How Raila’s Supporters Are Going To Lose Him The Election…

...Miguna Miguna beaten up in Mombasa

On the day of the general elections in 2007 my late dad behaved in a very strange way just before he left to vote. “That’s a Raila man,” he told my younger brother who was driving him to the polling station. His voice and tone were filled with disgust. He made sure that I was out of ear shot. Clearly he was upset because after our long discussions late into the night during those Christmas holidays, he knew which direction I was going to cast my vote. I also knew that he was going to vote Kibaki which he did.

I found this strange because we had had many political discussions and although in most of them we never agreed, he had accommodated my views without any problem. And so that Christmas holiday when I told him the direction the country was headed to in that general election it seems that his anger had been building up.

I found it very strange but 2 years later something else happened that reminded me of that incident. A friend who was doing some serious research on the ground told me how surprised he was that the Kamba people had no time for Raila Odinga the presidential candidate. And it had absolutely nothing to do with Kalonzo Musyoka being his competitor. It had more to do with what appeared to be a deep-seated disdain for the Luo community. Clearly the propaganda campaigns carried out during the Kenyatta administration against the Luo had worked wonders amongst the older generation Kambas and there was no way you were going to change their minds.

Miguna Miguna running for dear life in Mombasa yesterday surrounded by an angry mob. He lost his trademark hat, a shoe and some buttons from his coat and shirt. Reports have insisted that he was attacked by youths. Odd because most of the goons (belonging to the most democratic political party in Kenya) here do not look very young to me. (photo courtesy of the Standard newspaper).

Many patriotic Kenyans (including this blogger) have been working very hard to change the dented image of the Luo community and their politics believing that Raila Odinga is one Kenyan who deserves the presidency. Now all that work has just been flashed down the toilet in the twinkling of an eye. Thanks to the behavior of some hooligans who earlier today roughed up and assaulted Miguna Miguna at the Royal Castle Hotel. According to my sources in Mombasa, Miguna is lucky to be alive because had the police acted a split second later than they did we would now be eulogizing Miguna.

What is this?

Does it mean that if Raila becomes the president of this country and I criticize his policies I will not be able to go round without a police escort? After all the sacrifices made by many Kenyans have we returned our politics to the stone age where we beat up people whom we do not agree with? Are these the supporters of a candidate who claims to be running on a reform agenda? Are these the kind of reforms we spilled Kenyan blood for?

My late dad must be turning in his grave now and chuckling. I can hear him tell me; “I told you so.” And the same is happening with all those Kenyans who were almost convinced that Raila can be president of this country. The primitive view of the Akamba people and many others has been vindicated.

To make matters worse Raila the presidential candidate is silent. His silence is extremely loud and it is speaking to Kenyans in a loud voice. He is telling us that this kind of behavior is okay. And in fact he may be relying on such supporters to help him with his political agenda if and when he becomes president.

Would you vote for such a presidential candidate?

Shikuku: Peoples’ Watchman, Superlative Debater

The peoples' watchman and veteran politian Martin Shikuku is dead. He was 79 years old. The grim ripper has struck again, this time round claiming the superlative parliamentary debater. Shikuku succumbed to cancer while undergoing treatment in Nairobi.

Martin Shikuku was a unique and talented Kenyan politician. He could as well be used as a poster for dynamic and witty politicking. As a master of parliamentary standing orders, he will be remembered for living way ahead of his time.

He spoke the truth as it was as evident when he reminded MPs that there was no need to substantiate the obvious 'Kanu is dead'. Standing up to Jomo then needed real guts and balls of steel and Shikuku had both in abundance and eloquence.

Speaking of being modern and living ahead of his time what of his ready made-to-measure grave and coffin in Bungoma county. You cannot make that up on Shikuku.

Shikuku's preparations for after life has few equal/s. Not least from an African statesman born in a community where death is only spoken of in hushed low tones.

Evidence of Shikuku's superb brain can be found in numerous research papers by Cambridge professors who used him to recollect and record Kenya's history.

Shikuku needed not be a paper professor. His death is like a library burnt down. Fare well son of Oyondi.

...Adds Kumekucha Chris
A political analyst once said that the best person to be president of Kenya in a transition from the old to the new was one Martin Shikuku simply because all that Kenya needed was a true patriot who would have only one agenda; to put an abrupt stop to corruption. New ideas and initiatives would come later because this single mission executed successfully would transform the country immensely.

That spoke volumes about the manner in which Kenyans viewed this courageous politician. Standing up to the murderous government of Jomo Kenyatta was no mean feat and Shikuku is extremely lucky to have escaped with his life. His woes did not end with the death of Kenyatta and he quickly found himself in trouble with Moi too. In a bizarre and strange twist of fate Shikuku died on the exact same date Jomo Kenyatta died in 1978.

Shikuku was there right from the beginning and was in attendance for the famous Lancaster House talks in London that crafted Kenya's first constitution. Virtually everybody else there went on to use their public positions to amass vast fortunes. In his last days Shikuku had to rely on government handouts to pay for his prostate cancer treatment. That tells you a lot about what this man was about and what he stood for.

I was fortunate enough to meet hero Shikuku a few times in his twilight years. A very easy guy to talk to with a great sense of humour. Great intellect too. But what always shone through was his great love for the motherland. If fate were to be fair this man deserved to be president of Kenya much more than some cowardly fence-seaters I know.

Kwaheri bwana Shikuku Kenya owes you much more than will ever be revealed.

Another Update  from Chris
The late Shikuku prepared dug a grave and bought a coffin in preparation for his death over 20 years ago to ease the burden on his family after he was gone. Amazing guy. Read the story HERE