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KENYA

The Man Who Would Be President

Raila Odinga has a kaleidoscopic past and an unshakeable faith in the future. The forces that shaped the politician who says he won Kenya's disputed election.

By Scott Johnson | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jan 22, 2008 | Updated: 2:28  p.m. ET Jan 22, 2008

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  • Posted By: StandsInTheLight @ 02/11/2008 3:16:51 PM

    Comment: this guy sounds like a power hungry greedy egomaniac willing to manipulate the poorest of the poor and let them do his dirty work for him, shed their blood, kill their own countrymen in a shameful attempt to propel himself into the presidency. all the while, he sits in his big home driving his expensive "western world" cars. I'm sorry but the "African Americans" in this country like Obama's pastor Jeremiah Wright have little ground to stand on when they attempt to blame White America for all the greed and murderous corruption in the world. Look to your beloved Motherland. Look into the mirror.

  • Posted By: kadz @ 02/04/2008 4:38:48 AM

    Comment: the first kenyan preident used constitutional amendments to consolldate his power and this led to thefallout with the father of Raila. it will now take a new constitution to bring back an all inclusive government nad on that will be seen to deliver jusitce to the people. it will take more than high economic growth rates to rectify the imbalance caused by colonialism, dictatorships and grand corruption that has brought this country to its knees. A Raila preisdency would not have been a panacea to Kenyan problems as long as there isn't going to be a new constitutional dispensation with stronger government institutions and the emphasis on the rule of law. the current mediation should include a new constitution as a primary objective. WE should place emphasis on therule of law rather than individuals. this is best seen with the current regime, which was touted as a "change regime".

  • Posted By: umoja @ 02/02/2008 12:50:27 PM

    Comment: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Kenyan governance institutions has failed all of us. The colonial constitution that has been used to govern Kenya since independence from Britain is the root cause for democratic deficit and unsustainability. Every past President has used the constitutional deficit to butress their power despite the claim of democratic advancement. For Kenya to really move away from this political and institutional turmoil, it must take a serious look at the current outdated and undemocratic constitution being used to govern a very ethnically diverse population. For Kenya to achieve ethnic harmony and co-existence, the constitution has to be designed in a way that it guarantees universal democratic values and fairness for all 43 ethnic groups. The winner-take-all type of electoral system in place is a mockery for national unity in this situation. This, in fact, is what ODM and Mr. Odinga fought for during the 2005 Constitutional referrendum and during the 2007 elections. Governance institutions have failed the Kenyan people and the leaders need to realize that the more they try to defend the status quo, they risk becoming one and the same with the failed and unresponsive institutions.

  • Posted By: HEZBON @ 02/02/2008 3:46:41 AM

    Comment: Raila is kenya's peoples president. God gave us him. He's even shaped the kikuyus and he loves them. He's never preached any Hatred.Kikuyus believe that God loves them and hate other tribes no, God loves everybody. What will happen when Kibaki leaves another tribe is aleader? They should learn and repent and live well with the people.Raila is president that no one can dispute.

  • Posted By: franc2008 @ 02/01/2008 1:44:10 PM

    Comment: Its saddening to read this kind of articles from a well respected news media outlet.The only way media outlets earn that respect is by staying neutral and not by being baised. The writers of this story did not go the extra mile of getting the story from the other side. Its just one sided and hence baised. As a proud Kenyan who was born and raised there, I can tell you there is more than what the writers want you to know.If you look at what is going on right now,the main fighting is not between the Kikuyus and the Luos as reported by the writers here. Its between the Kalenjins and the Kikuyus.I happen to come from the Rift Valey where many of these killings are going on.Raila comes from Nyanza and not Rift Valley.If it was btw Luos and the Kikuyus,then the fighting would be concentrated in that area.
    But still it is unbelievable for the writers to claim that Raila goes beyond tribal lines.I don't know whether the writers ever followed Raila when he was campaining like they are doing now.If they ever did,then they should have reported that alot of what is going on was caused by what his campain was preaching.Raila made it clear that he wanted other tribes to vote the Kikuyus out because they had monopolised the Kenyan resources.He said kibaki had fired other tribes and only employed people from his tribe. He also claimed that kenyan people were paying taxes but the money was being directed to Central Province where Pres. Kibaki comes from.What he did not do is provide any evidence to support his claims. This made other tribes react very negatively towards the kikuyus.The Kalenjins have always wanted to kick kikuyus out of rift Valley and now they have an excuse. That is why the fighiting is in Rift Valley and not other parts of the country. They are killing innocent women and children as witnessed by the burning of more than 50 people inside a church in Eldoret. Neither Raila nor his "Pentagon Members" came out to condem those killings. All they did was accuse the gov't of shooting "innocent peacefull protesters".What did they expect the govt to do? watch as innocent peole get killed and not do a thing? When the same happened in Naivasha, the opposition was quick to blame the gov't for not doing enough to protect the people.
    To cut the story short, Raila is not the kind of person the writers here want to potray. He just want to be the President and does not care whether people die or not.Raila should know that what he is doing is just causing more divisions among tribes. By the way, the writers here stated that the kikuyus are being attacked by 40 tribes. I don't know how they came up with those figures because the fighting is between two tribes, the Kikuyus and the Kalenjins. Its alwas good to hear the story from both sides.

  • Posted By: franc2008 @ 02/01/2008 1:40:25 PM

    Comment: Its saddening to read this kind of articles from a well respected news media outlet.The only way media outlets earn that respect is by staying neutral and not by being baised. The writers of this story did not go the extra mile of getting the story from the other side. Its just one sided and hence baised. As a proud Kenyan who was born and raised there, I can tell you there is more than what the writers want you to know.If you look at what is going on right now,the main fighting is not between the Kikuyus and the Luos as reported by the writers here. Its between the Kalenjins and the Kikuyus.I happen to come from the Rift Valey where many of these killings are going on.Raila comes from Nyanza and not Rift Valley.If it was btw Luos and the Kikuyus,then the fighting would be concentrated in that area.
    But still it is unbelievable for the writers to claim that Raila goes beyond tribal lines.I don't know whether the writers ever followed Raila when he was campaining like they are doing now.If they ever did,then they should have reported that alot of what is going on was caused by what his campain was preaching.Raila made it clear that he wanted other tribes to vote the Kikuyus out because they had monopolised the Kenyan resources.He said kibaki had fired other tribes and only employed people from his tribe. He also claimed that kenyan people were paying taxes but the money was being directed to Central Province where Pres. Kibaki comes from.What he did not do is provide any evidence to support his claims. This made other tribes react very negatively towards the kikuyus.The Kalenjins have always wanted to kick kikuyus out of rift Valley and now they have an excuse. That is why the fighiting is in Rift Valley and not other parts of the country. They are killing innocent women and children as witnessed by the burning of more than 50 people inside a church in Eldoret. Neither Raila nor his "Pentagon Members" came out to condem those killings. All they did was accuse the gov't of shooting "innocent peacefull protesters".What did they expect the govt to do? watch as innocent peole get killed and not do a thing? When the same happened in Naivasha, the opposition was quick to blame the gov't for not doing enough to protect the people.
    To cut the story short, Raila is not the kind of person the writers here want to potray. He just want to be the President and does not care whether people die or not.Raila should know that what he is doing is just causing more divisions among tribes. By the way, the writers here stated that the kikuyus are being attacked by 40 tribes. I don't know how they came up with those figures because the fighting is between two tribes, the Kikuyus and the Kalenjins. Its alwas good to hear the story from both sides.

  • Posted By: tonii @ 02/01/2008 12:06:37 PM

    Comment: Raila odinga is a murderous and selfish individual who cold heartedly ordered the massacre of defenseless and vulnerable kikuyu women and children in the rift valley. If he could do this as just an opposition leader, i shudder to think what he would do as commander in chief . He also openly has links to alqaeda and would probably increase their influence in the horn of Africa which,is already a big problem in somali and the rest of the region. He should be charged with crimes against humanity and shipped over to Gitmo.

  • Posted By: tesfatadelle @ 02/01/2008 10:25:47 AM

    Comment: Raila is selfish ,canniving and the ultimate evil poltician who knows no bounds to be a Kenyan president. He has exploited (and he will continue to do so) the tribal conflicts that always existed for his defiled ambitions. And Kibaki and his government are not willing to seced from power and let themselves be exposed to corruption charges for which they are famous. In the mean time the ordinary Kenyan will suffer mercilessly. The people of Kenya are the grass that gets hurt when two elephants fight.

  • Posted By: Isaka @ 02/01/2008 8:26:24 AM

    Comment: Do you know why africa remains poor? Is because of this kind of leaders. The looting and the killing that has taken place is going to billions of shillings. Why? Because of stolen vote? What kind of fight is this? Shame. Whats more, who will build this back? The same people who are suffering now will start their lives after losing life-time savings. I think we have seen Raila's true colours now. People who were chanting "no Raila. no peace" were not disputing elections. Unfortunately ended looting their own sources of bread. Is this leadership? Letting your own people loot themselves? Poverty and more poverty will continue to grip. How can you be destroyinh your own stronghold? If elections were to be called today, Raila would loose massively, why? His strongholds are destroyed. Think Mr.Raila before you open your mouth next time. I dont think you have the capacity and the vision to lead Kenya to my expected height of peace and prosperity.

  • Posted By: ENKODA @ 02/01/2008 3:38:22 AM

    Comment: I want to tell the people of Kenya, that it is of no use to follow politicians and kill your fellow countrymen. Know this, that they will never tell you the whole true. After the fighting and beating, ask yourself, how has mine condition improved, both physically and economically? and then ask the same question, but this concerning the politicians and their families. Lets open our eyes and be a little selfish towards our politicians. At least for our betterment.

  • Posted By: ENKODA @ 02/01/2008 3:28:38 AM

    Comment: It is quite sad that African leaders still do not see the need to be selfless. But it is very sad that the people of Africa appears not to be in-tuned with the current trend, that our future and well being does not depend on these self-seeking and power drunk leaders. I hope to see the day when our politicians will migrate to the west countries to seek greener pastures like our doctors, nurses, engineers, teacher etc.

  • Posted By: deb21 @ 01/31/2008 3:25:40 PM

    Comment: What is the truth behind Barack Obama's connection to this man?

    • Posted By: Mzalendo @ 01/31/2008 7:51:35 PM

      Comment: According to Raila, they are practically brothers, but again, Raila also compared himself to Jesus so...
      See below:

      "When you see Raila, you see a leader who stands for the truth. I can be compared to (former South African President Mr Nelson) Mandela, Galileo Galilei and Jesus," he said.


      http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143970716

  • Posted By: sadia3585 @ 01/31/2008 9:43:33 AM

    Comment: Why was it important to note that Naji Balalla, one of Odinga's senior advisers , was a Muslim?

  • Posted By: gskk @ 01/31/2008 3:14:24 AM

    Comment: People are dying and suffering. People are being displaced from their homes and children are going through all this torturos experiences. What kind of a life are they going to have? What is their future. Popular or not popular does not matter. Odinga needs to use his common sense and stop bragging that he will not give up without a fight. This is not about him, this about the people lives, the herd he is would want to lead. If he can't allow them the right to a peaceful life that they deserve now by honoring human life, what makes him think that he will be able to honeor them when he is in power. I do not think he is a great leader because a great leader thinks of his sheep. Its sad that Kenyans have to go through all because of greedy people who have a bush mentality and just want to pocket and look out for themselves.

    I am not saying Kibaki did not rig the election. He has been able to restore peace for a long time and helped the Kenyan economy come. At least he is willing to compromise and share the leadership. Odinga needs to use his common sense. The kind of leader he is are the kind that have kiilled Africa in broad daylight.

  • Posted By: kibokokali @ 01/30/2008 1:15:08 PM

    Comment: Kenya,s problem would best be compared to a person infected with Tuberculosis.The infection is usually insidous,silent and then gains momemtum eentually resulting in the coughing up of blood amongst other signs.The only chance for the victim is a proper diagnosis of the disease and the appropiate antibiotic treatment usually for about 12 months! A cough mixture that would suppress the bloody cough woudl not do,albeit the fact that it may stop the cough, but the internal hemorrhage continues (in the lungs). A power sharing agreement will do just that (stop the cough) while the internal hemorhage continues! Kibaki must step down, a neutral interim government put in place until the constitution and other dysfunctional organs of government like the discredited electoral commision arereplaced with more viable organs! then have a presidential re-run.

    • Posted By: Puro @ 02/02/2008 1:53:20 AM

      Comment: Raila has done alot for the country and individual including Kibaki,its so surprising that from the Kikuyu pple democracy is only when you vote one of there own.In Kenyan history they have never voted for any tribe,pls fellow Kenyans be above tribe and lets kick tribalism with its guards out.Kenya needs some one like Raila and the ODM which as you have said is kaleidospic pls the international community save Kenya from the greed hungry for power Kibaki.Kibaki will be in the same books with Bokassa,Amin,Mobutu,Hitlar .

      Long live Kenya,Long live Raila Odinga.

  • Posted By: Al-Bradley @ 01/30/2008 12:22:30 PM

    Comment: Does it really matter who is president. Both of them are thieves. Raila is the MP in an area in which one of the largets slums is located and during hsi time he has done nothing for the people. Kibabki is what he is and is no better or worse. Both of them are basically fighting for more money and more power. If they were really about change and helping the people, they would have done it a long time ago. Both of them have the wealth and power to do so and neither one has done anything.

  • Posted By: WhyT2 @ 01/30/2008 10:39:33 AM

    Comment: Kibaki's Government (read: the 5 henchmen who really make the decisions) failed to read the signs as early as the Constitutional referendum vote, they continued to alienate a large part of the country by refusing to deliver on one election promise after another. thier inept attempt to put together a facad of national unity a few months before the elections with only a president and no other form of names or suggested running mates (with the exeption of the Leader of the opposition, another Kikuyu) left the field wide open to Raila's ODM with thier populist message and a more 'united' front.

    This set the stage for a Kikuyu vs. the rest of Kenya elections, the resounding defeat of may of Kibaki's key goverment people (of all tribes) as members of parliament was a clear message that Kenyans had had it with a leader who would not listen to them (a message that Kibaki rode to State House on in 2002).

    All Raila had to do was ride the wave, which he did well, however he must remember that at least 50% of Kenyans did NOT vote for him (Kibaki + the 3rd Runner up) but on his way to giving a sitting president the biggest scare of his career (outside the 82 coup attemp), he must take responsibility for any populist remarks he and his ODM Pentagon may have made that could have fuelled the explosion of violence that followed the swearing in on Kibaki.

    This situation has, i believe, already taken a life of its own, with retaliatory attacks and revenge the order of the day, it is up to Raila now (and the Kibaki kitchen cabinet) to prove to us thier real leadership qualities and put an end to this madness, and proove to us they were worth those 4 million votes we gave each of them.

  • Posted By: wamagegania @ 01/30/2008 9:42:26 AM

    Comment: All we as kenyans want is peace. sso we can have an enabling environment to go about our day to day activities.It does not really matter who the president is,what tribe etc is of no bearing at ll.We have seen Kibaki`s rule under which the economy was rejuvenated..to us this is a good leader albeit not a saint. He has his downside but that is eclipsed by his good side as oppesed to the opposite about Raila.

  • Posted By: user name. @ 01/30/2008 9:14:50 AM

    Comment: i agree with all this comments . I believe that the two opposing party's should make a joint statement in asking for people to stop with this violence. Really if Odinga and Kibaki have hearts their should put they pride aside and think about other people for once ,in the sake of saving human lives. it should not be allowed
    Africa as a whole continent has always had problems such as ;poverty/famine, droughts, unemployment, diseases(HIV/AIDS), and now add on to this ethnic cleansing . I dont care what its called it is just a dangerous as racism. when are people going to get a break and have a chance to live in dignity . Kenya just took 10yrs steps backward . If we all let this violence escalate it will be another Darfur.I pray to God that if we as humans respect human life and never try to excuse taking someone elses life or your own life as a justified means of making your point. Please have love,compassion, honesty,willingness to give and forgiveness .let us all come together so that our children have more sense than us and get a chance to make it a better world

  • Posted By: ni_yetu @ 01/29/2008 11:21:31 PM

    Comment: Raila owns a mansion in runda(kikuyu land) and another in langata (masai land) ,this tells you all about this guy,

  • Posted By: janmug @ 01/29/2008 3:46:42 PM

    Comment: This article is so biased an does not consider why Odinga is fighting so hard. He just wants power and he shoud blame himself and his friends for refusing to ratify the constitution during the last five years. He hoped he would win the election and wield as much power as the Kenyam President does have. If they had supported and ratified the constution they would not be in this mess. Furthermore as Kenyans we have lived in realtive peace and intermarried for years because we learned to get along as this is our country and we are proud of it. After decades of fighting among our neighbours we did not want to end up in the same predicament. or country to be among those statistics. And yet here we are in 2008 fighting because one man who feels like he deserves to be President despite what the fellow Kenyans want. He has insighted all this fighting since the day a winner was declared. If he was so concerned about the country he would have asked Kenyans to be peaceful and await furhter resoulition of the elections. I am ashamed to know a man who is so educated and who has witnessed so much injustice would allow his own country to deteriorate that much. After all, if worst comes to worst he can quickly grab his money and run away to a country that will host him as the country falls apart and he would be safe in hiding.

  • Posted By: bri2be @ 01/29/2008 1:27:43 PM

    Comment: This article is focus on the main reason why these two tribes are at war with one another. POWER. Raila can state all what his fore-fathers did and what they had to go through that is just a disguise. He wants to rule all not caring who gets killed. He never cared about Kenyans, he was just waiting for the right time to show his true self. So you can write all these so called important facts about this person, and the contributions he has giving his people, but you can only fool yourself for so long. POWER is the root of all the destruction that is going on between the tribes. Enough said.

  • Posted By: simply kenyan @ 01/29/2008 12:17:22 PM

    Comment: This article is disgustingly one sided that it does an injustice to real journalists everywhere. The word propaganda comes to mind. The irony however is that the article itself provides proof that Raila is not the person they are trying to paint him as. I also like the fact that Kenyans in 2008 are still electing their leaders based on how many elephants their grandfather killed. garbage!! Raila like Uhuru kenyatta believes that the presidency is their birth right. Remember when Moi was leaving the presidency? they both prostituted themselves to him hoping that he would leave the "power" in their hands. These guys dont care about Kenyans. The man sleeps comfortably in his mansion while his countrymen that he apparently cares for are being nurdered in HIS name "no raila no peace". but Newsweek doesnt report that part. He has been the savior of luos for decades but they are still the poorest constituency while he drives a hammer and jaguar. He has nothing to loose. If a massive war breaks out in kenya, he will simply take his family and go and live in one of his homes in europe while we kill each other. I believe that many of you have raised many points that this article conviniently ignores so I will not repeat them. I am in no way saying Kibaki is a saint but atleast he has a track record of trying to take kenya to the promised land. Dont forget he did this even after raila and his crew refused to serve in the goverment because they wanted more POWER! so you can say he appointed kikuyus to posts... but only after this so called politicians who care about the country refused to serve the government and did everything they could to block progress. This boils down to 1 thing POWER.

  • Posted By: Horus @ 01/29/2008 12:06:34 PM

    Comment: The violence in Kenya is a typical outcome event of ANY country / nation that was once under a colonist rule - preceding independence. You see, Kenyans have been living in harmony with each other, it is only in the last centurtry whereby certain stereotypes have propagated and fueled hatred amougst themselves. Innocent people are dying out there just because of a common power-struggle between the two tribes. Raila Odinga, being the sole-antagonist - his aim being to get what his father before him had wanted: total control of Kenya. I would not be surprised if he were getting donations from the west to fuel and pay for these 'malitia / thugs' to kill, maim and rape people into submission and to paint Kibaki's camp as the troublemakers. As far as the west is concerned: they want Raila in so that they can get those lucrative deals that Kibaki has thrown out. And they will not stop (nor provide any help or intervention) until the country is in submission - just like Iraq. This is as brutally honest as it gets my friends

  • Posted By: Horus @ 01/29/2008 12:05:13 PM

    Comment: The violence in Kenya is a typical outcome event of ANY country / nation that was once under a colonist rule - preceding independence. You see, Kenyans have been living in harmony with each other, it is only in the last centurtry whereby certain stereotypes have propagated and fueled hatred amougst themselves. Innocent people are dying out there just because of a common power-struggle between the two tribes. Raila Odinga, being the sole-antagonist - his aim being to get what his father before him had wanted: total control of Kenya. I would not be surprised if he were getting donations from the west to fuel and pay for these 'malitia / thugs' to kill, maim and rape people into submission and to paint Kibaki's camp as the troublemakers. As far as the west is concerned: they want Raila in so that they can get those lucrative deals that Kibaki has thrown out. And they will not stop (nor provide any help or intervention) until the country is in submission - just like Iraq. This is as brutally honest as it gets my friends

  • Posted By: simply kenyan @ 01/29/2008 11:52:20 AM

    Comment: This article is disgusting. The interesting thing is that it actually contains in it all you need to know about the so called man who would be president. Your grandfather spearing an elephant is the last thing anyone cares about. So what? Kibaki went to the London school of economics but this article doesnt say that because it is skewed to make you think that Raila unlike Kibaki has "seen what life outside our dark continent is like" garbage! Raila is just like Uhuru kenyatta. they think that the presidency is a birth right. thats exactly why when Moi was leaving they both prostituted themselves to him in hopes that he "leaves the power" in their hands. HUMAN BEINGS... PEOPLE... are being killed in the name of no Raila no peace and he can actually sleep comfortably at night in one of his mega mansions when his countrymen are being murdered in his name. He doesnt care about anyone but himself. Kibaki is not a saint but at least he had the country making strides in the right direction. People need to wake up and realize that there is no day that the government will come to their doorstep with a check book and ask them how much they want on their check. It doesnt happen. yes even if raila was president. it doesnt work like that. The people killing others are a bunch of thieves who would be doing the same thing anyway but now they have a "reason". I read a comment in an article recently where a luo man said he thinks kibaki should go because the shop he bought his vegetables was owned by a kikuyu and the matatu he rode in was owned by a kikuyu. That is the level of reasoning this whole thing has come to. I wonder what the barriers of entry are in the hawking business. I dont blame the man. He has been brainwashed to think that that is the reason he is not as rich as ... maybe... Raila.

  • Posted By: Miali @ 01/29/2008 11:05:56 AM

    Comment: For soo many years the Odinga family has tried hard to get into power and what a horrible track record they have left. How much change will Raila bring to Kenya if he has not done anything being a Member of Parliament for his own people? I can tell you that Raila has been singing songs to the poor people that he knows he cant deliver. He has used the ignorance of these Kenyans to his advantage and now he proves that he is willing to take power at the cost of innocent lives. Odinga tried to over throw the government in 1982 and failed greatly and this time he has used the divide and conquer strategy which our poor Kenyans are eating up. Its a shame that neither him now Kibaki are trying to bring closure to the violence going on in Kenya. How many more have to die for these fat cats that are well fed, guarded by armed personnel and sleeping in their king size beds while the innocent clatch onto blankets in the cold not knowing what awaits them tomorrow. What makes these youth think that Raila has their best intrest at heart? Raila is trying to finish a useless dream his father started of ruling Kenya other than that I doubt his capability as a leader. He cannot even take responsibility of the acts of violence at home yet he is the one who called on the protest which ended up in violence......it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. So far his political track record is as bogus as a piece of used tissue papers, and thats the kind of leadership he will produce. Odinga let that dream go...no orange state house for you. Retire and enjoy your latter years. Kibaki say something to the people of Kenya bring healing, quail the blood thirst. After Annan leaves,,,its on you.

  • Posted By: Miali @ 01/29/2008 11:02:44 AM

    Comment: For soo many years the Odinga family has tried hard to get into power and what a horrible track record they have left. How much change will Raila bring to Kenya if he has not done anything being a Member of Parliament for his own people? I can tell you that Raila has been singing songs to the poor people that he knows he cant deliver. He has used the ignorance of these Kenyans to his advantage and now he proves that he is willing to take power at the cost of innocent lives. Odinga tried to over throw the government in 1982 and failed greatly and this time he has used the divide and conquer strategy which our poor Kenyans are eating up. Its a shame that neither him now Kibaki are trying to bring closure to the violence going on in Kenya. How many more have to die for these fat cats that are well fed, guarded by armed personnel and sleeping in their king size beds while the innocent clatch onto blankets in the cold not knowing what awaits them tomorrow. What makes these youth think that Raila has their best intrest at heart? His political track record is as bogus as a piece of used tissue papers, and thats the kind of leadership he will produce. Odinga call your people back and Mwai Kibaki bring calm amongst your supporters....let the healing begin already!!

  • Posted By: motieno @ 01/29/2008 10:00:26 AM

    Comment: this is just a tribal person that has been trying every way to ascend to the highest seat by taking advantage of the poor with empty promises .He is not fit to lead kenya with 42 different tribes who need to be each respected in there own way. Pitting one tribe over another is not smart leadership and we have seen that that has been his agenda from a long time ago. Before it was the kalenjin who were not good during Moi's time, now it is the kikuyu he has targeted pitting oether tribes to fight them. He is torn apart kenya with ethnic divide so that he may ascend to power. Surely kenya can do better than that.There is absolutely no justification for all the chaos that has caused in kenya and he should accept that he lost the election to a true leader Mwai Kibaki , who has proved beyond any doubt that he was taking us to the promised land. With the GDP of 7.1% growth rate we were rmoving in the right direction. Mwai Kibaki is a visionary leader and has proved that he can work with all the tribes. Odinga's cheap politics of exploiting the needy is not helping Kenya .People are dying for absolutely no reason.All this tribal violence was well planned and it is pathetic that Odinga can call himself a leader with such plans . Kenya and Africa needs true leaders like Mwai Kibaki and Gaddafi who have been trying to sort out the true issues that face this continent. Divide and rule policy will not work with Africa and Odinga is busy propelling that.

  • Posted By: sorbor @ 01/29/2008 8:45:23 AM

    Comment: i am a liberian who knows what the so-called change and liberation of all is all about.fellow african brothers of kenya,beware and quickly put your house in order.
    Sorbor

  • Posted By: bohdansz @ 01/29/2008 8:09:26 AM

    Comment: Kenia is a rich but underdeveloped country. Countries like this need a UN intervention and transparent elections. It is a shame that tribal leaders pursue their own interests, not the Nation's!

  • Posted By: Monalisa @ 01/28/2008 6:07:39 PM

    Comment: This guy is exactly what Kenya needs right now. No more no less. He has the most wide appeal in Kenya right now. President Kibaki cannot seem to go above his own tribe. He has very parochial interests.

    • Posted By: mchizani @ 01/29/2008 7:26:48 PM

      Comment: I think this guy"Raila" thinks that he can rock the nation, but actually what he is doing is digging his own grave! look at what they did to one of his so called ODM MP' if thinks that he can fight the KIkuyu, then he is grossly mistaken. First and I "his dad like he is saying a great man, but he couldnt do it" then how come he is the one thinking that is capable. One thing you should note' is that am Lou and I voted ODM, but now am thinking how stupid I was to be fooled by him and his clique, coz there is no way I voted for him to the president even if it is by means of blood-shed...! Excuse me' but i feel sorry for my people and the other tribes that think the same, becouse I can gurantee that to fight the Kikuyu's you are going to need more than that, and you know why..? becouse they are hard working lot and they belive in one thing progress and not war, but if they decide to pick up arms, boy or boy we just need to look back at the history of KENYA....................! I rest my case.........!

  • Posted By: naribiro @ 01/28/2008 11:18:52 AM

    Comment: He uses the poor and lies to them that he can help them when he gets into power, yet he hasen't done anything to his constituency sins he was elected, what change can such a parson bring to a country when he is being sponsored by corrupt people eg deya a child smuggler, dictator obasanjo,ruto and ntimamas both tribalist of highest class, the guy also name his son after cuban dictator who has forced half of his countrie's population into exile.can someone tell what changes we expect from such a parson. by gathura

  • Posted By: Leslie H @ 01/28/2008 10:38:48 AM

    Comment: Odinga has 5 luxury cars in a country where the people have so little. This tells me all I
    need to know about this man..

  • Posted By: ianokello @ 01/28/2008 7:43:34 AM

    Comment: What does it profit a 77 year old man to preside over the deaths of 1000 Kenyans and more as every hour goes by. In my view it does not matter who won the elections.
    Kibaki should step down as over 1000 Kenyans are dead and he is unable to stop the deaths, therefore someone who is able to stop the killing and tribal hatred should take up the job. What Kenya is experiencing now would have easily happend in 2002 if President Moi forcefully rigged in Uhuru Kenyatta. Moi finished well so we forgot about all the bad things that happened during his reign, this guy on the other hand is headed for a very ugly finish.

    • Posted By: Mzalendo @ 01/29/2008 12:01:03 PM

      Comment: Your comment somehow implies that all the fracas in Kenya will miraculously end if Kibaki resigned. That is far from the truth. The people that started the trouble will now be in powere to do as they like with impunity. I shudder to think how much worse it will get for undesirable groups like the Kikuyus, Kisiis, Kambas, Merus, Embus and anybody else perceived not to be an ODM supporter.
      What a shame that 44 years of harmony (even when uneasy) have been flushed down the toilet by a power hungry Raila.
      There are other avenues to protest the loss of the election, starting with the courts - which he now conviniently doesn't trust as they are packed with Kibaki people, but were good enough when he was blocking an inquiry into his Molasses plant deal- to the international community which seems to be under his spell (good P.R. is priceless). But no, he made good on his promise to make Kenya 'ungovernable' if he did not get the presidency.
      As far as I'm concerned the only correct result of the 2007 election according to Raila was a victory by him. It was unnacceptable to get any less no matter what the people decided. What a man!

  • Posted By: ianokello @ 01/28/2008 7:28:19 AM

    Comment: All is well that ends well. What does it profit my grandfather of 77 years of age to hang on to power and to preside over the death of over 1000 Kenyans and more every hour. Kibaki has done many good things for Kenya but all that has come to nothing over the past 3 weeks. I would like to appeal to the world to prevail over my grandfather to spend time with his grandchildren and allow them to have a bright future in Kenya by doing the right thing. Finishing Well.

  • Posted By: Mteule @ 01/27/2008 4:20:04 PM

    Comment: Ni_yetu, your name or nick-name speaks volumes about you. It speaks greed to me if I am transilating it right into English - meaning it's_ours. Kenya doesn't belong people whose ancestry goes back to the greedy/bloody Hutus_Tutsis. Let us think nationaly, not tribalistically. You remind me of a friend of mine who supported the killings of the Luos and the rest, only for her to call to tell me that her brother (a Kikuyu) had been killed by police a week ago. So long as some people continue denying the root of these chaos (election rigging), the consequencies of it are going to tragically knock at their doors like it knocked at my friend's door. She must be thinking twice. Anyway, in the Bible days, the despisors of of Nazareth asked: Can anything caome from Nazareth? Then then the Lord Jesus came from there. Can anything come from Nyanza? Yes! Tom Mboya and Robert Ouko came from there, Raila Odinga and Barrack Obama are from there. Forget about the propagandistic communist conspiracy. It does't make sense, and if it does: It does only make sense to the Kenya political maffias and those paranoid and afraid of Raila Odinga.

    • Posted By: wakenya tuungane63 @ 05/01/2008 2:55:35 PM

      Comment: Age is just a number and Raila is 62 so he is also a grandfather is thats what you are using as a requirment.The most that w e need now is leaders to reconcile and move on without being abusive.We need to restore the love we had before for ecah other because there is no leader that will bring Ugali on your table but you will have to do it yourself under the prevailing laws.

  • Posted By: ni_yetu @ 01/27/2008 1:06:21 PM

    Comment: Should the "aggrieved" native indians in both americas or the Mauris , the Aborigines go on rampage burning houses and killings innocent citizens because of a "historical wrong"? give us a break,what you are seeing in Kenya is a total disrepect of private property and an attempt to dismantle capitalism by a man indroctrinated from a very early age with communism and revolution theories,America beware.

    • Posted By: ykavaya @ 01/29/2008 8:43:18 AM

      Comment: kenya is a country that has prided itself with a peaceful election when former president moi handed over power PEACEFULLY. but pardon me Ni yetu, what was kibaki thinking swearing himseflf in as president while the votes were still being counted? the results were obvious, instant chaos. why? imagine people sitting out in the cold night waiting for the vote count to be announced only to hear on their little transistor radios, mr kibakis voice declaring himself president. i blame him for the chaos facing our beautiful country bacause he gave hooligans a reason to bring unrest to a once peaceful nation. this is his mess he better clean it up quickly or his legacy will be worse than kenyattas or moi.

    • Posted By: THE RAVEN @ 01/28/2008 10:32:16 AM

      Comment: ni_yetu, the "original people" in the countries you mentioned might answer your questions with a yes! Mainly because these people are still suffering from the ill effects of those so-called "historical wrongs". Wrongs which were commited by European, *** white trash. What do you think happens to a people whose culture, language, and every other way of life that was theirs is almost completely erased? This isn't an excuse--it's a fact. Time does not deminish these past horrors. Ask the Jews who are still hunting Nazis.

  • Posted By: ni_yetu @ 01/27/2008 12:55:22 PM

    Comment: should the aggrieved native indians in both north and south america, the mauris in new zealand, aboriginals in Australia or all other start killing the "settlers"? ,please give as i break,what is happenning in Kenya is a destruction of a capitalist system by a man and family indoctrinated with communism revolution theories,to a large extent the tribe also, the names given to the children telll u all,they have never had respect to private property,those old enough should remember the days of gor-mahia and the destruction that took place after football matches, America beware .

  • Posted By: Mteule @ 01/27/2008 11:36:01 AM

    Comment: Mrembo, it is the national cake that is supposed to take care of the citizens and not their MP. Anything under or beyond that is corrupt. How do you expoect a person whose hands have been tied by the Mt. Kenya maffia to be able to do anything for his people. Why do you think we have a government? I know you think the government is there to serve the president of the day and his tribe. Anyway, assuming your way of thinking is correct, why then did the the Mt. Kenya maffia steal the chance he had for doing something for his people just like Kenyatta and Moi did, and now Kibaki is doing. You don't expect a person whose hands have, for many years, been tied and marginalized by the politial maffias of this country to help his people anyway. It
    can't happen. If he was to ape those who had gone before him (God forbid) he would have done it but you know the maffias stole the electoral chance from him by rigging the presidential. By the way, it is completely mathemaically wrong for any one to win a presidential election after losing in 7 out of 8 provinces; and even a moron will tell you that.

  • Posted By: Mteule @ 01/27/2008 11:06:52 AM

    Comment: The majority are praising truth and not deceiption. They are praising the one that truly won the presidential election and not the one that lost. They are praising the rightful owner of the decisive vote and not the thief. They are praising the nationalist and not the tribalist. They are praising the one that is on God's side and not the one that is on satan's side. As such come heaven and hell, Odinga will go to heaven and Kibaki to hell - stay assured.

    • Posted By: hk7oscar @ 02/01/2008 6:30:43 PM

      Comment: You obviously don't understand politics.

  • Posted By: Kenpeace @ 01/27/2008 5:54:13 AM

    Comment: Why is everybody writing that there are ethnic 'clashes' yet the details of your articles show that it is only Kikuyus who are being attacked by other tribes? Why is everybody praising Raila Odinga when all he has done is to preside over the death and destruction of poor peasants whose only crime is to belong to a hated tribe? Is it only in Kenya where people are not allowed to buy land or any other asset and work hard and prosper in any part of the country that they choose? Be careful that you do not become the type of journalists who hailed Hitler (and at one point Osama Bin Laden when he was fighting against the Russians in Afghanistan!)

  • Posted By: Kenpeace @ 01/27/2008 5:45:04 AM

    Comment: I am surprised by the shallow articles that the international press are publishing about Raila Odinga. If you really want to understand the crisis that Kenya is going through right now you need to study this man more carefully. Even if it is too much work to study his past, why don't you carefully anyalyze ALL of his recent statements and comments to understand how much you need to reverse his name?

  • Posted By: shukuti @ 01/26/2008 1:24:49 AM

    Comment: Fair enough Mteule.. It might have been out of line for me to paint such a grim picture by asking anyone to smell the blood.. especially since there has been and still is a lot of suffering going on. For that out of line remark I apologize
    I have a question for you though... You very eloquently mentioned that you were protected by the blood of Christ.. Covered by it is what I believe you said. I wonder... were you covered by the same blood when you were preaching that little message of hate back there? I mean stupid people doing the killing here and there and asking us concerned citizens of the world to compare the ever so vibrant features of them to the people residing in Rwanda.. I am interested - don't take this as being flippant.. I am just looking for some sought of consistency on your part. Are you always covered by The Blood of Jesus Christ or does it maybe come and go leaving room for lovely messages of hate?

  • Posted By: Mteule @ 01/25/2008 6:48:32 PM

    Comment: Thank you Fauxmutu. When someone mentioned the need for Bush to recall Bellamy, I said to myself: I thought this guy was replaced some time ago. So when someone implicated his name I thought he had gone back to help solve the current political clashes. I aplogize for the confusion. Anyway, Shukuti has told me to wake up and smell the blood. I can't and God won't let me because He Himself hates the shedding of human blood leave alone the smell of it. He has kept me away from it and I will let it continue that way. The blood of Jesus Christ was and and is still enough for God and for me; and even though I can't smell IT, I know I am fully covered by IT. Fauxmutu, thanks for being a man of a few words. You are a very wise person. Peace!

  • Posted By: shukuti @ 01/25/2008 2:34:13 PM

    Comment: Mteule.... did you re-read what you just wrote? I mean seriously think about what you are saying..."they all look the same so they must act the same". Your theory and and as an extension everything else you have to say is deeply flawed and thus to be ignored. Case and point - The great biologist Watson who came up with the double helix (with Crick) was recently quoted as saying that black people are inherently inferior... ( I completely disagree with this).. I assume that you are black - do you think you are an inferior person just because you have different color of skin? Hey... the name Hitler ring a bell?? Remember how his ultimate goal was to get rid of anyone different from him and his people? Does that make anyone that did not look like him or was non-Christian an inferior race?
    Seriously you have to learn to think and speak so that you are taken seriously.. word said just to inflame the issue only serve to take away to what little you have to say. First off realize that in todays world we cannot afford to think ourselves different because that kind of thinking leaves us as a country behind. Realize that the Kenyan people, not the Luo, not the Kikuyu and not the other 40 tribes BUT the KENYAN people have been wronged by the few rotten tomatoes. That at the end of the year the KSH was at 63.0 and today its at 69.50. It took us a whole year to get it that down... What I am trying to say is that our economy relative to the world is being slowly and systematically being decimated.. and who gets to suffer? I will tell you who is not worried - It is not Odinga or Kibaki with their fancy homes, padded bank accounts and fast cars... it is the common mwananchi... Luo, Kalenjin, Kikuyu, etc etc ALIKE!!
    What you need to be asking is not whether other people can tell the difference between the Hutus/Tutsis and the Kikuyu... but rather you as an individual can block out the politics and get down to the fact that there is a gashing bleeding wound that is threatening the lives of KENYANS... and what you should do about it.... Drop the stones, drop the anger, drop the hate.... Because at the end of the day will you still be proud to call yourself KENYAN?
    Wake up and smell the blood!

  • Posted By: Mzalendo @ 01/25/2008 2:08:31 PM

    Comment: Are you people serious? Kikuyu's and Hutu-Tutsi look alike. First off, you ignoramus, Hutu's and Tutsi look alike like Bantus and Nilotes can.
    Second, freedom of speech is not more inportant than the right to life. If you freedom of speech is being used to kill and destroy others, then it has to take a back seat to their right to life. Ask your friends at the ICTR. Kangura radio station was also not jammed by the US because it too would have violated the genocidaires freedoms, please do not preach to me about Bellamy and co.'s care for people's rights.
    As to this puff piece on a man who has not been a tribalist, and was jailed by the dictator Moi. AS even Human Rights Watch has noted, Raila, Ruto and ODM have been fanning the flames of tribalism with emphasis on the anti-Kikuyuism to win the elections. I know Kikuyu's were expedient at this time but it will probably be Luhyas or any other group in the future. How is that not divisive? Kibaki has as many people around him from other tribes as Raila does. Do not forget that his VP was a Luhya, now a Kamba. His Cabinet had Luo's, Maasai's, as well as other tribes. That Raila currently gives the illusion of having all of Kenya behind him is a public relations ploy for which a lot of people have fallen. Kenya is falling apart because of it.
    Raila is charismatic, so was Hitler and Amin and so iare Castro and Chavez. Does that make them good leaders? I think not. He has a brilliant public relations team around him including, Salim Lone who up and till a little while ago worked for the UN and to me explains, why it is that the UN can be so innefectual- really shameful the people working for them!
    Newsweek should stop acting as Raila's cheerleading squad and look a little more deeply at the man.
    P.S. Moi was by many account not a dictator until after Raila's coup in 1982, if anything, it is said that they thought they could overthrow him because they considered him a weak leader, well, he sure showed them and Kenyans suffered for another 20 yrs because of it- thanks Raila.
    Kibaki is by no means an angel, but I'm convinced that he's a better leader for Kenya because he does not have personal vendettas to satisfy at the expense of the nation.

  • Posted By: Mteule @ 01/25/2008 10:53:43 AM

    Comment: I agree with you Musungu. It takes realistic people to speak out against tribalism. I completetely differ with the one that is demanding that Mr. Bellany be recalled. First, Mr. Bellany has the right to defend the people whose democratic rights were stolen - whether Kalenjin or not. Secondly, Bellany is simmply and practically emphasizing the urgent need for freedom of speech and press for all Kenyans - period. I also would like to say something about Kenya relative to Rwanda. I wouldn't be surprised if Kenya turned into another Rwanda because people who are causing problems in Kenya - the Kikuyu - have been originating from Rwanda-Burundi for many years and they are still coming. Compare the Hutus-Tutsi's physical features and tribal attitudes and those of the Kikuyus and you will see what I mean. All of them are geedy - thinking their tibes are everything and other tribes aren't anything. What a shame? Look at thier looks, faces, ears, noses, teeth, and general physic; they just look alike that one doesn't have to a biologist to be able to tell the resemblence. What the Hutus-Tutsis do is both cause problems and kill people back home, run to Kenya, get assimilated/absorbed by their Kikuyu uncles and cousins, and carry on with their bloody/genocide curse against faithful and innocent Kenyans. No wonder one of their sympathisers just said that Kenya is about to turn into another Rwanda. Cursed in Kenya are the discendants of those that originated from Rwanda. Lord have mercy!

  • Posted By: martosr @ 01/25/2008 2:36:46 AM

    Comment: MR President G W Bush. kindly recall you envovy rto kenya mr M . B allamy before he make kenya another rwanda. first of of he played partisan to the opposition ie ODM when he should be a neutral diplomat on the election period in kenya which has seen 300,000 people evicted and over 600 killed by the very tribes he supported. when kenya is trying to cool down and tribe reconcilling this same guy has gone to the rift valley tribe radio the very same tribe that torched 100 worshippers in church including women and children from a minority trbe and violated a gorvament burn of engaging in incitingpolitics in such a tention packed time. recall him before he drags your good name and that of your country in trble genocide.

    wachira
    kenya

  • Posted By: martosr @ 01/25/2008 2:15:11 AM

    Comment: kj

    • Posted By: fauxmutu @ 01/25/2008 3:15:45 PM

      Comment: Bellamy left Kenya many months back. Don't drag him into this please.

  • Posted By: Mteule @ 01/24/2008 10:56:29 PM

    Comment: Economic growth that benefits the goldenbergers, the anglo-leasers, political mafias , and abive all less than 10% percent of a countries people is defiled, filthy, and useless. So is an economic powerhouse; whether in Africa or the whole world. Stability riddled with tribalism, favoritism, and oppression is an eye sore in the eyes of God. So long as the national cake of nation ends up in the pockets of thieves, the thieves stand harsh judgement form God if they don't repent. The Bible says that who ever oppresses or makes the little ones of God stumble, they deserve a millstone being tied around their neck and dumped in the sea. Therefore so long as we continue supporting the gluttony of the rich over the needs of the poor, the best we will have sleepless nights as punishment from God. He will not give them rest until they repent. He is patiently watching and pleading with the oppressors. Also we should remember that the days of thieves are forty, and they are closing in. If they don't repent, they will perish. That is for sure.

  • Posted By: Mteule @ 01/24/2008 5:34:04 PM

    Comment: Only "ignorants, morons, and paranoids" selfishly believe that Kibaki won. It is obvious to me that Kiplagat is a tribalist. While the wise of Kenya are talking statesmanly concerning the rigged elections, some fool is talkin about a tribe. It is the government that is supposed to develop every part of a country, not an individual. It is about sharing the national cake and not marginalizing some tribal areas like Kenyatta and Moi did, and now kibaki is doing. Some fool asks what Odinga has ever done for his tribe. Gentlemen and above all statesmen don't do for thier tribes, they do for the nation. They don't 'goldenberg nor anglo-lease' the tax-payers money, they invest in the welfare of all citizens and not tribes. Based on what Kiplagat said, I conclude he is a miserable tribalist of the Moi and post-Moi era. Tribalists remember this: the Biblical and marginalized Lazarus was poor and his tormentor was rich. When they both died, Lazarus (ODM) went to heaven and the rich (PNU) went to hell. Kiplagat is a tribalist and he will for sure bound for hell. There will be no place nor water in heaven to drink for those who support the ills of PNU against truth and therefore freedom, love, peace, and unity. May God punitively judge them all that thrive on greed, foolishness and deception!

    • Posted By: Mzalendo @ 01/31/2008 8:03:43 PM

      Comment: It's funny to hear you accuse anyone of tribalism. I guess you have not been reading your own posts.

    • Posted By: mrembo @ 01/26/2008 12:24:14 PM

      Comment: Mteule, remember "Charity begins at home" so it only makes sense that people would ask what Odinga has done for his tribe.

  • Posted By: kiplagat @ 01/24/2008 2:22:33 PM

    Comment: In a democracy a win with a by any no pfvotes is a win, in kenyas case kibaki won the elections, by whatever margin is irrelevant. I think the porridge and tea must have confused you to seeing any ray of hope in railas presidency or in his redeeming kenyans. In the few weeks that he has managed to dupe kenyans that he won, he has single handedly brought unbelievable poverty to his people. he has encouraged them to burn their rented houses, factories,shops, hospitals and loot everything in sight, do you see anybody opening a shop in kisumu soon? arent they the ones now going hungry? are jobless and their childrens are still at home with no fees and no schools?
    The unfortunate thing is his people are impoverished and he is till and will not be president. Is he so selfish that he would rather have kenyans kill each other than not be president?
    Well if you are wondering what kenya could have become under his presidency, just visit kisumu and extrapolate the destruction to the rest of kenya!!!!!!

  • Posted By: mkenya @ 01/24/2008 1:06:13 PM

    Comment: To the article authors Andrew Ehrenranz and Silvia Spring: a piece of the other side of the story....

    http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/01/23/kenya17859.htm

  • Posted By: Mteule @ 01/24/2008 10:27:59 AM

    Comment: The Bible says: Know the truth and the truth shall set you free. The rigging of the presidential election in Kenya has robbed Kenyans of their freedom; freedom of choice and free speech. This are not the uncivilized days when people fought for independence. We are living in the days when freedom must tiumph over any other achievement in Kenya because without freedom there will never be peace, love, and unity. Therefore: Because Kibaki lost the presidential election to Odinga, he should resign and let Odinga lead Kenya in peace. No Raila, No Peace!

    • Posted By: hk7oscar @ 01/27/2008 4:38:12 PM

      Comment: No Raila, No Peace. It's funny cos probably anybody supporting Kenya should be saying something like this No Justice No peace. But by saying no Raila no peace they tell us that this whole thing is about an individual.
      "The Integrity of elections is very important but less important than the physical safety and sanctity of a person. Violent advocacy of an opinion is first cousin to terrorism. It it succeeds whatever it's course, it sends a fatal precedent" - Daily Nation.

      I am a Kenyan and I don't understand how Kenyans let politicians use them like they don't see the news when members of parliament are awarding themselves obscene pay hikes. What will it take for Kenyans to realise that politicians don't give a damn about them. Right now so many people's livelihoods have been destroyed and these politicians won't go back into their pockets to support all those who've lost their loved ones and property. Why is it that whenever theirs a political struggle in African countries it's the poorest people that become involved. This country has a middle class and they're not fighting each other as requested by their political leaders because they know deep down in their hearts that there's no much difference between Kibaki and Raila or any other politicians around here. The two are leaders playing isolationist politics and fighting to keep their own self interests and ambitions in place while the poorest people kill each other and the middle class book online tickets to go watch a movie.

    • Posted By: hk7oscar @ 01/27/2008 4:22:17 PM

      Comment: The integrity of elections is very important but less important than physical safety and sanctity of a person.
      Violent advocacy of an opinion is first cousin to terrorism. If it succeeds whatever it's course, it sends a fatal precedent. I'm a Kenyan and up to now I still don't understand why most Kenyans can't see that politicians have never cared about the well being of the citizens of our nation. Some people post comments here and defend politicians as if they don't watch the news when politicans give themselves huge obscene salary increases and other allowances.
      The politicians must be very happy people cos they've come to realize that we are not even close to figuring out that they are in politics to serve their own selfish needs. Have you ever asked yourself why is it that in any political struggle it's the poorest people that become involved. Kenya has a middle class and I'm yet to see those guys on the street. They are not in the streets and won't be because they know what's going on.

  • Posted By: Nyaga @ 01/24/2008 4:15:49 AM

    Comment: Odinga shall never be president of Kenya because what you call popularity is based on inciting tribal sentiments againt the Kikuyu for imagined sins against other tribes. Kibaki won the election because many sober mided people did not heed the hate campaign propagated by Odinga. Poverty can not be blamed on Kibaki, after all Kenyas are better off than most East Africans and in only 5 years the growth rate is 7%. Odinga has confused his people to think that his goverment will give the free food, shelter , education etc - a thing that does not happen in any other country. His supporters have in some poor slum areas taken over other peoples (Kikuyus) tenements in an attempt to fulfill what their leader promised them - free housing.
    Some of us are ready for war than undergo a Odinga dictatorship.

  • Posted By: Senderock @ 01/24/2008 3:42:52 AM

    Comment: That the election was stolen is not in doubt. The issue is why are the thieves still holed up in the house on the hill? he issue about sharing power is hog wash since Kibaki has no mandate to be sharing any power as he lost in the election. And now he is abusing state resources by unleashing armed police on UNARMED protesters. Kibaki is merely president of central province. Raila is the people's president. We salute him

    • Posted By: Mzalendo @ 01/31/2008 7:59:26 PM

      Comment: By calling the protesters UNARMED, does that mean that PANGAS (machetes), BOWS & ARROWS ETC are not weapons or do only guns qualify. They are also stoning people to death and burning them alive. You're right, I guess the police should stand by instead of shooting these 'poor defenseless' people.

    • Posted By: hk7oscar @ 01/27/2008 5:10:32 PM

      Comment: What you don't seem to understand here is that we're past elections we're dealing with a different issue all together that of tribal violence. And for this to be addressed it's not for Dictator A to step down for Dictator B. It's for politicians to collectively address these issues.

  • Posted By: Musuungu @ 01/24/2008 2:19:15 AM

    Comment: Raila is the legally elected president of Kenya.Since the stealing of his election, his popularity has gone up.I have not been very active in the politictsand I did not care about who leads Kenya.But since the time of the declaration of Kibaki president, I have decided to support Raila, because I believe he has what it takes to make Kenya develop, unlike Kibaki who is ethncetric and has been in power since 1961, and held critical positions in government only to preside over mediocre perfomance.of Kenyan economy.Kenya should be where Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and other Asian tiggers are if we had aleader like Raila.KIbaki is supported by ethncetrics who believe in mediocrity.Now he has lost any credebility he had outside his community.Look at his so called cabinet:OP Kikuyu,Finance Kikuyu,JUstice Kikuyu, Roads Kikuyu,Energy Kikuyu.These are the core portfolios.Where is Kenya here? That is why other Kenyans will not let them off the hook this time.Trust me Raila will be president in three months'time.

    • Posted By: Mzalendo @ 01/31/2008 8:09:29 PM

      Comment: I believe he had a bunch of non-Kikuyu's including your beloved Raila, who decided to jump ship at some point...
      Kibaki has been in government since 1961, in power since 2002. As ODmers have so lovingly pointed out, Kenya has a Presidential system of govt there he can only have been in power when he was actually president. Right?
      If you were to go with your 1961, the Raila has been in power for a while as well- if we add Jaramogi's tenure before him, they've collectively been in power longer than Kibaki.
      Finally, that mediocre economy has been performing extremely well since 2002, a fact only challenged by people who know nothing about Kenya in the last 5 yrs or who are suffering from selective amnesia.

  • Posted By: Musuungu @ 01/24/2008 2:04:32 AM

    Comment: Indeed Raila is the only hope for change in Kenya.Kibaki has been in the government for 47 years,holding the position of the Finance Minister for over a decade.While other countries have developed to reach the level of East Asia tigers, Kenya has remained poor with the input of Kibaki as the chief architect of poverty.Kibaki is ethnocentric,myopics and radderless.Indeed I believe, he is the worst think that has happened to Kenya.You are not right.Raila's popularity has sky rocketed since his election as president was stollen.Last evening I talked to a member of Kibaki's inner circle who cofessed that Raila won by 50 percent of votes.Raila now has 80percent of Kenya behind him.Forget those ethnocetric who still follw an imbicile because he is from their tribe. Whether they like it or not Raila will be president in three months' time. Musungu-Nairobi

  • Posted By: mcowino @ 01/23/2008 5:54:52 PM

    Comment: Your article made me puke. To use Kenyan lingo, you sound like a journalist who has been paid to preach lies. It is amazing just how the West is so easily hoodwinked by the machinations and publicity of his American spin doctor Dick Morris.
    Corrections: One, Kibaki and Raila both engaged in underhand activities during voting. Raila would like the world to believe he is innocent, simply because he lost at his own game.

    Two, while you painted a rosy picture of the Raila you conveniently failed to mention that this is a man whose father's, and hence his goal is what he thinks is acquisition of some God-given right to be President. Yet, he and his father have been rejected by the majority of Kenyans since independence, thus they have both resorted to coups of one type or the other, without success. The Orange Movement, modeled after Ukraine was his latest effort. Again, the people did not take his bait.

    Granted, Raila is King of the Luos, who mindlessly and fanatically follow him as he prostitutes himself to one party after another, only lasting for as long as he thought he would be the nominated Presidential candidate, failure to which he leaves in a huff. To the majority of Kenyans he is too vengeful to be elected as President.

    Three, while he has done incredibly well for himself-you mentioned his Jaguar and Hummer 3 rides- his development record is pathetic. True to his socialist training, and thus his preaching for Balkanization of the country, his people are waiting for the government to bring them development. Meanwhile people in the other parts of the Country are breaking their backs and reaping benefits. Otherwise how can he sit back as his own people force closure of schools in Nyanza, amid chants of ???No Raila No School???, while school is in session in the rest of the country?

    Four, Kenyans know that Raila is foul-mouthed, violent, typical African-big man dictator in waiting. His concept of democracy is "my way or the highway". You failed to mention how he rigged out the people's choices for MP candidates in his own Nyanza stronghold and replaced them with his imposed choices, leading to at least two deaths long before the elections.

    Finally, all the killings that have happened since the elections are directly attributable to Raila Odinga. The majority of the dead are Kikuyus killed in Nairobi by Luos for ???stealing Raila???s Presidency???, Kikuyus killed in the Rift Valley by Kalenjins in pursuit of the promise by Raila Odinga???s lieutenant William Ruto that come Raila???s Presidency, Kikuyus would be chased out of the land they had legally bought in Rift Valley. The Luo supporters that he is crying aloud being shot by police in Kisumu were actually looters of business properties and destroyers of government property.

    I have read Newsweek for decades, and I sure you could have done a better job. Unless you have been paid of course.

    David Nzioka, New York, USA

  • Posted By: mcowino @ 01/23/2008 5:52:09 PM

    Comment: Your article made me puke. To use Kenyan lingo, you sound like a journalist who has been paid to preach lies. It is amazing just how the West is so easily hoodwinked by the machinations and publicity of his American spin doctor Dick Morris.
    Corrections: One, Kibaki and Raila both engaged in underhand activities during voting. Raila would like the world to believe he is innocent, simply because he lost at his own game.

    Two, while you painted a rosy picture of the Raila you conveniently failed to mention that this is a man whose father's, and hence his goal is what he thinks is acquisition of some God-given right to be President. Yet, he and his father have been rejected by the majority of Kenyans since independence, thus they have both resorted to coups of one type or the other, without success. The Orange Movement, modeled after Ukraine was his latest effort. Again, the people did not take his bait.

    Granted, Raila is King of the Luos, who mindlessly and fanatically follow him as he prostitutes himself to one party after another, only lasting for as long as he thought he would be the nominated Presidential candidate, failure to which he leaves in a huff. To the majority of Kenyans he is too vengeful to be elected as President.

    Three, while he has done incredibly well for himself-you mentioned his Jaguar and Hummer 3 rides- his development record is pathetic. True to his socialist training, and thus his preaching for Balkanization of the country, his people are waiting for the government to bring them development. Meanwhile people in the other parts of the Country are breaking their backs and reaping benefits. Otherwise how can he sit back as his own people force closure of schools in Nyanza, amid chants of ???No Raila No School???, while school is in session in the rest of the country?

    Four, Kenyans know that Raila is foul-mouthed, violent, typical African-big man dictator in waiting. His concept of democracy is "my way or the highway". You failed to mention how he rigged out the people's choices for MP candidates in his own Nyanza stronghold and replaced them with his imposed choices, leading to at least two deaths long before the elections.

    Finally, all the killings that have happened since the elections are directly attributable to Raila Odinga. The majority of the dead are Kikuyus killed in Nairobi by Luos for ???stealing Raila???s Presidency???, Kikuyus killed in the Rift Valley by Kalenjins in pursuit of the promise by Raila Odinga???s lieutenant William Ruto that come Raila???s Presidency, Kikuyus would be chased out of the land they had legally bought in Rift Valley. The Luo supporters that he is crying aloud being shot by police in Kisumu were actually looters of business properties and destroyers of government property.

    I have read Newsweek for decades, and I sure you could have done a better job. Unless you have been paid of course.

    David Nzioka, New York, USA

  • Posted By: acolyte @ 01/23/2008 3:52:29 PM

    Comment: As usual as I can see by many commentors here things are black and white. Raila is bad and Kibaki is good or vice versa depending on your brand of politics and tribe. Let's be honest both of these men are not blemish free as leaders and paradise isnt promised under any of them.
    But one thing both sides should be able to agree on is that we as Kenyans need change. Other than free education, Kibaki has failed to deliver on all other fronts. But despite this his tribesmen wiill still clamour behind him, it's time people learnt to look past tribe and to look at policies and track records!

    • Posted By: hk7oscar @ 02/01/2008 6:37:07 PM

      Comment: And who would have that in your opinion? Raila because I don't think so.

  • Posted By: jkotieno2000 @ 01/23/2008 12:30:46 PM

    Comment: The stolen election and its attendant violence has revealed serious historical grievances that Kenyans must address before a fundamental peace agreement can be reached. First, land ownership in the Rift Valley must be addressed. Second, power must be devolved to regions as the vast majority of those who voted for Raila envisaged. Third, the influence of the ethnic cabal around Kibaki must be checked by essential changes to the constitution to empower parliament and other institutions. Fourth, the fast-past-the-post political system must be changed. It is very sad a party like ODM can win all local authorities yet their power will still be curtailed by a single person in the name of Local Government minister.
    The declaration of principles on the talks to be chaired by Annan must look at this issues critically so that it does not matter again in our country who is president and where he comes from. In the meantime Kenyans must resist by all means Kibaki's desire to stay as if nothing is wrong in the country.

    • Posted By: papa-1 @ 01/24/2008 1:56:14 AM

      Comment: Where are the Kenyan legal institutions? Does it mean that from now any differences in Kenya have to be resolved through outsiders? When did Kenya dissolve its legal bodies and how come ODM with all those learned friends does not respect the rule of law? Does this mean that if they took power, we would not have had any rule of law in Kenya? Looking at the current events, it is very clear that Kenya is lucky that an opposing force exists in form of the government.
      Figure it out, if ODM won on 27th December, by now Kenya would be where Cuba was in 1959 when Fideo Castro plunged Cuba into his revolution.
      Why does Odinga feel he has to entrench Kenyans on ethinicity? The other day he tried to appeal to Luos to be reasonable with Kisiis ( Too little too late unfortunately), but he forgot there are other ethnic groups suffering?
      And why does ODM leaders insist on focusing only on Police brutalities and not a national-wide ethinic cleansing? Over and out!