyan political arena!
But one may say OK, so who does not have such ambitions if they may at all aspire for the top office. In answer to this, I firmly believe that one posing fifty fifty towards such pursuits may almost with certainty result in failure! One should not ‘pretend’ to be purely a man of the people and at the same time support those who are scheming to plunder the very same people one is ‘trying to’ protect!
Were we talking about Raila’s managerial skills? Oh yeh lest I forget, a man’s character acquires its strengths and weaknesses from amongst his beliefs, principles, knowledge, experience and ideals. We certainly should not mix salt and sugar and expect the taste to remain purely sweet as we know sugar to be!
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Post by owuor on Mar 9, 2011 13:15:45 GMT 3
Let me say many thanks to Daktari Job for such sober and compelling observations. Indeed it is always critical to take objective stoke of affairs and seek to have clearer direction of the desired endeavours. In my own non-detailed observation on Raila, I think he is at a risk of losing the game in a disappointing style; Without a shred of doubt in my mind, Raila has done for Kenya what others cannot compare with even by a fraction. That he had a good margin of good intent is clear for all to see. Raila must have incurred considerable sacrifice in order to bring about change, which many a citizen may so much identify with and desire for. But all that effort seems somehow marred by some ‘pollutants’ of the said intent. In this regard, I may have to repeat what I have stated before about the same; in accommodating significantly and potentially corrupt individuals within his ranks, Raila has in a way compromised his own standing, his own potential and indeed the nation’s potential towards achieving what we all may demand for or desire to have. I need not repeat what those ‘pollutants’ are. Others argue that by having to associate with such scumbags, Rails’ strategy is influenced more by desirable political acumen and expediency rather than signifying his own ‘compromised’ qualities and so it should be taken as a necessary evil. But I disagree. In my opinion I think it is true to say that Raila has been focussing too much on the final ‘trophy’ and therefore “by any means necessary” he desires to win it, so much so that it sometimes does become difficult to fully appreciate his compromised efforts and sacrifices, as if made free of personal ego and selfishness, which has engulfed almost each and every aspiring leader in our Kenyan political arena! But one may say OK, so who does not have such ambitions if they may at all aspire for the top office. In answer to this, I firmly believe that one posing fifty fifty towards such pursuits may almost with certainty result in failure! One should not ‘pretend’ to be purely a man of the people and at the same time support those who are scheming to plunder the very same people one is ‘trying to’ protect! Were we talking about Raila’s managerial skills? Oh yeh lest I forget, a man’s character acquires its strengths and weaknesses from amongst his beliefs, principles, knowledge, experience and ideals. We certainly should not mix salt and sugar and expect the taste to remain purely sweet as we know sugar to be! This is an excellent response. Orengo was of course right. As they say you can judge the character of a man by the company he keeps. Raila seems to be in good company amongst the crooks he has appointed. Owuor |
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Post by merlin on Mar 9, 2011 17:36:19 GMT 3
Let me say many thanks to Daktari Job for such sober and compelling observations. Indeed it is always critical to take objective stoke of affairs and seek to have clearer direction of the desired endeavours. In my own non-detailed observation on Raila, I think he is at a risk of losing the game in a disappointing style; Without a shred of doubt in my mind, Raila has done for Kenya what others cannot compare with even by a fraction. That he had a good margin of good intent is clear for all to see. Raila must have incurred considerable sacrifice in order to bring about change, which many a citizen may so much identify with and desire for. But all that effort seems somehow marred by some ‘pollutants’ of the said intent. In this regard, I may have to repeat what I have stated before about the same; in accommodating significantly and potentially corrupt individuals within his ranks, Raila has in a way compromised his own standing, his own potential and indeed the nation’s potential towards achieving what we all may demand for or desire to have. I need not repeat what those ‘pollutants’ are. Others argue that by having to associate with such scumbags, Rails’ strategy is influenced more by desirable political acumen and expediency rather than signifying his own ‘compromised’ qualities and so it should be taken as a necessary evil. But I disagree. In my opinion I think it is true to say that Raila has been focussing too much on the final ‘trophy’ and therefore “by any means necessary” he desires to win it, so much so that it sometimes does become difficult to fully appreciate his compromised efforts and sacrifices, as if made free of personal ego and selfishness, which has engulfed almost each and every aspiring leader in our Kenyan political arena! But one may say OK, so who does not have such ambitions if they may at all aspire for the top office. In answer to this, I firmly believe that one posing fifty fifty towards such pursuits may almost with certainty result in failure! One should not ‘pretend’ to be purely a man of the people and at the same time support those who are scheming to plunder the very same people one is ‘trying to’ protect! Were we talking about Raila’s managerial skills? Oh yeh lest I forget, a man’s character acquires its strengths and weaknesses from amongst his beliefs, principles, knowledge, experience and ideals. We certainly should not mix salt and sugar and expect the taste to remain purely sweet as we know sugar to be! I agree with you, “without a shred of doubt in my mind, Raila has done for Kenya what others cannot compare with even by a fraction. That he had a good margin of good intent is clear for all to see. Raila must have incurred considerable sacrifice in order to bring about change, which many a citizen may so much identify with and desire for”. I think we could give him credit for this and keep this in mind while we discuss issues for an even better leadership for Kenya. Maybe “Raila has been focussing too much on the final 'trophy’ and therefore “by any means necessary” he desires to win it, so much so that it sometimes become difficult to fully appreciate his compromised efforts and sacrifices, as if made free of personal ego and selfishness, which has engulfed almost each and every aspiring leader in our Kenyan political arena!” but then, I do not know what his final trophy is. I don’t think being president of Kenya is the final trophy for him. Being President is more a means to achieve his final trophy – if such exists. Some people are driven by an inner urge for justice, a better world for all and work for it till their last breath. For them life is just a journey without a final trophy or destination. Surely Raila on his journey through life has collected many credit points like the new constitution and the new environment of inclusion it creates. Decisions are not made by ‘The President’ anymore. In one way or another we are all involved in the decision making process via commissions, parliament, work groups, civil society, opinion polls, etc. The question remains; can Raila work in the inclusion environment which he himself has created? From a Kingmaker, a celebrity, he has to change to become a team player. Replacing Kibaki means a change in direction though the change is deeper as just direction and doing the things in the usual manner. The real change is the way we interact with each other. This also counts for the way some criticises Raila and other personalities. If we feel that others did wrong, then we should ask ourselves; did I do enough to prevent the wrongdoing? In an inclusion environment we are in one way or another responsible for what happened around us. It is easy to criticise others without feeling responsible, though it quickly turns into slander and character murder. This cannot go anymore in an environment of inclusion. We have to substantiate our criticism with the aim to build together a Nation and a better world. I hope Raila can adapt to the new environment of inclusion, as a President or just as a member of our nation. You see, with the new constitution Kenya has become our Nation. We took it back from the elite and we are now mutual responsible for it. |
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