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Those who were expecting a big announcement from today’s Special Kanu National Delegates Conference, (including this blogger) were in for a disappointment. Instead party chairman Uhuru Kenyatta gave a long lecture on the differences between a coalition and a merger, reminding many of us that even the original Kanu was a merger (between Kenyatta’s KAU and the political parties of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Tom Mboya’s NCPC as well.
Actually the whole thing was a carefully orchestrated smooth operation that will finally see Kanu out of ODM-Kenya.
I used to have a teacher in school who would give us work that he knew we were not going to finish on time. He would then say apologetically;
“Boys, you know I do not want to keep in you class when everybody else has left for the day. So please finish all the work before you leave. All those who finish are free to leave.”
Of course the crafty guy knew very well that there was no way anybody was going to finish the work on time and leave.
In the same way Kanu has asked ODM-Kenya to do the near-impossible. Namely to treat the party as an equal partner with LDP in the LDP-dominated ODM-Kenya. The arrangement is supposed to be 40% Kanu 40% ODM and 20% other parties.
Reading between the lines the Kanu high command has come up with a strategy for the elections which is almost water tight. The party seems to want to go it alone in the forthcoming general elections and then form a coalition with another party only after the general elections. It is obvious that to date Kanu is the only party whose tentacles spread to each and every corner of the republic. The machinery and network are still in place and chances are that the party will end up winning a sizeable number of parliamentary seats.
Amazingly Uhuru gave his carefully worded but forcefully convincing speech without reading from the bunch of papers he had with him. Suggesting that he could have practiced the whole thing for many hours beforehand (maybe in London from whence he called the delegates conference of today). I carefully observed Gideon Moi and he looked very worried (or was it anxious).
I can’t help but smell Baba Gideon’s hand in all this. But to be honest it is a crafty strategy that will have the ODM-Kenya high command scrambling back to the drawing boards in vain. I am convinced that Kanu’s exit from ODM is now a certainty.
Lastly, I can’t help but see Uhuru’s (or is it Moi’s) point. Are we going to develop our democracy culture by hurriedly forming mergers and parties only for the purposes of winning elections? Is it not better to place an emphasis on developing individual parties with clear ideologies and then coalitions can be formed after elections? (The constitution must be changed to allow for coalition governments).
In fact Uhuru had an interesting interpretation of what Narc means. He didn’t call it National Rainbow Coalition, he called it; Never Again Such a Rubbish Coalition.
Wow!
Term life insurance and one-man-show enterprises that make $500,000 monthly
Fellow Kenyans,
ReplyDeleteI want to repeat the press release Sahel Books Inc sent to news organizations around the world regarding the firing of Jeff Koinange at CNN. Here it is:
Because of recent developments at the Cable Broadcasting Network (CNN), which have involved their African bureau chief, Mr. Jeff Koinange, Sahel Books Inc, which facilitated the publishing of the book A SHINING STAR IN DARKNESS, which was the genesis of Mr. Koinange's troubles, wants to categorically distance itself from the drama involving Mr. Koinange, Ms. Marianne Briner and CNN.
When Marianne Briner, who is a Sahel Books Inc author, approached Mr. Koinage, it was for the purposes of promoting her tell-all political thriller...which she co-authored with the president of Sahel Books Inc., Mr. Sam Okello. But as has emerged, Mr. Koinange took advantage of that situation and took the talks in a sleazy direction. Obviously that was unprofessional and it wasn't something Sahel Books Inc had anything to do with. And neither did Mr. Okello know the extent of Marianne's involvement with Jeff beyond the fact that he supported the idea of approaching Jeff for promotional purposes.
As a Kenyan in the Disapora, Mr. Okello is distressed by the perception in certain circles that his publishing company, together with Ms. Marianne briner, conspired to bring down one of Africa's most accomplished journalists. Truth is, A SHINING STAR IN DARKNESS was written to recount the story of a dark chapter in Kenya. And that it did. The sexual peccadilloes of two adults can't be blamed on Sahel Books Inc.
We at Sahel wish Mr. Koinange the best of luck, and hope he'll walk away from this nightmare relatively unscathed.
Sam Okello
President, Sahel Books Inc
P.O. Box 6451
South Bend IN 46660-6451
E-mail: samokello@sahelpublishing.net
You and your books and authors can go to hell! This is a forum that should not be reduced to people telling us how they linked a sex-hungry, philandering man to an oversexed paedophile of a white woman.
ReplyDeleteSahel, Samuel, Whatever the name, please leave this forum out of your troubles and conspiracies.
And I wish you the best in your book sales and dont use this forum to publicise your book.
Pay KUMEKUCHA for SPACE to ADVERTISE. like you are now doing. I will not buy the book eithier. It is a pack of lies and plagiarism of sorts.
Honestly, you are supposed to talk and comment on the topic of national importance that Chris has started, not trying to run away from your troubles and telling us that you are a champion author or publisher. you can fax the letter to the whole world who cares?
ReplyDeleteLeave us out of your troubles. Who cares what happens to you book. Right!
Uhuru Kenyatta has made a very important point. If we can sobre up for a minute and internalize what the KANU boss is saying, then that could be a step towards political stability and maturity.
ReplyDeleteFor once people, keep the name of Moi out of this. Moi is just a member of the party just like Ezekiel Barngetu--whatever the name is. Uhuru Kenyatta is the bona-fide leader of the party, elected by party members in broad day light. Moi was even issuing statements to the effect that Uhuru should not be allowed to chair the meeting. Uhuru Kenyatta has the full mandate of party supporters to make meaningful decisions on their behalf. This was there for all to see when the delegates kept cheering him on.
We all want ODM to unite and uproot the Mwai Kibaki administration. But I am beginning to ask myself why we so much want Kibaki out. If ODM survived the nomination hurdle and say KAlonzo Musyoka backed Raila Odinga or the vice versa, how sure are we that we will not be seeing the same mediocre MOU debates. I dont see any of the two ever letting the other work without the constant nagging reminders of broken promises. We need to go to elections as separate entities and then craft coalitions based on the likeness of our agenda with other parties. Bringing the likes of Kamotho and Raila Odinga in the same party was bound to fail. Let each of the eight presidential candidates retreat to their small parties (Believe you me each one of them has a fall back party). Let them contest under these parties and then those who belong to the same school of thought can come together and for a post election coalition. Kenyans should know that u dont have to be in power to need coalitions. Even if Kibaki wins, a meaningful opposition coalition is something we all should be thinking of.
This whole craze of forming 'coalitions' just for the sake of capturing state power is the surest recipe to chaos and parallel governments.
Vikii, your assertion that UK was elected the bona fide leader of KANU in broad daylight is a half truth. What you fail to acknowledge is the fact that there was a solar eclipse (the shadow of Daniel T) at noon on that said election date. To leave Moi out of this mess is tantamount to passing the buck to all those ‘financially induced’ delegates. Further, the cheer that follows a mundane point is clearly evidence of a lackluster mandate… considering KANU in three parts. More so, the televised cheers are testament to the adage ‘the revolution will not be televised’.
ReplyDeleteRarely do I attempt to delve in the perceived intricacies of Kenyan politics as I’m mostly uninterested in what Barngetu… had for lunch. Mine is mostly creative prose whenever room allows. That being said, the betrayal of your sympathy to the Kalonzo camp is no longer in question….. as espoused in “I am beginning to ask myself why we so much want Kibaki out.” Geeez, this blog can take away a CNN job but it cannot make you lick honey from bee hives ten miles from Kitui. By proclaiming your acceptance of a ten candidate presidential race, you take us back to the days of tribal cocoons that can only produce butterflies with templates of kikuyu, luo, kamba or luhya emblems on their wings.
Truly, you fail to acknowledge the growth of democracy or multi-parties. This ‘thing of ours’ is bound to mature after numerous mutations. The fight between Raila and Kalonzo is not testimony of things to follow. Please do not loose hope, rather internalize the realities of a growing democracy.
Those are very amazing comments by Uhuru Kenyatta. Also very embarassing the resolutions read at the end of the conference were not really what the Chairman hopped for.
ReplyDeleteIts an open secret thet UK has never been comfortable with an amorphous ODM. His own performance as Leader of Official Opposition leaves a lot to be desired. His shadow cabinet, apart from one Billow Kerrow, is virtually non existent in parliament. Infact LDP MPs Oloo Aringo, Raila Odinga, Ayang Nyongo, Otieno Kajwang, etc have been unofficial leaders of opposition since 2002. Not forgetting he is the single reason why KANU is a now a pale shadow of a once vibrant party. His irregular nomination in 2002 made the Rainbow Alliance breakway and form the LDP. Right now there is a pending court case by the Biwott faction who also had their own NDC in Mombasa as Uhuru was yapping in Kasarani. Ruto and co. will be next group out. Just like his late father in the early 1960s, Uhuru was given the KANU leadership in the most irregular manner.
Uhuru, as official leader of opposition, never campaigned for any candidate during the recent civic and parliamentary elections. His own party members have been defecting to other parties in droves. Infact there are KANU MPs who are openly supporting LPD candidates. His only other support from an MP was Maoka Maore who has since defected to DP. Other KANU MPs are for Ruto - who incidentally has already launched his own ODM presidential vision and presented his nomination papers. The writting is on the wall for everyone to see.
Where is Uhuru in the campaign for constitutional reforms? What was his ranking in the recent presidential opinion polls? Does he have any hope of being re-elected Gatundu South MP in 2007? Lucky for him, his kids attend schools in United Kingdom, while our kids attend public schools in Kenya for free - which he himself vehemently resisted as KANU presidential candidate in 2002.
Siasa ya pesa mbili awache. If delegates had been asked to elect a new Chairman in Kasarani, can Uhuru really guarantee he could have been re-elected? There is a group working in the bankground to ensure ODM unity and one candidate does not see light of day. Uhuru is part of it, and he knows exactly what they are protecting! And you are right Chris, KANU will leave ODM, part of KANU that is.
Come to think of it chaps, IT IS PAYBACK TIME. After seeing his political balloon pierced, UK ansd co knows who did them in and is poised for ODM annointment. Well what goes around comes around or is it a matter of the boot now being the other boot? Any sanitization of this stack reality? Furthermore trust baba Gidi not to rest till alipe kisasi and he is dooing it less than 2000 days. Politics! a game of numbers with no permenanent friends except interests.
ReplyDeleteCome on Kala-whatever. Can you please expound on your bizzare allegations that what i said amounted to not supporting multi-party politics? Multi, atleast as far as i know means many and from elementary counting techniques, 8 is a larger number than 2. Reasearch more on who betweeen the two of us is more afraid of multi-party politics. About losing hope in Kalonzo, well that is besides the point. Just to let you know Kalonzo will win the ODm nomination (I have consistently been of this view)In a couple of weeks you will see some people holding press conferences to dispute the results of the odm nominations. Yesterday's and many other upcoming events will be quoted as part of a grand scheme by Moi and Uhuru to hand Kalonzo the nomination on a silver platter. They will baby cry and leave the party leaving Kalonzo a very week candidate in the hands of Kibaki. I know blind hope and optimism when i come across them and that my little friend is your biggest handicap.
ReplyDeleteIt is common knowledge that Uhuru Kenyatta is a very week presidential candidate, if he is a candidate that is. To keep writing about that beats my grasp. That however doesnt take away the mandate democratically bestowed on him by party adherents. He was elected by 1.6 million kenyans and that is what makes him the undisputed opposition chief in Kenya. I am not sure of the number of people who voted for Otieno Kajwang or Raila Odinga. Until elections are held, Uhuru is gonna be the opposition chief, most of his expenses paid by the kenyan tax payer. If Kibaki was deserted by his loyalists today, does that make anybody else president just coz they think they are popular. We can only measure popularity through the ballot and it is only six months away. Over to Otieno Kajwang to stand up and be counted. Justin Muturi supports Uhuru but again does it really matter who mps support? The Banana side had almost twice the number of Mps the orange side had. We all know what happened. And again, would you call William Ruto a popular politician just because he is always followed by a bunch of tribesmen looking for re-election? Uhuru would still have those had the presidency not been held by a person from his own tribe. That is kenyan politics for you.
If anybody feels the solar eclipse helped achieve undesired results then there are proper channels to be followed to address the dispute. If those are not followed then I am afraid not even kumekucha will be able to iron the mess out.
Well, Vik-whatever; because there’s no such thing as the true art of palm reading/fortune telling, your blind hope that Kalonzo will emerge victorious in ODM remains just that; blind hope.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure this is a matter of careless semantics on your part but you make it sound as if UK was running for second position.
I do get your point though: 1.6M votes = mandate. If that’s not premium nonsense, nothing is. First off, nobody voted for UK so that he could represent the opposition. Further you must appreciate that mandate is not indefinitely bestowed… it can be withdrawn. Without definition, mandate is purely public opinion. This chap is pulling 1% in current polls.
As for multi-partyism/democracies, you cannot borrow orange seeds to plant maize. Kenyans can choose to develop a truly effective two party system (with three/four fringe parties) or backtrack, as you would love, to the DRC 300 plus presidential candidate elections.
You may somewhat support (and understand) multi-parties however, your thoughts are barely progressive.