Messing With Success

I have not read such bilge water in a very long time. Seems Alexandra has been indoctrinated into the infamous "happy valley or Kenyan cowboy" circle. This piece of intellectually lazy journalism, so typical of "expats" on Africa, reeks of; thinly veiled bias towards status quo; a contempt for social ideology; condescension towards the poor majority; a criminal lack of grasp of simple facts (Raila does not wear purple nor is his Hummer yellow); and a tinge of patronization of Kenyans; a lack of historical understanding of political Kenya and the monumental role Raila plays; a narrow personalized view completely divorced from reality etc ad infinitum. Just because her chief editor and audience will believe whatever Alexandra says, makes her more so irresponsible for passing off expatriate gossip for the Gospel. As a Kenyan I feel deeply insulted by this hogwash, more so now that we have been stitched up like a kipper by, by the Kenyan elites and status quo defenders. If she did not write the piece under duress or under the influence of the happy go lucky lifestyle she most likely leads, then I cannot understand the bias for she must intelligent and competent. I blame the tone and wanton disregard of the reality to self-interest and sheer intellectual laziness. The facts are everywhere - no need to repeat them here.

I have not read such bilge water in a very long time. Seems Alexandra has been indoctrinated into the infamous "happy valley or Kenyan cowboy" circle. This piece of intellectually lazy journalism, so typical of "expats" on Africa, reeks of; thinly veiled bias towards status quo; a contempt for social ideology; condescension towards the poor majority; a criminal lack of grasp of simple facts (Raila does not wear purple nor is his Hummer yellow); and a tinge of patronization of Kenyans; a lack of historical understanding of political Kenya and the monumental role Raila plays; a narrow personalized view completely divorced from reality etc ad infinitum. Just because her chief editor and audience will believe whatever Alexandra says, makes her more so irresponsible for passing off expatriate gossip for the Gospel. As a Kenyan I feel deeply insulted by this hogwash, more so now that we have been stitched up like a kipper by, by the Kenyan elites and status quo defenders. If she did not write the piece under duress or under the influence of the happy go lucky lifestyle she most likely leads, then I cannot understand the bias for she must intelligent and competent. I blame the tone and wanton disregard of the reality to self-interest and sheer intellectual laziness. The facts are everywhere - no need to repeat them here.

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I am extremely impressed with this article especially compared to the puff piece on Raila done today. I guess Newsweek has not figured out where they stand- on the truth or propagandaist for Raila. http://www.newsweek.com/id/97058

It is sad to see the state our country has descended into because people believed Raila's populist message and allowed themselves to be used to advance his agenda i.e. power at any costs. Taking advantage of disenchanted people is not the mark of a leader, it sends people on the road to ruin. A goo leader should provide guidance to help his people develop and better themselves- killing each other and creating divisions that may well take generations to help does not benefit Kenya.
I'm not sure that Raila knows the meaning of the words, 'democracy' or 'human rights'. To him democracy is him getting the presidency and the only correct result of the election was a victory for him. Anything else, regardless of the situation, would have been rigging.
And like Kiplagat mentioned, I beleive the violence would have occurred with or wothiut a win for him. He was out to 'get' Kikuyu's. What kind of leader is that?
The other day he told his supporter not to 'touch' Kisiis because they voted for him. Doesn't democracy dictate that every KENYAN has the right to vote for whomever they like without being killed for it? Even if no Kikuyu had voted for him, and we know otherwise, why should they get killed for it.
My heart breaks for the country I used to know and the people we used to be.

I take this chance to congratulate Alexadrra (writter of this artcle on Kenya) for unbelievable insight and almost prophetic analysis of what was to befall Kenya. We saw the animal in the man and thank God he lost the election. Just one note though, it is important to remember that this election was not about the kikuyu and the luo as much as it was about an African country that has moved on from the British colonial extension and is threatening the Commonwealth status quo. Kenya by default attained special status and fortunately it was during a time that the government was in the hands of the Maumau children and grand children. The fast growth and quick departure from the traditional dependency on Britain set a very bad signal to the rest of the developing British empire. The traditional British Business were edged out by competition from the east and other european nations like France and Spain, this led to an agressive and very negative attack on the government by Britain and they continue to lead the current onslaught against the kibaki win. The british have taken advantage of traditional suspicions between the kikuyu and luos; While the Kikuyu, Meru and Nandis fought for independence, the Luo were the local British soldiers, so its not difficult to see the british choice in supporting Raila a Luo. Its is important to note that Raila's 4million votes are matched by Kibaki's and supassed by '4.6 million. The ODM meant to cause chaos if they win or not as this is the only way to erase the Kibaki legacy -- read British interest.
Bernard Kiplagat
Boston MA USA

Polier, you got many things on Kenya wrong, but one thing for sure is that Kenyans messed with sucess and took a gamble and for that we are paying with our blood. Its sad its unfortunate.

you Mr. Polier, are an ivy league fool. the best around.

Proof: upto 70% voter turnout in Kenya's elections. Not even America's mature voters can pull that off.
Kibaki's development record doesnt count. Because kenyans want freedom and dignity before development.

you Mr. Polier, are an ivy league fool. the best around.

Proof: upto 70% voter turnout in Kenya's elections. Not even America's mature voters can pull that off.
Kibaki's development record doesnt count. Because kenyans want freedom and dignity before development.




Proof:

Ms. Polier, this an unfortunate article that is poorly researched and is condescending to Kenyans. Kibaki has opened up the democratic space in Kenyan politics. He has allowed people the room to freely express their opinion even within his own cabinet. He promised and followed through on providing free primary education to all children in Kenya. He also created an environment that was conducive to investment both foreign and domestic. For all these factors, I give Kibaki an A+. That said, he did have his shortcomings. He was silent on corruption and might as well have encouraged it by surrounding himself with tainted individuals. The economic gains that were enjoyed by investors were not felt at the common man's level as you noted. The constitution that he promised in 100 days was never delivered. As such, your "politically immature" Kenyans are sending him and every future presidential candidate a strongly worded message: you make promises, you deliver. You have five years. If you don't deliver, we'll fire you and give the next guy a shot. If you doesn't deliver, we'll fire him as well. We will not accept half measures. That is the message Kenyans are sending. I hate to resort to personal attacks, however, a journalist with your training should know better than to publish such a one-sided article. My advice to you is before publishing any future articles on Kenya, kindly take some time to peruse the editorials on the Kenyan dailies (The Daily Nation and The East African Standard). There, you will find fair, balanced and well researched, written, thought out articles on the Kenyan political scene.

I would also add that what Kibaki did were very, very basic things. Anyone could have done them. What Kenya needed badly was to oust Moi after 24 years. Anyone after that would have been a vast improvement. But Kibaki has been largely silent on corruption and the big scandals involving members of parliament. What Kenyans need now is a LEADER, who will be more aggressive with reforms and corruption. And I'm sorry, but Kibaki, would have not done that in a second term.

Dear MSTEAK, you are in total agreement with her statement about "the immaturity of Kenya's voters"? So you think that Kenyans are too dumb to be able to look at candidates A and B and choose who they think will best run the country? If Raila wins it means that tribal politics are on the way out. As it stands most Kikuyus have voted for Kibaki and EVERYONE ELSE voted for Raila or Kibabki. This means that people are actually deciding who they think is best qualified. And I am surprised that you think that we are ODM fanatics just because we comment on the factual errors of a reporter.

I am Kenyan and in total agreement with the article. What Ms Polier is facing are the ODM fanatics. It looks like they have won the election too, now for some more immaturity from them and their clowning candidate

I have always read Newsweek and Time for many years. I did not know I was subjecting myself to uninformed writers. Polier, did you really graduate from Columbia? What happened? Did you have a deadline to meet. Don't underestimate Africans. There are a lot of us in diaspora who are educated and constantly check to see what journalists are saying about our countries ,as we are aware of the image portrayed out there concerning Africans. Check your facts, and better still, get to know us. Kenyan, USA

I have always read Newsweek and Time for many years. I did not know I was subjecting myself to uninformed writers. Polier, did you really graduate from Columbia? What happened? Did you have a deadline to meet. Don't underestimate Africans. There are a lot of us in diaspora who are educated and constantly check to see what journalists are saying about our countries ,as we are aware of the image portrayed out there concerning Africans. Check your facts, and better still, get to know us. Kenyan, USA

This is the crappiest article. I echo the comments earlier, Ms Polier, you don't know a thing about Kenya do you? You wrote this on deadline? Newsweek had an empty spot to fill? The only reason this drivel filled with outrageous insults like the supposed immaturity of Kenyan voters (really, how condescending), passes as news, is because you think African are too dumb to fact check. This is just unbelievable. Newsweek, get someone who cares to cover this election, not someone who is more concerned about getting their 4pm latte.
~A concerned Kenyan

I am disappointed by the factual errors in this article. Polier, are you really in the same Kenya that I know?

Here are examples of wrong facts...
1 - Kibaki is 76 not 80, he was born on November 15th, 1931 as you can find out from his wesites - kibaki.co.ke or the statehouse.go.ke website
2 - The Luo community hails from Nyanza province not Western.
3 - Raila's Hummer is Red, not Yello

-Silaha

i think its high time everyone started reading the Econonmist very intruging

If this is what passes for reporting then Newsweek is in real trouble. Ms.Polier, were you given these talking points by Kibaki's spokesman Alfred Mutua? This is probably one of the most shallow article on Kenya written by a foreign correspondent that I have read in a loooong time.