John Smith
4 January 2008
opinion
Raila Oginga Odinga has duped the international press as part of a scheme to carry out a second coup attempt in Kenya (his first attempt in 1982 failed), and is using the violence as a trump card towards his success by gaining public sympathy-very similar to the strategy that Hizbollah and Iran play on Israel-shoot missiles from civilian neighborhoods, and then gain public sympathy when Israel bombs the civilian buildings.
With all due respect to those who have lost their lives in the Kenya post election violence, it would also be objective to consider the opposition's side of the story. This link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/kenya/story/0,,2234216,00.html provides us a reminder that the Kenyan press warned the public a few weeks back that some people were buying large quantities of machetes from supermarkets prior to the elections.
Those who have an interest in Kenya witnessed the post-party-nomination violence a couple of weeks ago in Oginga's strongholds. People who chose to vote against anyone his party chose were killed.
For a few days both Nairobi and Kisumu were literally ablaze. Candidates who escaped the violence and who chose to run on parties other than the party Oginga was running on had to publicly step down when Oginga attended their rallies and publicly asked them to step down and support his party.
Given the violence that accompanied the post party nominations of Oginga's party, the government's position that rigging was occurring in his strongholds, where the government agents were denied entry to counting rooms, cannot be easily discounted.
The same pattern of violence accompanied the 2002 nominations where Oginga "supported" (note the quotes) Kibaki's candidature for the president. The nominations were filled with violence and many of Oginga's supporters were forcibly given nomination certificates at the expense of people from Kibaki's party who believe they rightfully won the nominations.
Rafael Tuju, a former government minister from Oginga's own tribe, has self proclaimed how he paid bribes to Oginga's family to gain nomination for the previous election because of the violent control that Oginga has over his tribesmen when it comes to elections.
Oginga himself has admitted to having participated in the failed 1982 coup. Daniel Arap Moi, Kenya's former president, has publicly declared that Oginga is a dangerous man who did not seem to show any remorse for the 1500 people who died in the attempted coup. Apparently there is still classified material that links Oginga to violent activities bent on subverting the Moi government. Moi publicly campaigned against Oginga.
Coming back to the fact that the Kenyan press warned the public a few weeks ago about large quantities of machetes being purchased from supermarkets, I would like to ask the question, is the world falling into Oginga's trap?
Was it Oginga's men, planning post-election violence, buying the large quantitis of machetes? Did Oginga use the violence that followed his party-nominations to ensure he has the legally required number of votes to challenge Kibaki? All these questions need to be answered.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
wow, its very interesting what you are saying.
What a futile piece of writing? This kind of stupid lies won't take Kenyans anywhere. Raila is harmless, he only defends the downtrodden that's why Kibaki & the likes of this columnist are running scared and resorting to theft & anti-Raila propaganda!!! Kibaki only knows well that he's cheated Kenyans. However, now that Kenyans have woken up - he's fooling people that Raila is dangerous? How come police in Kisumu are shooting innocent people to death? How come Eldoret, a multi-ethnic city is inflamed? How come Mombaa doesn't listen to Kibaki's cronies anymore? These are just a few examples of how Kibaki - mabaki has lost any goodwill. Mungiki keeps terrorising Kenyans all over, how come the Mt.Kenya tribes never complain? What exactly are Kenyans left with apart from their democratic rights - a vote - which in turn has been stolen by Kibaki's people & now you guys want the world to believe the opposite? Well, too little, too late! Kenyans will fight such dictatorship to the core!!! In the end, Raila - the People's President wiill be sworn in!!!!!! Remember, Kenyans have spoken.
Sorry guys, Its time for healing but not mudsliging.Some of us here in the US have already lost our loved ones through no fault of their own.The deadwere simply practising their democratic rights of voting! Luo ,Kalenjin,Kisii amba or Kikuyu voted the way they all did in their own way.Kalonzo,Ruto,Raila and Kibaki are all having thier daily bread as usual wheras our brothers and sisters are butchering each other.They are ALL INNOCENT and this finger pointing is what is flaring up the killings(ethnic cleansing or genocide-all means unlawfully killing fellow country man).For those who are not ready to give any reconcilliatory tone and advise, the best is to shut up!Every time you say or write an inciting statement,an innocent sacred life is lost. Let us all put the elections behind us and work for a (united or fragmented) Kenya without war!
Mpenda wema mtenda wema!
Thank you Ndekere,we are in need of a peacemaker like you.we have already lost many lives and we can never go back.you have really encouraged me and given me a new meaning in my life.join us in prayers.Burning churches and killing innocent kikuyus' is not the solution,the term is not so long for Hon Raila to wait and prove his prowess(patience pays). fellow kikuyu.
Insulting is not the solution ,all what we need is wisdom that comes From above and remember a leader is given by the MOST HIGH GOD AND THATS WHAT HA BEEN DONE.THE GOD'S WILL HAS BEEN DONE my friend,the same God who gives, takes away. an affected fellow kenyan.
YOU JUST SOUND LIKE RAILA TO ME. YOU ARE COLD HEARTED AND DISTURBED. BURNING A CHURCH FULL OF WOMEN AND KIDS IS KENYANS FLIGHTING TO THE CORE? I DON'T THINK SO. RAILA PROMISED MAJIMBOISM IN KENYA AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE ALL THIS MESS.. IF YOU DON'T WORK TO EARN YOUR LIVING... DON'T JUST THINK YOU WILL LOOT AND STEAL PEOPLES PROPERTY. FOR THOSE WHO BROKE INTO SHOPS AND LOOTED... WHO IS NOW SUFFERING... DON'T SPEAK LIKE A FOOL. BE ENLIGHTENED AND IF YOU DON'T LOVE KENYA - GO SOMEWHERE ELSE LIKE SOMALIA..
Well, did you say you voted for Raila? Then who took away your ears and eyes so suddenly? Brother this is not a war of tribes as our people want us to believe.Its war between the robber and the robbed. Just pray that peace may return to kenya instead of the stupid mudslinging. Bless ya.
See all comments (30).
Raila is not sincere and I believe there is something about him that Kibaki knows. He is never a peaceful man but someone hungry for power and revenge. He doesn't care when people are suffering he just want power under whatever cost. Why is he so adamant yet he can see his supporters are always carrying machetes and killing anybody who is anti-Raila. I voted for him but I regret. Let him be warned that he did not even garner 50% of the votes. Those who voted for Kibaki and Kalonzo don't want him and they are the majority. Who is Ruto another trouble maker, He was in moi's govt and now he is promising people heaven. My fellow Kenyan,s you are being taken for granted. Put down your weapons and make peace with one another. For the international leaders,know that, Raila is a danger to the lives of Kenyans. Just like hitler he is Targeting Kikuyu's first then Meru, Kamba, Kisii, Luhya and he want to continue like that till he is left with Luo's who worship him. Let him be warned that he is endangering his own tribe.