Kibaki Has Let Down The Whole Country Not Just Luo Nyanza

As election 2007 draws closer, there are many tribalists in the Kibaki camp coming up with all sorts of eloquent writing about how well his administration has done and why he should be re-elected.

The Kibaki Error cannot be explained away with a bunch of eloquent sentences.

It is not Kibaki who created the democratic space we now enjoy, if anything he has done everything to reverse gains to his advantage.

The Kibaki government claims credit for an improved economy. That's not true, the reason why there is so much investor confidence at the moment is because of the peaceful change of administrations a feat Kibaki himself is yet to achieve. I am one of the people who doubts if Kibaki will hand over power peacefully if he loses in Dec 2007.

The improved eceonomy can only be credited to the hard work of ordinary Kenyans operating under very difficult circumstances.

The strong shilling can only be credited to the increasing number of Kenyans working out of the country and sending dollars home for family upkeep and the increasing numbers putting up homes and rental apartments in Kenya. Just look at the way Western Union remittances have exploded since 2003. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Kibaki aministration. If anything this blundering, constantly aquabbling MOU-petty-issues administrations has slowed down foreign investments.

I am begining to think that the Kibaki radicals are worse than the Raila maniacs. Both camps are tribalists though.

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Is The Raila Odinga Spell finally broken?

Is The Odinga Spell Broken? New Things The Luo Are Saying About Raila

Hon Raila Amolo Odinga, the MP for Kibera, nay, Langata, is considered a Kingmaker in Kenyan politics.

According to the late Hon Michael Kijana Wamalwa, he inspires both Railamania and Railaphobia while the latest biography aptly describes him as an enigma in Kenyan politics. In Luo Nyanza Raila has cultivated a cult of personality that is the envy of many a politician. This cult has spawned myths that elevates Raila almost to the level of luo legends like Gor Mahia and Lwanda Magere. Infact, professors of Political Science bow in awe and sing praises to Agwambo, owad gi Akinyi

Raila straddles the Kenyan political landscape like the proverbial colossus. Whenever, he is out of the country, his absence speaks even louder. He has the knack of setting the political agenda by just calling a prèss conference; and even if you are dyed-in-the-wool critique of this guy, you must appreciate one fact: he is a force that cannot be wished away.

Despite all this accolades as a politician, Raila fails miserable as a leader. This is manifested by the increasing socio-economic misery that he has brought to members of the luo community. No wonder, the word luo Nyanza evokes negative feelings of poverty disease and immaturity. This is not to say that Raila is wholly responsible for the woes facing the luo community, members of this community are equally culpable.

To begin with, Raila enjoys unbridled power as leaders of the luo community- forget the fact that he is a Nairobi MP. This has come about due to the fact that the luos suffered immensely under Kenyatta and Moi to the point where they were desperate for leaders who will fearless fight for them. The late Jaramogi Odinga, one of the most principled and honest politicians this country has ever had - took up this mantle but fate was not kind to him. His son ascended to this throne with the promise to deliver the luo from socio-political wilderness. Unbeknown to the luo community, he subtly changed course and is now leading them deeper and deeper into the hot desert while he is covered with a human umbrella and has fresh water at his disposal. He has even taken all the manna that dropped from heaven so that his people can remain hungry and beg from him.

Many sons and daughters of the luo community have died in this circus of the so called political and economic liberation while his closest relatives live in luxury. When its is appropriate, Raila sheds crocodile tears knowing well aware that these suffering and death only serves to reinforce the persecution complex within the community that ensures his political survival.

It is instructive to note that the sugar and fish sector remain the mainstay of luo economy. However, no single day - not one I know of - has Raila ever employed his mobilization skill and rhetoric to fight for the farmers and the fisherfolk. For along time, before Kibaki came to power, sugar framer went for years without being paid for their produce. Meanwhile, tones of sugar were being imported into the country compounding further the woes further. All this time, Agwambo never raised a finger (or was he part of the cartel that was importing sugar?). In the fish sector, it is ironical that people in Nyanza are contended with fish skeletons popularly known as mgongowazi due to high levels of poverty while hoping against hope that all will be well when Raila becomes president. Never!

Some will argue that Raila is the MP for Kibera and is not responsible for the woes affecting the people of Nyanza. Nothing could be further from the truth. Raila is covertly and overtly at the centre of all the major political events taking place in the region including who becomes MP, if in doubt, just ask Raphael Tuju, the MP for Rarieda. However, this is not to say that Tuju should provide the much needed alternative centre of power, given that he cannot be come an MP if left to his own devices.

One would ask: what do you want Raila to do? Before I answer the question, I would say that Raila has remained the undisputed (mis)leader of the luo community for very long time. If he was wise and had the interest of the luo people, he would use this privileged position to help his people economically and not to pursue his own selfish political interests at the expense of his community. He should do this by using his influence among the luo as a political bargaining chip to force the government acquiesce to the urgent needs of his people in whatever way possible in return for political support. Politics for its own sake will not help the luo people.

At this point, I want to challenge Raila to tell the public any substantial contribution in terms of economic development that he has made to his community.

In conclusion, its time for the luo to take a hard look at themselves in the social-economic mirror and see the bruises and wounds in their faces caused by a leader whom they "worship" more than Nyasaye.

Yours Faithfully
Alfred Oduor
AOduor

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