ODM-Kenya falling apart as expected

a lifted East african standard storyBy Barrack Muluka

I would have thought that I, Joseph, the dreamer of dreams, was most eminently qualified to become Kenya’s special envoy to Sudan.

Apart from having been trained in diplomacy, I am able to dream in more than 10 languages, including two that Africa imported from Europe.

This is to say nothing of the fact that I was taught everything there is to know about the amoeba, the spirogyra and assorted flotsam and flotilla in Gikuyu.

But the Mzee who lives on the Hill thinks otherwise. You remember how in November 2005 we whitewashed the Mzee on the Hill in the referendum vote?

You remember how I told him that the time for change had come? Then I asked him to give me Francis Muthaura’s job in Harambee House. He refused.

Now the Mzee on the Hill, otherwise known as President Mwai Kibaki, has refused to give me the job in Sudan. He has instead given it to the Mzee he described at Uhuru Park on December 30, 2002 as a man of “ineptitude and misrule”.

He said that the man from Sacho, otherwise known as Mr Daniel arap Moi, was handing him a country in tatters and full of “miasma”.

Now the “miasma man” is a Government ambassador and I, Joe, the dreamer of dreams, can only continue dreaming of better things to come.

I can only dream that maybe one day, Kiraitu Murungi and David Mwiraria will go back to Meru to eat cassava and look after goats while dreamers of dreams shows them how governments are run.

But that will be in post-ODM-Kenya and post-Narc-Kenya days. I was thinking that ODM-Kenya would take me to glory land.

But the thing seems to be dead, or dying. And the Man on the Hill is gleefully dancing on ODM-Kenya’s grave.

That is why he can engage the old man of Kanu in true Mugumo tree style and ODM-Kenya can do nothing about it.

The ODM-Kenya family can only wallow in a web of political denial. They obtain in forlorn belief that this crowd puller will still rise up and walk again. When they form themselves in huge crowds they take this as a sign that the party is strong, vibrant and united.

They imagine that God is happy in heaven, looking at their party and saying “it is well”. But a great person will remain a crowd puller, even in death. And ODM-Kenya was a great political outfit.

At the apogee of its glory, the thing straddled the country like the albatross. Its leaders gravitated from one corner of the country to the other, singing “Mapambano, mapambano, bado mapambano!”

They moved from here to there, stirring up wananchi with expectancy and sounding ultimatums to the President and the Government. They caused ministers to resign and forced the President to sack others.

Chris Murungaru went and George Saitoti went, too. Mwiraria and the powerful Kiraitu went. Kiraitu would lament to scribes, “What do you want and yet you made us to be sacked?” ODM-Kenya was not only barking, she was biting, too.

Then the big guns in ODM-Kenya, otherwise known as “luminaries”, decided to become dreamers of dreams too. They dreamt of how they were going to make themselves big men, living on the big hill.

They started calling themselves horses and saying how they were the only horse that could defeat the horse called the big man in the big house on the Hill.

The big man was waiting for a good fight with them. But they were busy fighting each other, like foolish children. They even forgot about the Mzee on the Hill.

And so the Mzee began behaving as if they were dead and he was a Marabi dancer, dancing on their grave.

The Mzee on the Hill is now free to live his Mugumo dream. You remember how this Mzee once said that to remove Kanu; otherwise known as Baba Na Mama wa Taifa, was like trying to fell the Mugumo tree with a razor blade? And you remember how the Mzee from Sacho once told Raila Amolo Odinga, otherwise known as Tinga, alias Agwambo, that “Kanu iko na wenyewe“?

So what does it matter if “wenyewe” put on the colours of Narc-Kenya, Democratic Party, or whatever? What does it matter when a chameleon moves from a red surface to a green one? Does change of pigment make it a new chameleon?

Now Uhuru Kenyatta, who belongs to the Mugumo family tree, has decided to go back home. He is looking for excuses instead of real reasons to make a dignified return.

But has he not read where it is written: “I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me like your hired men?” For they say in the Good Book: “But the father said, ‘Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet … for this son of mine was dead and is alive. He was lost and is found.”

Poor dreamer of dreams, the Mugumo tree and power alcohol in ODM-Kenya are shaking my dreams. ODM-Kenya has opened space for “ineptitude”, “miasma” and big English words that we shall be saying in Uhuru Park in December 2011. But what a painfully long wait it is going to be!

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Kenya: Kalonzo comes out clear to Kenyans: I will never step down for Raila Odinga

“I will not step down for Raila (Odinga),” is Kalonzo Musyoka’s standard response to calls in ODM-Kenya that he drops his bid for the top job and wait to be named Vice President if the movement wins.

While some ODM-Kenya supporters nurse hopes of the Mwingi North MP changing his mind in order to help heal the widening rift in the movement, those who understand Kalonzo well are certain the game is over.

“Once Kalonzo makes up his mind, then you know his word is final. Nobody, I mean nobody, can change it,” says an MP from Ukambani who declined to be named for fear it could fan the raging fire in the party. Behind his faÁade of calmness, Kalonzo is a highly principled individual who hardly goes back on his word.

A clear instance is when he told retired President Moi to his face in 2002 at a public function that he would not support his choice for successor, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta.

Coming from a key party operative and Moi loyalist, Kalonzo’s sentiments astonished many who had speculated that the MP would be the first of the Kanu rebel MPs had fled the party to run back.

Mr Musalia Mudavadi did, Kalonzo soldiered on with Raila, Vice-President Moody Awori and Education minister, Prof George Saitoti, under the banner of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Kalonzo maintains that he is the best

According to a source close to the ‘Kalonzo for President’ campaign, the apparent move by fellow presidential aspirants to endorse Raila and the improvement of his popularity ratings notwithstanding, the Mwingi North MP maintains that he is “the best” and will accordingly sprint from the starting blocks to the finish line.

But it is Mutito MP, Mr Kiema Kilonzo, a close ally of Kalonzo, who put it succinctly during an interview with The Saturday Standard last week.

“Kalonzo is going to run for Presidency, period! And his three party options are ODM-Kenya, ODM-Kenya and ODM-Kenya.”

The MP further warned MPs allied to Raila trying to undermine “our man” they must realise that “we” have a secret weapon.

Last Monday, Yatta MP, Mr Charles Kilonzo, seemed to offer a hint on the ‘secret weapon’ when he sought to make it clear that Mr Daniel Maanzo (Kalonzo ally) and not Tinderet MP, Mr Henry Kosgey (Raila ally), was the registered Chairman of ODM-Kenya.

Probably because of the political heat of the moment, Kalonzo chose to retreat to his home turf when isolation talk spread.

Only way out of holding together the crucial Akamba vote

It was from here, and cheered on by the ‘homeboys’, that he declared he was up to it. Kalonzo stormed Kalawane trading centre in Mbooni constituency with words of wisdom from the late Mulu Mutisya — long serving Machakos Kanu branch boss and self-styled King of Ukambani politics.

“My rivals have made me go by what my political mentor Mulu Mutisya used to say ‘mambo ikizidi, tumia akili na damu’ (If the going gets tough, apply wisdom and blood),” said Kalonzo.

It is during this rally too that ODM-Kenya Team Leader and vice-chairman Mr Mutula Kilonzo made a thinly veiled attack on Raila, accusing him of employing “guerilla tactics” in his quest for the party’s nomination ticket.

Although there are six other presidential aspirants, including Gachoka MP, Mr Joe Nyagah, and Nominated MP, Dr Julia Ojiambo, the Kalonzo campaign team seems to have zeroed in on the Raila camp as target for attack.

Their message was clear — that the Mwingi North MP was going for nothing short of the presidency — even if that journey will not take them to State House, it will in the least assure them room in the next Government.

In the words of Kilome MP and deputy Government Chief Whip, Mr Mutinda Mutiso, the candidature of Kalonzo is the only way out of holding together the crucial Akamba vote.

The MP predicts that, by running for presidency, Kalonzo will lock out predatory moves by President Kibaki’s campaign team from the region.

Virtually all party leaders have already taken sides

But it could be the fear of being swept aside by the Government, as suggested by Water minister and Mwala MP Mr Mutua Katuku, that is partly responsible for Kalonzo team’s resolve to hang on till the Eleventh Hour.

However, Mr Donald Kipkorir, a Nairobi-based advocate in the Kalonzo campaign team, argues that the Mwingi North MP has neither campaigned on a tribal platform nor aspired to be a tribal chief.

“He has never sought to create a hegemony over his Kamba people. In his quest for Presidency, he has consistently mentioned that the party is a mass movement and that a winning team be chosen. He has never said that ODM must choose him and in default the Kambas will take a walk. Never,” argues Kipkorir.

The other unfortunate trend for ODM is that virtually all party leaders have already taken sides with their preferred candidates. However, its the interim chairman, Mr Henry Kosgey, who has taken most of the flak for declaring his support for Raila.

Kosgey’s deputies, Mr Mutula and Dr Ojiambo, have equally taken sides — Mutula in favour of Kalonzo, if he were to be judged by his last Monday’s sentiments, and Ojiambo by virtue of the fact that she is a presidential candiadte, yet an interim official.

Bad blood now evident amongst leading contenders

ODM politicians also accuse the secretary general, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o and the treasurer, Mr Omingo Magara, of being Raila’s foot soldiers.

The Organising Secretary, Lucas Maitha, is allied to Kalonzo. Although initially hailed as a democratic process never witnessed in Kenya, the nomination campaigns for the ODM presidential ticket have achieved the exact opposite — acrimony and party autocracy.

With bad blood now evident amongst leading contenders and their supporters, party supporters have even begun toying with the reality that three names will at least be on the December ballot paper: Kibaki, Raila and Kalonzo.

So, what exactly works in favour of Kalonzo? Supporters point out: His 20-years in Government as minister, Deputy Speaker and organising secretary of the ruling party. Kalonzo, says Kipkorir, has several other factors giving him an edge over his competitors.

“His Christian faith, which he professes, family values, moral integrity, humble background and excellent education.’

Kalonzo is able to run a campaign tirelessly

He adds: “A President of a country must be one above reproach and a moral compass for the country. A Practicing Christian grounds ones World view in basic biblical virtues like integrity, honesty, justice and fair play.”

The lawyer also believes that being young and healthy, Kalonzo is able to run a campaign tirelessly. Presently, he has an active campaign secretariat along Ngong Road, Nairobi, with “resource persons in every sector of the national economy”.

“Kalonzo has been consistently going around the country campaigning in rallies and house-to-house. May be the media did not notice because our style is not one of drama,” he says.

His stint as Foreign Minister, for instance, enabled him cultivate an enviable network across the globe. Nonetheless, his campaigners concede that Kalonzo, just like any other candidate, cannot clinch the top prize without support from the other aspirants.

Then there is the Six Million dollar question: What are his options? If he loses the ticket, will he look for a another ‘vehicle’ to State House, or will he play ball and go along with the formula on the table.

And for the moment it is Raila for President, Kalonzo for V-P, and Ruto for the Prime Minister’s post, which is yet to be created. There is no ruling out the fact that others will pile up on the table.

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ODM-Kenya scrambling

East African Standard story: 

The picture of ODM-Kenya’s ongoing re-alignment in the thick of consensus-versus-delegates’ tussle is seemingly settling with Mr Musalia Mudavadi and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka firmly on one side.

There appears to be an emerging working relationship between Lang’ata MP Mr Raila Odinga — who in Eldoret North MP Mr William Ruto’s ‘breakfast game-plan’ is the man to field — and the other two contenders: Mr Najib Balala and Mr Joe Nyagah.

The four congregated at a rally in Northern Kenya this week, as the Mwingi North MP and the former Vice President criticised the way some leaders in the party were allegedly laying the ground for one man.

The clock is ticking and there are less than five months before the movement, which has failed to honour any of its self-imposed deadlines to name a candidate, decides on whom it shall field against President Kibaki.

Kalonzo’s supporters believe he is the man to beat, and the best bet against Kibaki. He too buys the line but is uncomfortable with the ODM-Kenya secretariat, which he believes is under Raila’s control.

Mudavadi cautioned against isolating some aspirants

On Friday, he cautioned the secretariat to drop its ‘hardline’ stance against the Uhuru Kenyatta team in Kanu, saying intolerance won’t pay. His team accuses the Raila brigade of engaging in ‘guerilla tactics’ in the pursuit of “Tosha” endorsement.

Kalonzo expressed concern ODM-Kenya may not hold when leaders engage in tough talk at each other. “You feel depressed when you are an ODM-Kenya member because you are always worried each day if the party will continue to hold,” he said.

Mudavadi on the other hand, cautioned his colleagues on the danger of isolating some aspirants in the ongoing negotiations.

A man of few words, and who is often seen as indecisive, Mudavadi jumped off the Kanu’s sinking ship in 2002, only to dash back, to the vessel many of his colleagues in ODM were fleeing from.

He was rewarded with the Vice President’s post, but it was to be for only a few months. Elections came and swept Kanu away.

In the ODM pool of presidential aspirants he is the only one who does not hold a parliamentary seat, having suffered a double body blow in the 2002 elections – losing Sabatia.

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French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived on Friday in the Gabonese capital

Libreville (Gabon) French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived on Friday in the Gabonese capital, Libreville for a day-long official visit on the second leg of his maiden African tour, APA has noted.

Sarkozy who arrived from Senegal, was met at the Leon Mba international airport by his Gabonese counterpart, Omar Bongo Ondimba, in power since 1967.

Following the formalities at the airport, the two leaders drove to the State house through the seaside boulevard full of giant posters and amid thunderous applause by a cross section of the country.

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France to support AU efforts in Somalia

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) French Foreign Affairs Minister, Bernard Kouchner, Friday said his country will provide financial and technical support to boost peace-building efforts already undertaken by the AU and Somalia government, APA has learnt.

Speaking after a meeting with the French envoy, the Somali Prime Minister, ALi Mohammed Gedi said: “we discussed how France can help technically and financially in the ongoing peace-building”.

He then seized the opportunity to appeal for similar assistance to the international community “to help us to stabilize Somalia,’ saying “the problem of Somalia is not local…it is an international problem.”

Gedi again accused Eritrea of “fuelling terrorism in Somalia by supplying arms and Jihadists..it is not a secret and an allegation, it is well known and has been proved by the UN experts this week,” he said.

France is currently supporting the Burundi peacekeeping forces to deploy in Somalia.

Burundi pledged to send some 1,000 peacekeeping forces to the trouble-ridden country in the horn of Africa.

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Cape Verdians withdraw support for SADR as a state

Praia (Cape Verde) The Cape Verdian Foreign Affairs minister, Manual Victor Barbosa Borges, announced Friday the withdrawal of his country’s recognition of the Arab Saharawi Democratic Republic (SADR) as a state.

Borges justified the decision by Praia’s concern to be in line with the United Nations resolution 1754 on Sahara.

“Though the government recognized SADR in 1979, in a very specific historical context, the current situation requires a different position to be more in conformity with the evolution of the process and the spirit of the UN Security Council Resolution 1754,” Borges said.

He stressed that the United Nations currently handles the Sahara issue, specifying that the Cape Verdean government sent letters to its diplomatic representations abroad and the African Union to inform them of its decision.

In addition, Cape Verde “seeks coherence with the ongoing UN-led process “.

The government of Cape Verde “encourages the parties (SADR and Morocco) to tackle the negotiations with a constructive spirit and wishes for the climate and the results of the second round of the negotiations in August to set a process for a final solution”.

The Cape Verdean decision comes one month after that of Kenya , which decided on 26 June to suspend its recognition of SADR and had informed the African Union Commission about it.

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French president Nicolas Sarkozy Friday pleaded for a partnership between Africa and Europe

Libreville (Gabon) French president Nicolas Sarkozy Friday pleaded for a partnership between Africa and Europe during a press conference upon arrival in Libreville, Gabon, during the second leg of his maiden African tour.

« Africa and Europe obviously need to cooperate for economic and political reasons…”, the French head of state declared in the presence of his Gabonese counterpart, Omar Bongo Ondimba.

“Africa is a huge market and has a significant development potential”, he said, stressing that Europe and Africa should work hand in hand. “We wish to assist African countries towards diversification and development », Nicolas Sarkozy added.

“Africa needs executives. I like Africa and Africans, I respect them”, he said, and noted that he was very impressed by President Wade’s vision on immigration and ’’Eurafrica’ partnership.

“For the first time, I have met a head of state who holds a vision on immigration that corresponds to that of France », Sarkozy averred. He said he has never heard “a single Head of state say in a press conference with as much frankness as the Senegalese president: our elites should come back home”.

“It is very impressive and particularly important », he noted. Concerning the « Eurafrica » concept, Nicolas Sarkozy disclosed that at night president Wade sent him a handwritten note in which he expressed his great interest in the “Eurafrica” concept and said before the Lisbon Summit we should take a common initiative”, the President said.

“I assert that President Wade and I will undertake a commune initiative, we may even sign an agreement” , he concluded.

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