My Response To Yet Another Anti-Railaist And His Spurious, Lame and Outright, Way Out There Lies

A blogger cut and pasted the following lame arguments by Ahmednasir Abdullahi in various Kenyan forums and suggested that Jubilee use them as “articles of faith.”

The lame arguments first appeared in the Daily Nation

I have taken the liberty to address them and show why Jubilee and their supporters should not even bother parroting any of these if they don’t want to be laughed at.

The lame arguments are in italics, my responses follow.

Jua Kali opinion polls by Infotrack, Ipsos Synovate, et al, should stop. Pollsters play a critical role in predicting elections. But in many developing countries, pollsters simply don’t have the capacity to conduct scientific polls.
Nonsense.

It’s also idiotic and the same mentality that has denied Africa the kind of progress we would have had by now but for mindsets like these because every time someone makes progress–mark you these polling firms are first and foremost business enterprises employing people–highly educated for that matter–with families to feed, yet fools like this Ahmednasir trash and dismiss them as “primitive” because they are not run by whites who have brainwashed these idiots to believe only things by Whites are worth trusting as reliable and dependable, not those by Africans while at the same time camouflaging the trigger for such trashing and that’s simply because the polls consistently show Raila winning. What a shame!

But, they have no shame.

On the other hand, Ahmednasir will be on the roof-tops, jumping from one to another shouting how badly Raila is losing in the polls were these same polls showing Raila losing ever ever so slightly.

What an hypocrisy.

We don’t want false predictions that will later create an impression that the polls were rigged.

As a lawyer, Ahmednasir knows this is a completely useless assertion unless he can back it up with facts or logic based on fact, or extrapolated from same.

He can’t or let him do so and I show you an idiotic attempt at doing anything.

If you’re doubting what I am saying, here is the stupidity of what Ahmednasir has just said:

First, polls are not a prediction of what is to happen in the future; they simply tell you what’s happening at the time the polling is done.

Second, even if you were to assume for the sake of argument as this [use your own adjective here] is purporting to say, a prediction cannot be true or false unless it fails at the time the outcome is expected. Thus, there are no “false predictions” to speak of regarding the elections of 2013 until and unless those elections occur!!

Third, while it’s true nobody other than those who stand to benefit from it wants “false predictions,” as stated above no prediction can be known to have been true or false until and unless the time for expected outcome comes to pass therefore to take this [use your adjective here]’s argument to its logical conclusion, no one should make any predictions about nothing!

We don’t want leaders to refuse to concede defeat and shout loud that their imaginary votes have been stolen.
This is saying a mouthful about nothing.

It’s true we don’t want leaders to refuse to concede defeat but that’s not the same thing as “shouting out loud that their imaginary votes have been stolen!” The two are separate and distinct for you can have a case where there have, indeed, been proven election fraud or irregularities in which case not conceding is appropriate and ditto for taking appropriate legal action, which is different from where there is no evidence of election fraud or irregularities in which case not conceding is not appropriate. Yet, this lawyer seems to think or doesn’t know that these two are separate and distinct situations requiring corresponding analysis as to which is which relative to appropriateness.

Foreign observers like the European Union must realise that their primary function is to observe the election. It is not their business to act god.

Another empty assertion.

What is “to act god?” Can this [that adjective again] tell us what that is and give us examples of how the European Union is acting as one?

They must learn from their calamitous mission in 2007.
What exactly was the European Union’s “calamitous mission in 2007?”

The American, British and European Union embassies should respect the desire and will of the Kenyan people.

Goes without saying.

Kenyans are tired of diplomats on temporary visa who pretend to know or love Kenya more than Kenyans.

Again, this may or may not be the case if this [your choice adjective] wanted to make a point, he could be more specific and give us examples of which particular diplomat is pretending to know more than Kenyans for clearly there are many who would readily concede they don’t much as there those who think otherwise.

Finally, but not least, this [the word] says of 2007 election results:

In 2007, Mr Kibaki won re-election from a narrow ethnic base and was greatly helped by voters from smaller tribes.

Let me not even get started on this assertion, which tells you all you need to know about this man but the latter part of the title of this blog best sums it up as all of his assertions.

God save us from these mindsets.

 

Uhuruto Mini Documentary Part I

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=R2ORVRKPUpU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DR2ORVRKPUpU

Sometimes saying less says more than enough.

Let’s pray for God’s intervention that what is feared in the documentary does not come to pass and that Kenyans going to the polls on March 4, 2013 have the wisdom to make the right decision and vote for Raila and Cord as it’s the only team to save our country from certain thrust to the past dark days of the very maladies we are desperately trying to get away from and have made some progress.

We simply cannot afford to go in reverse just because two individuals facing serious crimes against humanity of murder, maiming, rape, loss of property and the displacement of more than 600,000 people callously insist they must be elected president and vice president as though Kenya ni yao.

We can do better and we must do better for the sake of our beloved country.

There isn’t any one person or group of person more important than our country.

Do not be fooled for a second that this is about democracy.

It’s not.

It’s all about two individuals trying everything the can–and let’s hope we have seen the worst, to burrow their way into State House and no doubt try to flip the middle finger to the ICC and the world community for that matter much to the great and immeasurable suffering of our people unlike anything we have in the past.

That’s the truth even their hardcore supporters know and would privately admit.

The only thing standing in the way of implementing such madness and treacherous plans are the good people of our beloved country with a sense of patriotism and at least some minimal care for her and her future.

Again, may their wisdom prevail in the majority come March 4, 2013.

Amen.

 

Jubilee Has Confirmed Not Ready For Leadership

In Jubilee Has Confirmed It’s Not Ready For Leadership published in the Star today, I make the case why this is so and urge Kenyans to reject the coalition, especially its flag-bearer Uhuru Kenyatta who is not only less qualified than Prime Minister Raila Odinga who seeks reelection but this time be sworn as president, Uhuru’s facing the serious crimes against humanity he faces alone disqualifies him from being elected president.

I know there are those whose heads are buried deep on the ground and refuse to see, hear or accept the reality of this but in the end, I am confident a majority of those going to the polls on March 4, 2013 do and will do the right and only right thing by voting Raila in as our next president while giving a nod to as many Cord candidates from governor all the way down enough to give Raila a working majority to effectively govern and take our country where we should have been a long time ago in peace, progress and prosperity.

 

Official Launch of Raila’s Presidential Bid

The Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat wishes to announce that the eagerly-awaited official launch of Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s presidential candidature under the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD)ticket will be held on Wednesday, 30th January, 2013, at the Uhuru Park, Nairobi.

On the same day, prior to the launch, Mr Odinga accompanied by his running mate, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, and CORD principal, Minister Moses Wetangula and other coalition luminaries; is scheduled to hand in his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) at Anniversary Towers.

Monday, 28th January, 2013, will be another big day for CORD, when the coalition launches its harmonized manifesto. The ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) from 11.00am.

You are kindly invited to cover these landmark events.

DATED AT NAIROBI THIS FRIDAY THE 25TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2013.

ELIUD OWALO
CHIEF CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND HEAD OF THE RAILA ODINGA PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SECRETARIAT
TEL: 020 2712496/97/98
CELL: 0711 649 066/0733 766 204
EMAIL:eliudowalo@gmail.com

 

The Kibaki Succession Game: Unfolding Truth and Other Revelations–An Update

[You think I should tosha you?] Hmmmmm; let me see…would be nice, but no thanks; I have this in the bag.

In The Kibaki Succession Game: Unfolding Truth and Other Revelations Part IV, I penned in June last year, I noted the following:

The schemers have put the overall price tag for their invidious scheme to retain control of the presidency at 9 billion, 900 million, with 6 billion of that already pledged by one individual who is key in KSG.

The rest is to come from—guess where?

The tax-payers.

Supporters who have for a long time been strategically placed in various ministries, starting from Treasury are under instructions to start stealing and piling in a fund to finance this scheme.

It is feared that the theft has long since started and is underway.

The rest of the money will come from a list of about 100 individuals who are each tasked to raise 100 million each.

Other plans include maximizing the use of tribalism and other divisive tactics to deny Raila the vote not to forget the good-old massive rigging.

End quote.

A couple of months later, the Standard in a story titled Kibaki Administration Pays Out Billions As Election Nears confirmed this to be, indeed, the case underway consistent with what was reported in that blog.

In updating my initial blog on this, I noted I was sure the Kibaki/UK people were saying, mta do?

My initial reporting of this was further vindicated by the Star in Uhuru To Spend 10 billion in Campaign where Jubilee in efforts to show to what extent its willing to go to buy its way into State House, leaked its budget to the media.

That my sourcing is credible, therefore, cannot be doubted.

The same source I relied in my initial blogging on this now tells me even though it’s all along been the plan and, in fact, the case that public funds and resources have made their way to the Uhuru campaign, all is not well with this strategy.

In fact, the source tells me there is an altogether new strategy I’ll disclose in Kibaki Succession Game: Unfolding Truths and Other Revelations Part VI coming soon.

Heads Up: Raila and Cord will like the strategy much as that sounds oxymoronic or a contradiction of terms.

The schemers may have had no choice but to nonetheless go this direction, even though a case could be made otherwise or either that someone is seriously trying to have Raila elected from within the schemers.

Cannot rule that out and am mulling whether to posit as to why for fear of jinxing a good thing coming Raila’s way if, indeed, that’s the case.

 

Hon. Robert F Godec Has Been Sworn In As New Ambassador To Kenya

Hon. Robert F. Godec has been sworn in as the ambassador to Kenya. Ambassador Godec was sworn in by US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton.

According to the US State Department, Ambassador Godec served in numerous senior positions within the Department of State in Washington, was U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia from 2006 to 2009 and also served at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi from 1996 to 1999.

Robert F. Godec is currently the Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism in the Department of State. From 2006 to 2009, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia. Ambassador Godec has also served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and was Deputy Coordinator for the Transition in Iraq, charged with organizing the transition of policy and operational elements of the Coalition Provisional Authority and the standup of U.S. Mission Iraq.

Prior to his work on Iraq, Ambassador Godec was Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at U.S. Embassy Pretoria, South Africa. He has also served as Economic Counselor at U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya, Assistant Office Director for Thailand and Burma in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Director for Southeast Asian Affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Before joining the Foreign Service in 1985, Ambassador Godec earned a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Yale University as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. He attended the State Department’s Senior Seminar and has received a Distinguished Honor Award and numerous other awards and commendations.

Ambassador Godec speaks French and German.

In a Statement issued during his confirmation hearing before the US Senate, Godec said the following:

The upcoming March 2013 election is the next key moment for Kenya in the implementation of its new constitution and in advancing political reform. The responsibility for the election rests squarely with the Kenyan government and people, and success, frankly, is not assured. If I am confirmed, one of my top priorities will be to support Kenyan efforts to make the election free, fair, and peaceful.

We have a strong and varied set of programs in place to assist institutions charged with carrying out the most complex election in Kenya’s history. We are working with government, civil society, religious leaders, community leaders, and youth across the country to promote peaceful participation in the election.

With the nomination, confirmation and now having been sworn as US Ambassador to Kenya, let’s hope this career diplomat who has previously served in the country can do as he has outlined above for that’s all we ask him at the base level.

His first order of business ought to make it clear what the consequences of electing Uhuru and Ruto shall be for the country from the United States’ perspective and not take the usual middle, dodgy and going to the extreme not to offend anyone or raise eye-brows on matters such as this as most a diplomats are wont to do.

To her credit, though, outgoing US Secretary of State and Godic’s boss, Hillary Clinton, made it clear in basically reading the riot’s act to Kibaki–according to leaked reports from the closed-door meeting, that it would not be business as usual were Uhuru or Ruto allowed to vie and are elected to office.

Publicly, the US hasn’t said much, though, weighing the situation as it evolves before doing so.

That kind of silence or muddled pronouncements is exactly what we don’t need at this time.

There are times where clarity of purpose and objectives must be made clear and in no uncertain terms.

Nothing cries for just that other than this ICC situation.

I commend the UK envoy to Kenya Christian Turner who made it clear the other day the UK will not have anything to do with Uhuru or Ruto in the unfortunate circumstance either or both are elected as president and vice-president, the new US envoy should do the same and ditto for all other envoys so it’s even more clear to all that it’s not business as usual in Kenya anymore as these two ICC indictees seem to think or want others to believe.

We are way past this exploitation of people’s lack of information, poverty and tribalism to advance narrow and selfish agendas as Uhuru and Ruto are clearly pursuing.

 

What Republicans In the US, Beyonce and Raila Have In Common–Or Not

Politically, there is hardly anything Republicans in the US have in common with Beyonce and Raila.

However, Beyonce and Raila have at least one thing in common and that is, they are the recipients of unwarranted whining and baseless criticism, always in the case of Raila, and at least once in the case of Beyonce as noted below in the name of politics and no one is better at dishing out both politically than the Republicans in the US who often remind me of anti-Railaists and opponents in Kenya.

Indeed, many of the strategies and tactics pursued by anti-Railaists and opponents mirror those of the Republicans in the US who are in equal measure if not more mirrored by the Tories of the United Kingdom and vice-versa as between the latter two.

What Republicans and Tories are good at, is incessant whining and are quite frankly possessed with a penchant to whine, complain and criticize even where there is nothing to whine about or criticize all because they incredibly want people to believe they are the know it all and their opponents or those associated with them, including their supporters can’t ever do anything right.

Take President Barrack Obama, for example; there is a Right Wing Nuts (RWN) radio and television industry that came to be during Clinton years but has since boomed with Obama’s coming to power and is entirely predicated on the general proposition that Democrats are there to take away people’s guns and give the store to the less fortunate at the expense of those who have made it, which is entirely false and specifically that Obama does not deserve to be president because he’s black–something this RWN media doesn’t forget to subliminally remind their audiences daily.

Just the other day when Obama was inaugurated for the second time, no soon had these RRWs recovered from severe stomach upsets from watching the beautifully done ceremony did they start whining at how terrible Obama’s speech was and when later on a British paper twitted that Beyonce, perhaps one of the most beautiful women in the universe–our wives aside (do you think I am stupid? I’ll be in the dog-house for days if I didn’t make this qualification)–anyway, the paper twits that Beyonce lipsynced her own rendition of the National Anthem, which she did so flawlessly and now the Republicans want her hanged for lipsyncing the song!

What a bunch of whiners!

This had me thinking and the reason for this blog:

Republicans, just like those who hate or don’t support Raila, can never find anything good even in something as beautiful as the beautiful Beyonce who beautifully sings the national anthem, much the same way Raila haters and those who don’t support him can’t ever find anything good in all the good he does and continues to do.

What a shame.

Can these people not get over the dislike or hate and start appreciating the good things in others they so irrationally refuse to appreciate–publicly anyway?

Let’s hope so.

Meanwhile, Beyonce continues to be beautiful and beautifully performing, Obama is doing his thing and Raila no doubt will continue to do the same when sworn as our next president.

Such is life; enjoy while you can by doing what’s good not just for yourself but for others as well, including country while appreciating the good in others or chose to be miserable by refusing to do either and soon or later discover all that was for naught.

For me, I am doing the former; what about you?

 

William Oduol of Siaya Cord Gubernortorial Nominee Elections Fame Endorses Raila Odinga

“Raila comes with a track record. Raila has worked hard to liberate Kenya; to create democratic space. To ensure that impunity is a thing of the past and many, many other [accomplishments] around brand Raila Amolo Odinga.” William Oduol.

There is nothing to add to this excellent assessment of Raila by the very man at the center of the Siaya nomination fracas Raila enemies are trying to exploit for their ill-motivated quest to “stop” Raila from being reelected but this time sworn as our next president.

I take this opportunity to thank Mr. Oduol for his objectivity and separation of Raila from the rest of whatever happened in Siaya of which clearly Raila had nothing to do with it for if he had, you would expect this gentleman to be screaming from the top of mountains that he did.

Now, the nomination exercise is over, Cord family get out there and promote those who have been nominated, especially those at the top and let the tsunami known as ODM and now Cord once again unleash it’s power and force of influence and appeal across the country as we saw in 2007.

Do not be distracted by those against change and lovers of status quo whose sole mission is to throw the country in reverse gear by trying to “stop” Raila in his rightful and much desired ascendency to the presidency.

They shall fail much as they have in the past and their failure will be a victory not just for Raila and Cord but the country as a whole for only Raila and Cord can lead us to where we should have been a long time ago and that’s a country that respects the rule of law and rich in democracy, peace and prosperity.

 

Raila, Being Luo and Kenyan Politics

Why does Raila and being a Luo in general get people worked up in such a frenzy such that many are now going into overdrive and hyperventilating because of disputed polling in a couple of counties out of the 47 the Cord coalition held successful and peaceful elections?

All this while the elephant in the house—the monumental failure by the Jubilee coalition, the only other serious contender challenging Cord—sits pretty; why?

The answer is very simple: throughout the history of mankind, great leaders have had the misfortune to attract both those who love them and those who hate them with equal fervor, if not worse.

Indeed, great as any leader can be, the each expect a great deal of hostility and opposition to what they do; however, the hate and vitriol directed at Raila is unprecedented in Kenya albeit comparable to other world leaders who have and continue to suffer the same fate.

President Barrack Obama of the United States, who is certain to rise to a level of greatness comparable to that of a few leaders before him such as Abraham Lincoln,  is so hated among many on his right of politics, they literally could kill him if they had the opportunity.

We, of course, know Lincoln himself was fallen by a bullet from a hater and part of a larger conspiracy of haters who did not want Lincoln to succeed in crushing the confederacy cause—a cause woven together primarily in its desire to keep blacks as slaves forever.

John F Kennedy, the most famous of all assassinated great leaders had so many haters and enemies, it will never be known under whose orders exactly was he gunned down but much as that may be the case, JFK, like Lincoln before him, had millions of people who loved and admired him than the few who hated or wanted him dead.

We, of course, cannot talk about great leaders who were loved by many but hated by a few who wanted him dead and their wicked wishes were satisfied with his assassination without mentioning the one and only Dr. Martin Luther King.

And these are only some of the examples from the United States; I can go on and recount for you similar cases in South America, Europe, Asia, and so on but no need to as that will result in writing a book.

The point is, Raila and us all must accept the reality with greatness also comes the price of being hated by those who can’t offer a single, rational reason why.

We are not here talking about hating leaders for their policies of which former President George Bush of the US and France’s

Rather, we are talking about irrational, visceral hate of leaders like Raila who those who know them beyond what is projected in the media, know they’re very humble, affable individuals who would not harm, let alone hate anyone.

Yet, their haters peddle all kinds of hatred and lies about them the unwary by propensity of human nature may be inclined and, in fact fall victim in perpetuating the lie.

Truth is, Raila is none of the evil things you hear his haters and opponents peddle.

That’s not to say he is perfect or that he suffers no frailties or weaknesses; he does for he’s human being like everyone else.

What matters is in comparison to his good qualities viz his weakness relative to all others vying for the presidency, Raila comes on top as the best qualified to lead our country after President Mwai Kibaki’s attempt.

And for those who don’t know the man very well and may have formed some distorted view of him due to the lies by his haters and enemies, here are some basic truths about the man:

Some Basic Truths About Mr. Raila Amolo Odinga, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya:

1. He is funny
2. He is serious
3. He is courageous
4. He is cautionary and circumspect
5. He is an original thinker and visionary
6. He is always underestimated and second-guessed
7. He is the object of hate and vitriol
8. He has the gift of what has been described as “encyclopaedic” memory, yet
9. He is as forgiving a politician as you are going to find anywhere
10. He is humble
11. He has suffered and endured the most physical and psychological pain for the sake of our country none of his opponents and enemies have
12. He is a loving and caring father and husband
13. He knows and readily admits his limitations as a human being
14. His enemies claim he is “demi-god” worshiped by his admirers and supporters
15. He is intelligent and a master strategist
16. His advisers and strategists are dismissed as sycophants
17. He is as honest a politician as you are going to find
18. He has inspired a whole industry that shamelessly thrives on peddling lies and distortions about him
19. He is clean and free of the worst of corruption that has plagued our country
20. His corrupt opponents and others who benefit from corruption do not want him as president
21. He is the most qualified of all those running for president to be elected as one.

I could go on but you get the picture this is a picture of a man one couldn’t ask for more to be our next leader in Kenya.

As for being a Luo, let’s just start with the basic proposition and truth and that is, for whatever reason, each community or tribe has for one reason or another, valid or not, built an image prone to general characterizations that may or may not be accurate but, as a general rule, general characterization can be lethal to an individual from the same community who may not have or share in those characterizations, especially the negative ones.

However, if such an individual overcomes the negative group generations and emerges as a leader at the top, he or she does all good by eradicating or at least equalizing such negative characterizations and, in fact, victimization on account of merely belonging to the so characterized group or community.

Thus, when for years and decades it was believed a Catholic will never be elected as president in the United States as president, JFK proved the country wrong by being elected despite being a Catholic.

As a result, officer seekers from all other denominations that were previously discriminated against saw that as an opening to venture into politics and they did so much so such that Mitt Romney, a Mormon, nearly became elected as president when conventional wisdom held he couldn’t even get past the nomination by the Republican Party so dominated by evangelicals who think Mormon is a cult, not a religion.

We all know about the centuries old held backward belief that a black man or woman for that matter, could not be elected president.

Well, our brother President Barrack Hussain Obama proved everyone who held that believe wrong and yesterday he was sworn for the second time as president of the United States, clearing the bar now for the first woman to be elected and that many hope to be the woman he trounced on the way in becoming the first black president, Hilary Clinton.

In Kenya, Raila must overcome not only being loathed by a few who really have no rational reason to do so other than perhaps the fact that he is a Luo, he also must overcome the stupidly held notion that Kenya can’t be led by a Luo—stupid because there is no rational reason why and any advanced such as because of their traditions and customs are stupid on their face.

This is something Raila is on the verge of doing, namely, overcoming this individual loathing of him as well the stereotypes about Luos and upon doing so, he, like JFK and Obama, he shall erase these invidious beliefs built on false notions of superiority when we were all created equally different not in any innate characteristic or trait peculiar to one group or another in natural ability to be or not to be what one can be.

As for the loathing of Luos in general and their share of stereotyping, this can be attributed either to ignorance or because of the manifestation of greater bravado and pride relative to other communities, which is often mistaken for a bad thing even where it’s not, and that’s generally the case, namely, the latter.

For more of this, please read Bravado and Pride of Luos: Fact or Myth?

Some excerpts:

As the psychologist said in the article, there is nothing wrong to express pride for oneself of one’s community; the problem is if one does it excessively.

What is excessive?

That’s the question but it’s not one which renders itself to a simple answer.

As in such questions, the answer depends on any number of factors and circumstances presented for evaluation.

The soccer fan at Nyayo Stadium with a jersey announcing he is from such and such village, is probably out-of-place.

It’s not villages that are in competition, but groups of villages, as represented by these teams therefore the promotion of one village over the others is in by itself the definition of anti-teamwork, which is necessarily counterintuitive and counterproductive, if displaying such messages intended to express oneness with the team, or support for it.

…

Now, on the larger question of bravado and pride, I find it a fascinating subject because it’s both a good thing but equally undesirable.

I come from a family of 10, with one mother, who is still around and we are thankful to God for that.

Our Mzee passed on a few years ago but if there is one thing he left in all of his children starting from our oldest now over 70 and retired to yours truly, who is the youngest, it’s never to chest-thumb or otherwise brag and none of us ever has and doubt ever will, as anyone who knows us will tell you.

There is greatness in being humble, but don’t be average either.

That was the lesson all of us learned from our Mzee who, having retired early as the head of the African Tribunal Court, went on to become a highly respected member of the community, besides becoming a staunch Adventist and elder of our SDA Church to the day he passed on.

I am glad I and my siblings learned this lesson and applied it in our lives as we grew up and hopefully have passed it on to our children (to say we have, is not to be humble so I can’t say we have or have not, or is it?).

But is being the opposite necessarily a bad thing?

In other words, isn’t there some utility in bravado and one proudly expressing oneself?

I think so, but only to some extent.

This, namely bravado and proudly expressing oneself and its appropriateness, in fact, becomes one of degree, but the question, as I posed above becomes, when is such expression excessive?

There are two extremes of this, as in many things, ranging from the most arrogant to the most humble.

Neither end is a desirable position to be, albeit for different reasons I address below.

Here in the US, there is a Radio Talk Show host by the name Rush Limbaugh, who someone once published a book he aptly titled, “Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot.”

That book sold like hot cakes and its author, Al Franken, is now a United States Senator.

This Big Fat Idiot, Rush Limbaugh must win hands-down, the title, the World’s Most Arrogant Person, and all you have to do, is to listen to the various ways he introduces himself to know he takes the title hands down:

“Talent on Loan from God,” “Maha-Rushi” (from Maharishi, a great sage);     ”Serving humanity just by being here, and it doesn’t matter where here is,” “exuding knowledge and information with half my brain tied behind my back, just to make it fair” (this from a High School-drop-out), “Doctor of Democracy” and so on.

We all know Idi Amini and the titles he bestowed on himself in his foolish believe that would make him the super military general he was not but for his effort, he must be mentioned alongside this Big Fat Idiot Rush Limbaugh for he must be his runner-up.

These two are representative of the one extreme of self-expression but say what anyone can about the Big Fat Idiot Rush Limbaugh, he has a cult-like following among Republicans and even non-Republican listeners that have for decades made him the #1 Talk Show Host and a position he has maintained unchallenged all those years because he knows how to grab and keep his audience with endless rants and raves about Democrats and hubris.

So much such that when he brags about himself, these mindless listeners believe him and often acknowledge and remind him as much.

On the other end of the scale, there is extreme humbleness, which is a form of weakness and here, the perfect example is Jimmy Carter.

You cannot find in any country’s history, a president more humble than Jimmy Carter, yet, he was deemed a failure, even though he redeemed himself after leaving office to become the most popular president out of office in American history, right up there with the likes of Dwight Eisenhower, FDR and JFK Kennedy, men who in their own time, were humble in their own ways albeit to a much lesser extent than Jimmy Carter.

In between, these two extremes, there is a variety of self-expression and manifestation of assuredness and humility or lack thereof that ranges in degree from the acceptable to the unacceptable.

Where are the Luos in all of that? Is it as the article implied on the Limbaugh end or the Carter end, or neither?

In my view, this is necessarily a mischievous rap on Luos.

Luos have no more bravado and neither are they more openly expressive of their pride than any other tribe in Kenya.

This may be true among the younger generation of Luos but in time, as people move away from their enclaves and interact with others, some of the learned habits are unlearned and a blending of attitudes and mannerisms occur such that it makes no difference where one tribally or ethnically comes from but that does not mean there are not those left with their old habits and manners they are unable to shake.

I therefore reject this notion that bravado and expression of self-pride is the stable of Luos but would readily agree, if it’s a matter of propensity we are talking about, then there is amble anecdotal evidence to suggest its more likely than not a Luo would manifest bravado and more readily and comfortably show his or her pride than similarly situation folk from other tribes but only up-to a certain age.

End excerpt.

What all this boils down to is this:

First, there is no rational basis for people to hate Raila to the extent they do.

Second, we all must transcend above tribalism in choosing our leaders at the national level, ditto for negative ethnicity when doing so at the local level.

Third, painting with a broad brush is never a good idea and neither is it judging and condemning people merely by where they come from or who they are related to or associate with; the former people there is nothing anyone can do about, the latter may be for legitimate reasons the one condemning will do the same thing were they in their shoe, including friendship and loyalty.

Fourth, much as we expect the best in all of our leaders, we must also accept the fact and reality no one is perfect the wise thing to do is compare the strengths and weaknesses of those vying for office and elect those most or best qualified between and among those vying, taking into consideration we are not electing saints.

Fifth, always remember the ones shouting the most about Raila this, Raila that all evil and spewing hatred of him have nothing but ill-advised, tribal or selfish reasons for doing so that have nothing to do with the interests of our beloved country and must therefore be dismissed and shunned accordingly by those who love or care about the country.

It is my hope and prayer that the man will overcome all of that hate and schemes to “stop” him from being reelected as president and this time have him sworn as our next president to do the things he has promised to do as the transformative leader he is and must be by his own recognition and intent.

Above all, may there be peace and unity in the country after the elections.

 

Recipe For Most Peaceful And Model Elections In Kenya

Call me an optimist and I am but I would want to believe there are far more Kenyans that love our country and would want to see us all coexist in peace than those who don’t or who could care less.

I would also want to believe there is an even smaller number of those who would proactively plan, sponsor or actively engage in creating chaos and a general sense of insecurity in the country.

However, as we all know, and tragically learned from the events following 2007 elections, it doesn’t take much to put the whole country up in flames and lose everything we have thus far attained, not just from independence but, more importantly, the gains we have made since promulgation of the new constitution that we obviously need to and must build on for a better future.

It is said history often repeats itself.

When it comes to elections in Kenya, there are several predictable things we can say happen each general election circle, taking 2007 out as an anomaly to the extent it applies to one of these unfortunately, “musts” described more broadly.

First, there is a tendency for increased stoking up of tribal tensions in key hotspots and these can be loosely defined as areas where “strangers” are perceived to occupy land that the “locals” consider to be theirs and wrongly taken from them decades back.

Second, these tensions often escalate to violence climaxing at actual election time. The year 2007 was the anomaly in this increased tensions and violence to the extent the violence was unprecedented and beyond what anyone other than, perhaps, the perpetrators knew Kenyans were capable of; before 2007, these are barbaric acts most believed were only possible in other countries but not in Kenya.

Third, there is always widespread rigging and one can count on it happening again the question is, to what extent; again, here 2007 was an exception and an anomaly to the extent the rigging was so flagrant and unprecedented, hardly anyone other than those who rigged knew was possible.

Given this history, what must be done we at least don’t see anything even remotely close to a repeat of 2007?

To begin with, how about taking this pledge previously published in the Standard:

1. I promise to put my interests and those of my family first in all decisions I make and see to it that those interests are met through the labor of my hard work supplemented by others only to the extent they are a means to meet my objectives and this includes decisions I make about who to vote for in the upcoming general elections.
2. I promise to only vote for and elect leaders who put the country first, and their interests of those of their cronies second or last.
3. I promise not to vote for anyone solely on the basis they come from my tribe or ethnic group and, conversely, I promise not to withhold my vote from anyone solely because they are from any particular community.
4. I promise not to vote for any politician who seeks to divide our country or gain office by divisive and tribal tactics but, conversely, I promise to vote only for those candidates who seek to unite our country and have a proven record for doing so.
5. I promise to be fair and open minded in evaluating candidates to vote for and base my decision not on the basis of misinformation, lies and distortions but on the basis of known facts, leadership ability, integrity and their stated positions on the issues that I care about.
6. I promise to constantly remind myself that I don’t know better than the next person who knows best and in the event I don’t, I pray that God gives me the wisdom and/or ability to know better.
7. I promise to be considerate of the interests of my fellow Kenyans even as I pursue mine to the maximum extent possible.
8. I promise not to be a hypocrite and if I am, may God make it possible for all to see through my words and deeds, including those appearing in print or on computer screens as a result of my fingers typing at the direction of my wicked mind.
9. I promise not to hate anyone or wish them ill just for who they are and even if they have wronged me, I promise to find ways to forgive them as God instructs us all to do and that is, to love one another.
10. I promise to do my part in bringing about change in our country, including keeping these promises, or even running for public office myself, which should be a good start.

If all or most Kenyans keep all of these promises, and remain faithful to the end, then it wouldn’t matter who emerges at the top as the winner and is sworn as our next president for that person would be governing a country united and ready to match forward as never before–more than even the euphoria of 2002.

That’s the Kenya we should all desire.

That’s the Kenya we must have in short order.

The only one stopping us, is us.

Very soon there will be a lot of heated discussions, especially in the social media.

Here are a few things to keep in mind and the bit we each do, we shall have taken great steps in ensuring a peaceful election unlike any before, other than, perhaps 2002, if not better:

1. Avoid any references to tribes that in the view of any person with ordinary sensibilities from that community will be offended by such reference
2. Be on a look-out and reject enemies of peace who may want to exploit tribalism for their selfish benefit or at the behest of others with same selfish intentions neither both of which are harmful to our country, especially the latter who can create great havoc by being paid a few hundred shillings.
3. Engage in robust debate but stay away from hate speech as defined by the National Cohesion and Integration Commision
4. Avoid use of language that tends to excite people into hostilities, including the use of foul, insulting and other unacceptable language to people of ordinary sensibilities
5. Remember, in the end we each have a responsibility about what happens to our beloved country and what her future shall be; do your best and always do the right thing, viewed from the perspective of what does it benefit the country as a whole, not your individual selfish or misguided needs.

That’s my hope and prayer.

Amen.