There is one decision of his life that must have haunted Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (Raila's father) to his grave. And that little incident is very relevant to Raila's bid for the highest office in the land in the 2007 general elections.
It all happened in the early 60s. Independence was looming and analysts noted that chances were high that the country's first president would be a rather young but brilliant politician who was barely 30 years of age. His name was Tom Mboya and he happened to be a Luo although he was so cosmopolitan that you wouldn't know it. Representing constituencies at the heart of Nairobi all his political life, he drew most of his political support from the Kikuyu.
The much older Jaramogi could not bear seeing Tom Mboya ascending to be the first President of Kenya, he devised a strategy to ensure that the young arrogant Luo's ambition's would be thwarted. There was no way the young upstart who should have been looking up to him as the older Luo would ascend to the presidency while Jaramogi just watched. He stood up in parliament (Legislative Council in those days) and demanded that Jomo Kenyatta be released before Kenya could negotiate independence with the colonial government.
Thus Jaramogi set in motion a chain of events that was destined to ensure that the Luo community in Kenya would always live like second-class citizens, frustrated on every front and with the anti-Luo propaganda that followed the banning of KPU in 1969, the fate of the Luo community was sealed.
Today it is difficult to convince most Kenyans that a Luo can make a good president. Thanks mainly to Kenyatta's vigorous anti-Luo propaganda (naturally targeted at their leadership abilities) the politics of Kenya is such that this community is always at a great disadvantage.
Reading online forums and even messages from readers in this blog, it is clear that most younger Kenyans growing up, unaware of this key historical fact view Luos as violent, uncircumcised trouble makers who are not to be trusted and if elected to the presidency will turn Kisumu into the capital city of Kenya. If that is the view of those who use computers and the Internet, you can imagine how bad things are deep in the villages.
I am not a Luo by tribe, but having studied this subject in great detail over many years, I can confidently say that life has always been and continues to be extremely challenging for any Luo in Kenya simply because of their tribe. Even if a Luo falls in love with some nice girl or gentleman who does not belong to their tribe (God forbid if it is a Kikuyu) chances are that the relationship will be frustrated at every turn. You can imagine losing the love of your life because of where you come from and not who you are (i.e. your character).
To add insult to injury, the number of political assassinations in Kenya has claimed more Luo lives than any other community. Then the three administrations so far have been wary of the Luo and as a result national politicians from the Luo community have always found themselves being constantly pushed to the periphery in spite of their well known potential. For instance the intellectual capabilities of the Luo is very well known.
And woe unto you if you are a non-Luo that tries to analyze this situation from a neutral point of view. You will be quickly branded a Luo. Many casual readers of this blog will tell you that it is financed by Raila Odinga. We have earned that label simply for telling the truth as it is clearly depicted by Kenyan history.
All this was started by a chain of events triggered off by the older Odinga. A rash moment of political jealousy has caused great suffering to the Luo people. There are those who believe (this writer is certainly NOT one of them) that because of this a Luo will never occupy State House.
It is ironic that the obstacles that Raila Odinga has had to overcome in his political career so far were caused mainly by his own father. And if there was a price to be given for the Kenyan politician who has made the most sacrifices, then Raila would win it hands down.
There are some analysts who are even convinced that simply because of this jinx on the Luo brought about by Raila's father, Raila himself will never ascend to the presidency. The facts on the ground and current trends seem to support this view. To start with Raila is running out of time and if he does not make it to State House this time round, then chances are that he never will.
This is a really sad story for those who know the inside details. But it seems that in spite of the fact that Raila and the Luo community have given more sacrifices than any other person and community in fighting for Kenya's second liberation, the mood this time round seems to favor younger leadership and a genuine fresh start for the nation. Sadly Raila cannot provide either.
If we were to place the issue of age aside for a minute, then we would still be left to face the fact that Raila's brainchild, ODM Kenya is packed with former Kanu vultures (all dressed in sheep’s clothing) and victory for many of these leading characters would not augur well for the future of Kenya, let alone give the nation the fresh start it so badly needs. Then there is the excess baggage Raila would have to bring into his presidency, as he would definitely have to reward these characters for helping him to ascend to power. This would make a serious fight against that public enemy number one called corruption, very difficult, if not downright impossible.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
William "YK92" Ruto And His Presidential Ambitions
On Monday, presidential aspirant William Ruto unveiled his blue print for Kenyans if he were to be elected president in the forthcoming general elections. In his well-crafted speech, the Eldoret North MP said that fighting poverty would be a priority for him.
What he did not admit is that he is one of the handful of Kenyans including other YK92 colleagues and Kamlesh Pattni who single-handedly made millions of Kenyans much poorer overnight by flooding the country with cartons of cash (mainly 500 bob notes) and is therefore a major contributor of the poverty problem. He further engaged in high level corruption during the Moi era.
Ruto is among the ministers in Moi's regime who became overnight millionaires by grabbing prime property in Nairobi and its outskirts and forcefully selling them to parastatals like Kenya Pipeline Corporation at inflated prices.
He is now talking about alleviating poverty and fighting insecurity by arming private security companies with firearms and does not talk of how they are going to control and regulate this considering that there are plenty of bad tempered and frustrated guards in the country.
Talking about bad tempers is synonymous with Ruto who did the unimaginable in State House, Nairobi a few years ago when he attacked and punched Reuben Chesire, an elderly man who could pass for his father. Ruto had accused the old man of going around and tarnishing his name by telling people that he was a con-man.
Ruto, the man who now wants to be president was also an official of the youth for Kanu 92 lobby group which dished out so much money to Kenyans in forms of bribes to ensure Moi's re-elected in the first multi-party elections of 1992. The inevitable effects of suddenly increasing money supply was runaway inflation, and was the point at which many Kenyans entered the deep poverty rut they are yet to emerge from today. That same Ruto now says reviving the economy and creating jobs will also rank high in his agenda.
The former cabinet minister who was very powerful in a regime that stifled the basic democratic rights of Kenyans like freedom of speech and association now says he will enhance and expand the democratic space and ensure Kenyans enjoy all their rights.
As Ruto was reading out his blue print, a lot of cheering was heard in the crowd which comprised mostly of his Kalenjin brethren who also greatly benefited from the Moi era.
The Eldoret North MP knows very well that he cant make it for the presidency but his selfish nature tells him that he has to do this because he wants to be in the high table when the cake is being divided by ODM-Kenya as and if they ascend to power.
What he did not admit is that he is one of the handful of Kenyans including other YK92 colleagues and Kamlesh Pattni who single-handedly made millions of Kenyans much poorer overnight by flooding the country with cartons of cash (mainly 500 bob notes) and is therefore a major contributor of the poverty problem. He further engaged in high level corruption during the Moi era.
Ruto is among the ministers in Moi's regime who became overnight millionaires by grabbing prime property in Nairobi and its outskirts and forcefully selling them to parastatals like Kenya Pipeline Corporation at inflated prices.
He is now talking about alleviating poverty and fighting insecurity by arming private security companies with firearms and does not talk of how they are going to control and regulate this considering that there are plenty of bad tempered and frustrated guards in the country.
Talking about bad tempers is synonymous with Ruto who did the unimaginable in State House, Nairobi a few years ago when he attacked and punched Reuben Chesire, an elderly man who could pass for his father. Ruto had accused the old man of going around and tarnishing his name by telling people that he was a con-man.
Ruto, the man who now wants to be president was also an official of the youth for Kanu 92 lobby group which dished out so much money to Kenyans in forms of bribes to ensure Moi's re-elected in the first multi-party elections of 1992. The inevitable effects of suddenly increasing money supply was runaway inflation, and was the point at which many Kenyans entered the deep poverty rut they are yet to emerge from today. That same Ruto now says reviving the economy and creating jobs will also rank high in his agenda.
The former cabinet minister who was very powerful in a regime that stifled the basic democratic rights of Kenyans like freedom of speech and association now says he will enhance and expand the democratic space and ensure Kenyans enjoy all their rights.
As Ruto was reading out his blue print, a lot of cheering was heard in the crowd which comprised mostly of his Kalenjin brethren who also greatly benefited from the Moi era.
The Eldoret North MP knows very well that he cant make it for the presidency but his selfish nature tells him that he has to do this because he wants to be in the high table when the cake is being divided by ODM-Kenya as and if they ascend to power.
Carjackers And Highway Robbers Also Have Political Ambitions
The year 2007 has started on a very bad note with the brutal murder of three policemen by gangsters who made away with Sh 22 million that was being transported to the bank, somewhere in Elburgon, Rift Valley province. Barely a week later, six robbers were gunned down in Kawangware in another incident.
This being an election year, is the disturbing crime rate going to soar taking into consideration that there are politicians who need to raise cash fairly fast to finance their campaigns? All indications are that the answer to that question is a resounding "Yes". More so when you consider the fact that cash sources for a campaign are very minimal considering the fact that banks don’t issue loans for electioneering campaigns as the risks are far too high
Even more worrying is the fact that it is not a new phenomenon in Kenya that criminals also have political ambitions. In fact the trend has been on the rise and a number of Members of Parliament today have criminal records, and in some cases the electorate knew about them prior to electing them to parliament.
A case in point is the Kibwezi legislator Kalembe Ndile. It is whispered that he was a notorious highway gangster during his hey days as a councilor at Makueni county council. He was even arrested by police several times and charged with hijacking trailers along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway but always got away with it due to lack of evidence.
More than half of the councilors from Kibwezi between 1997 and 2002 were said to be involved in criminal activities along the highway with one having opened a large hardware store off the expansive highway at a place called Machinery to sell off goods stolen from carjacked trailers.
It is an open secret that civic leaders representing wards along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway especially in Kilome, Makueni and Kibwezi constituencies have dubious pasts including involvement in criminal activities such as selling fuel siphoned from trailers plying the highway.
A former Kilome MP, the late Tonny Ndilinge who was brutally murdered in Nairobi a few years ago also had a criminal history and it was speculated that his murder had to do with his past as the crime has never been solved to date.
It is perhaps only in Kenya where integrity and probity is never taken into consideration when it comes to electing leaders as the one with the deepest pockets usually carries the day by bribing as many voters as possible with ill-gotten wealth which in most cases must have been acquired through criminal activities. It is difficult to dish money like that that you have sweated for.
I should not be mistaken for a prophet of doom but taking into consideration that this is an election year, the crime rate is expected to soar to unprecedented levels ahead of the polls to be held later this year, at a date known only to President Emilio Kibaki.
This being an election year, is the disturbing crime rate going to soar taking into consideration that there are politicians who need to raise cash fairly fast to finance their campaigns? All indications are that the answer to that question is a resounding "Yes". More so when you consider the fact that cash sources for a campaign are very minimal considering the fact that banks don’t issue loans for electioneering campaigns as the risks are far too high
Even more worrying is the fact that it is not a new phenomenon in Kenya that criminals also have political ambitions. In fact the trend has been on the rise and a number of Members of Parliament today have criminal records, and in some cases the electorate knew about them prior to electing them to parliament.
A case in point is the Kibwezi legislator Kalembe Ndile. It is whispered that he was a notorious highway gangster during his hey days as a councilor at Makueni county council. He was even arrested by police several times and charged with hijacking trailers along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway but always got away with it due to lack of evidence.
More than half of the councilors from Kibwezi between 1997 and 2002 were said to be involved in criminal activities along the highway with one having opened a large hardware store off the expansive highway at a place called Machinery to sell off goods stolen from carjacked trailers.
It is an open secret that civic leaders representing wards along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway especially in Kilome, Makueni and Kibwezi constituencies have dubious pasts including involvement in criminal activities such as selling fuel siphoned from trailers plying the highway.
A former Kilome MP, the late Tonny Ndilinge who was brutally murdered in Nairobi a few years ago also had a criminal history and it was speculated that his murder had to do with his past as the crime has never been solved to date.
It is perhaps only in Kenya where integrity and probity is never taken into consideration when it comes to electing leaders as the one with the deepest pockets usually carries the day by bribing as many voters as possible with ill-gotten wealth which in most cases must have been acquired through criminal activities. It is difficult to dish money like that that you have sweated for.
I should not be mistaken for a prophet of doom but taking into consideration that this is an election year, the crime rate is expected to soar to unprecedented levels ahead of the polls to be held later this year, at a date known only to President Emilio Kibaki.
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