SOKONI

ITS A TIMELY DECISION FOR HON. CHARITY NGILU TO JOIN ODMK.THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN AS EARLY AS YESTERDAY.SHE HAS FINALLY REALISED THAT THIS GOVERNMENT AND THE INCUMBENT DOES NOT HAVE ANY SERIOUS THOUGHT ABOUT TRANSITION AND DEVELOPING THIS GREAT NATION KENYA.IT IS HERE THAT SHE SHOULD SHARE HER VISION FOR KENYANS ON WAYS WITH WHICH KENYA CAN BE MADE TO BE A MOTHER COUNTRY TO KENYANS. WE ARE TIRED OF BEING KENYANS IN A COUNTRY WE DONT OWN AS POVERTY SQUEEZES OUT EVERY PINT OF LIFE FROM US.


MAMA RAINBOW KARIBU TENA

For how long shall corruption block every effort we have to emancipate ourselves from poverty disease and ignorance.KENYANS ARISE ITS NOW OR NEVER its no longer about tribalism as the only tribes in kenya are the RICH and the POOR!

IT IS SAD TO HAVE KIRAITU AND SAITOTI BACK IN THE CABINET IT IS INSULTING THE KENYAN PEOPLES INTELLIGENCE.IT IS BARBARIC TO TEARGAS OPPOSITION LEADERS IN THIS ERA..GOVT SHOULD RETHINK ITS STRATEGY.

WHAT IS IT IN RAILA THATS CREATES SO MUCH PHORBIA IN THE KIKUYU COMMUNITY ABOUT HIM BEING PRESIDENT.THIS IS WHAT HE NEEDS TO FIND OUT AND ADRESS THIS ISSUE.YOU CANNOT JUST WILL IT AWAY. THERE ARE OF COURSE YOUNG KIKUYUS WHO WILL RISE ABOVE TRIBAL LINES AND VOTE WISELY

HAVING LOST HIS PARLIAMENTARY BID IN THE WAVE THAT OUSTED KANU HE HAS SMARTENED AND IS A FORCE IN THE ODMK.
Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi is the son of Moses Mudavadi and was the last and shortest serving Vice-President of Kenya under Daniel Arap Moi's regime. He was appointed in an attempt, that would end in failure, to bring the Luhya tribe into the KANU camp, which had been the party of government since independence.
Mudavadi ran for Vice-President as Uhuru Kenyatta's running mate in the 2002 elections. Despite the support of the outgoing President Moi, the KANU political machine and the provincial administration, the Kenyatta/Mudavadi ticket was roundly beaten and Mudavadi lost his Sabatia parliamentary seat.
More recently Mudavadi has been making a political comeback by aligning himself with the 'No' side in the forthcoming Referendum on the proposed new Constitution. This aligns him clearly with Raila Odinga's LDP and he could become the leading Luhya politician, should Odinga and allies win the next presidential elecion in 2007.
The Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya Party has made waves all over the country. Mudavadi was anointed an Elder of the Luhya community on 23 September 2006 and is considered a very likely compromise candidate of the party.
Preceded by:George Saitoti
Vice-President of Kenya2002
Succeeded by:Michael Wamalwa Kijana

CAN HE BE PRESIDENT?
Raila Amollo Odinga (1945-) is a Kenyan politician, and was, until November 23, 2005 a Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Roads, Public Works and Housing. He is the son of the first Vice President of Kenya Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Mr Odinga is commonly called by his first name, 'Raila', due to an interesting coincidence: he was an MP together with his father in the Kenyan parliament for a while, and is currently an MP together with his brother, Oburu Odinga, in the same parliament.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Detention
3 Multi-Party Politics
4 Dissent from within
5 Support
6 Personal life
7 External links
8 References
//

[edit] Early life
Raila Odinga, of the Luo tribe, was born in Maseno, Kisumu District, Nyanza Province of Kenya on 7 January 1945. Raila Odinga's early education was in Kenya, after which he got scholarship in then East Germany. He spent 1965 to 1970 at the Technical University (Otto Von Guericke), Magdeburg and qualified as an Mechanical engineer. On returning to Kenya, he worked as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi. He eventually quit the job to join parliament. In 1975, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards, a post he held until his 1982 detention.

[edit] Detention
After a failed coup attempt by elements of the Kenya Air Force in 1982, Raila Odinga was one of the politicians arrested for their opposition to the regime of then president, Daniel Arap Moi. He was accused of being behind the failed coup and was charged with treason. He was placed under house arrest for seven months, and then was detained without trial for six years. Released on February 6 1988, he was arrested again in September, 1988 for his involvement with the Kenya Revolutionary Movement (KRM), an underground organization pressing for multi-party democracy in Kenya, which was then a one-party state. Raila was released on June 12 1989, only to be incarcerated again on July 5 1990, together with Kenneth Matiba, and former Nairobi Mayor Charles Rubia. Raila was released on June 21 1991, and in October, fled the country to Norway alleging government attempts to assassinate him.

[edit] Multi-Party Politics
At the time of Raila's departure for Norway, the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), a movement formed to agitate for the return of multi-party democracy to Kenya, was newly formed. In February 1992, Raila returned to join FORD, then led by his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. He was elected Vice Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of the party. In the months running up to the 1992 General Elections, FORD split into Ford Kenya, led by Raila's father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and FORD-Asili led by Kenneth Matiba. Raila became Ford-Kenya's Deputy Director of Elections.
When Jaramogi Oginga Odinga died in January 1994, and Michael Wamalwa Kijana succeeded him as FORD-Kenya chairman, Raila challenged him for the party leadership. He lost, and left FORD-Kenya to join the little known National Development Party (NDP). Raila transformed it into a vibrant political party, and led a massive walkout of MPs from FORD-Kenya into his new party. In the 1997 Langata constituency by-elections, occasioned by Raila's change of parties, he won by a large margin. He went on to beat FORD-Kenya in the 1997 General Elections, coming third after Moi and Kibaki respectively. Raila later on changed sides and became a supporter of Moi's government, and even led a merger between his party, NDP, and Moi's KANU party. After this, he served in the Cabinet, as Energy Minister, in the last Moi government. During the subsequent Kanu elections held later that year,he was elected the party's secretary general. Raila hoped to be in contention for Kanu's party presidential ticket, as Party chairman Moi was obligated by the constitution to retire at the end of his then-term. But in 2002, Raila's chances of becoming Kanu's presidential candidate were dealt a blow when Moi openly supported Uhuru Kenyatta – a son of Kenya's first president, and publicly asked Raila and others to support Uhuru as well [1]. Raila teamed up with Kalonzo Musyoka, George Saitoti and Joseph Kamotho among others to form the Rainbow Movement in protest. They formed the Rainbow Movement, a cross-party coalition to front a common candidate for president in the 2002 elections.
The Rainbow Movement went on to join the little known Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which later teamed up with the National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK), a coalition of several other parties, to form the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC). Raila signed a memorandum of understanding with Mwai Kibaki of NAK, which provided for a prime ministerial position for the LDP, as well as a 50-50 split of cabinet seats between the LDP and the NAK after the elections.

[edit] Dissent from within
President Kibaki did not appoint Raila Odinga Prime Minister on assuming office as agreed in the memorandum of understanding; neither did he give LDP half the cabinet positions. He instead sought to shore up support for his NAK faction by appointing MPs from the opposition parties (KANU and FORD people) to the cabinet [2]. The perceived betrayal led to an open rebellion and a split within the cabinet, which culminated in disagreements over a proposed new constitution for the country. The government-backed constitutional committee submitted a draft constitution that was perceived to consolidate powers of the presidency and weaken regional governments as had been provided for under an earlier draft before the 2002 Elections. Raila opposed this, and when the document was put to a referendum on November 21, 2005, the government lost by a 57% to 43% margin. Following this, President Kibaki sacked the entire cabinet on November 23, 2005.When it was formed 2 weeks later,Raila and the entire LDP group were sacked.
In January 2006, Raila Odinga was reported to have told police that he believed his life was in danger, having received assassination threats [3].

[edit] Support
Raila Odinga commands reverential support from the second largest ethnic base in Kenya, the Luo, as well as from all over the country. He is seen as a leader with skills in mobilising grass root support. He is an indefatigable campaigner and during the referendum campaign was able to energise the team opposing the draft constitution through clever campaign tactics such as using the media to gain attention with the public. He has come to be seen as championing the interests of the common Kenyan at a time when corruption and tribalism are said to be rife within Kenya's ruling elite. His followers are now urging him to run for president himself in the upcoming elections in 2007. Though seen as a courageous leader, his critics maintain that Raila lacks a comprehensive plan to revive Kenya’s ailing economy. Raila has often responded to these claims by stating that he wants to revive the road network, build universities and promote industry. At a recent meeting in Washington, DC, Raila told a Kenyan audience that his government would emphasize the provision of utilities and the revival of agriculture. He has declared an intention to run for the presidency in the elections expected in 2007. [4]
Raila Odinga: An Enigma in Kenyan Politics, a biography of Raila Odinga, was released on July 13, 2006. It was written by Nigerian scholar Dr Babafemi A. Badejo. [5] The book traces Raila's life from Maseno to Germany and later in the civil service,as well as his pivotal role in the politics of Kenya. There was controversy after parts of the book indicated that Raila was involved in the planning for the attempted coup in 1982: some pro-government MP's called for Raila to be arrested and charged [6]. However, the Attorney General declined to initiate legal proceedings, citing Kenya's statute of limitations and the fact that the book, being a biography rather than an autobiography, could not be cited as a confession [7]. Further to this, there have been recent calls from the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Martha Karua for Raila to answer allegations regarding impropriety in the purchase and subsequent sale of land on the Kisumu Molasses Plant. The land was allegedly transferred to a company associated with Raila, Spectre International, a company now run by his family but formed by his father in the 60s and 70s that, among other business interests, manufactures fuel gas cylinders, which subsequently disposed of its majority interest to an entity controlled by Antonia Texeira [8]

[edit] Personal life
Raila odinga is married to Ida Odinga (born Ida Anyango Oyoo). They have four children - two sons and two daughters. He lives in Nairobi but is a native of Bondo District.

[edit] External links
Raila Odinga - official website
Raila Odinga: An Enigma in Kenyan Politics : website of the book

[edit] References
Raila Odinga Biodata
Raila Odinga political biography
Kenya Parliament profile
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raila_Odinga"
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FINALY BECOMING HIS OWN MAN......HE IS GETTING OUT OF THE IMPRESSION OF BEING MOIS PROJECT
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (born October 26, 1961) is the leader of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), the former ruling party of Kenya and the official leader of opposition in the Kenyan 9th parliament. He is the son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president (1964–1978). His name, Uhuru, is Swahili for "freedom".
To his supporters Uhuru Kenyatta is a visionary leader. To his detractors the heavy-smoking man is a reluctant politician. Being the son of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Uhuru's upbringing was steeped in politics.
"Growing up in the Kenyatta household taught us many things. My father taught us to treat everyone fairly. He taught us the essence of justice and fairness, he told us to learn from history but not to live in history," Uhuru says.
He attended the prestigious St Mary's School in Nairobi, where his former schoolmates remember him as one of the brightest students. From there he went on to study political science at Amherst College, USA. He is also reputed to be a shrewd businessman, having long played a central role in the vast family business empire.

[edit] Political life
His initial entry into politics came through his election as the chairman of his hometown branch of the ruling party, Kanu, in 1997.This came with the tacit approval of President Moi. At the time, many saw the election as a calculated move to prepare Uhuru for bigger things.
In the general election held the same year, Uhuru contested the Gatundu parliamentary seat, once held by his father. It was assumed he would sail through. But that was not be: Uhuru lost to Moses Mwihia, a little-known Nairobi architect. After losing the election, Uhuru's friends say that he was extremely upset and that he vowed to quit politics altogether.
He hurriedly retreated to the family business empire that includes five-star tourist hotels, airlines and commercial farming. Little did Uhuru know that President Moi was still intent on propelling him onto the national political scene.
In 1999 Moi appointed Uhuru the new chairman of the Kenya Tourism Board, where he worked with Kenya's political power-broker Nicholas Biwott, a very close confidante of the president. Apparently the young Uhuru was undergoing even more intensive training. Then came October 2001 and Uhuru was nominated to parliament and subsequently to the cabinet. In March of this year Uhuru Kenyatta made it big on the national political scene when he was elected as one of the four national vice-chairmen of Kanu.
The former President Moi paid a heavy price for ensuring Kenyatta is Kanu's presidential candidate, with several senior party figures, their own ambitions thwarted, resigning to set up another party(The liberal Democratic Party).
He was an unsuccessful candidate for president in the elections of December 27, 2002. Although Kenyatta's party, KANU, had been in power for all of Kenya's 39 years of independence, he was soundly defeated by the opposition leader Mwai Kibaki, taking only 31% of the vote against 62% for Kibaki. Many attributed his defeat to his association with the retiring president Daniel arap Moi, whose long rule was widely regarded as hopelessly corrupt and ineffectual. He was also seen to be lacking experience and his campaign team lacked the big names, most of whom had left KANU to join the opposition NARC. Despite losing the presidential elections, Uhuru Kenyatta won an MP seat at the Gatundu south constituency.
Since he joined Moi's inner circle, Uhuru Kenyatta has been fighting a not-too-successful battle to prove that he is his own man and not Moi's stooge. In late January 2005, Uhuru Kenyatta defeated Nicholas Biwott for chairmanship of KANU, taking 2,980 votes among party delegates against Biwott's 622 [1].
Uhuru led his party Kanu in Campaigns against the draft constitution in 2005, having teamed up with the Liberal Democratic Party to form the Orange Democratic Movement. This saw Kenyans humiliate the government by rejecting the draft constitution by a noticiable margin.
He is expected to run again for the presidency in the December 2007 elections.

BALALA NAJIB WHIPPED THE LATE NASSIR OUT OF OFFICE. HE IS A HOPEFUL PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER. WILL HE DELIVER COASTAL VOTES?
Family Name:
Balala
Given Name:
Najib
Dates:
born 20 Sep 1967
Gender:
Male
Country:
Kenya
Positions
Positions listed are those which are held currently or have been held in the past. Dates are given wherever possible. Where there are no dates, positions are ordered alphabetically.
Minister of State for National Heritage (Jul 2004 - Nov 2005)
Minister for Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services (Jan 2003 - Jun 2004)
Member of Parliament, Mvita (28 Dec 2002 - )
Chairman - Coast Branch, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (May 2000 - )
Mayor - Mombasa, Kenya (1998 - 1999)
Chairman (1994 - 1998

HE STARTED HIS CAMPAIGN WITH CALLING HIMSELF UKWELI WA MAMBO AND THRUSHED CHESIRE OUT OF ELDORET NORTH CONSTITUENCY
William Samoei Ruto (December 21, 1966 - ) is the former minister of home affairs of Kenya. He is Secretary General of the Kenya African National Union, the former ruling political party. He has been MP for Eldoret North constituency since the 1997 Kenyan elections. He became minister of home affairs in August 2002 but lost the post after December 2002 Kenyan elections when KANU lost to the NARC coalition. He is currently the secretary of KANU and is seen as a fast emerging powerful Kalenjin politician in Kenya's political arena.
In January 2006 Ruto declared publicly that he would vie for presidency in the next general election scheduled for 2007. His statement was condemned by some of his KANU colleagues, including former president Daniel Arap Moi.
Ruto has a BSc in botany from the University of Nairobi.

KALONZO IS A RISING STAR IN ODMK POTENTIAL PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA

Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (born November 1953) in a remote part of Mwingi District in Kenya's Eastern Province and is a Kenyan politician and was the foreign minister of Kenya from 1993 until 1998 and from 2003 until June 30, 2004, when he was replaced in a cabinet reshuffle. He has been an MP since 1988 from the Mwingi North constituency. He was KANU's organising secretary from 1993 to 1998. In the months leading up to the 2002 general election, under the leadership of then KANU secretary general, Raila Odinga, he decamped from KANU to join the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) under the banner of the National Rainbow Coalition, which went on to win the general elections. He was reportedly unhappy with the president's refusal to honour a pre-election Memorandum of understanding (MOU) which they had signed with the president's party NAK and hence his demotion. He was Minister for the Environment as well as one of the leaders of the successful "No"-campaign in the referendum on the proposed new constitution. Kalonzo Musyoka is widely expected to vie for presidency at elections scheduled for December 2007. He shall face Raila Odinga at the LDP pre-elections.
Kalonzo Musyoka graduated as a Baclelor of Law from the University of Nairobi in 1977.
Musyoka has been quoted on saying "... the war against poverty could not be won unless environmental issues were addressed."
Musyoka has been keeping a low political profile, using a diplomatic approach to the Kenyan politics. He is still believed by many to be the strongest candidate for the next presidential elections ahead of the current president Mwai Kibaki.However the bad blood that has been developing between Kalonzo, and his political nemesis, Raila, has led to doubts in his ability to build bridges. He is also perceived to be somewhat arrogant and elitist.

THEY THINK THEY ARE SMART EXACTLY WHAT A SIMILAR REGIME DID TO KENYANS SO AS TO COMFORTABLY ASSASINATE J M KARIUKI. THIS IS FOOLISH FOR THE GOVT. REIN OVER THIS THUGS !WHO IS MUNGIKI ANY WAY ? ARE THEY GOVT?SO WHATS SO HARD TO DEAL WITH IN THEM? SHOULD INNOCENT POOR KENYANS LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR AND A GOVT EMPLOYEE LOSE HIS LIFE AND MANY OTHERS JUST TO STAGE INSECURITY.
WHY ARE THEY SO AFRAID OF A REGIME CHANGE THAT THEY CAN KILL?
Kenyan opponent 'fears for life'

Raila Odinga intends to run for president in 2007
Former Kenyan government minister Raila Odinga has told the police he believes his life is in danger.
Mr Odinga, who was sacked last month, says he has received assassination threats and is constantly being pursued by men in unmarked vehicles.

Mr Odinga is leader of the Orange Democratic Movement which campaigned against the constitutional proposals backed by President Mwai Kibaki.

He was angry that a new promised role of prime minister was watered down.

A majority of Kenyans - including several cabinet ministers - voted against the changes in a referendum in November.

Deputy Security Minister Mirugi Kariuki accused Mr Odinga of seeking publicity.

He said that the police would nevertheless take his allegations seriously.

Government spokesman Alfred Mutua rejected the claim.

"We are not in the business of following people for political reasons," he said.

from the standard newspaper

Raila triggers debate among Kenyans in US
By Chris Wamalwa in Washington and Dennis Onyango in NairobiODM-Kenya presidential aspirant Mr Raila Odinga is blazing the campaign trail in the US, including hosting Kenyans at black-tie dinners where a plate goes for US$100 (Sh7,300).
Raila’s crowd-puller blitz, cutting across several US states, began in neighbouring Canada. It has drawn the interest of Kenyans living in America. During the preparatory stage, rivalry erupted between two hosting groups – Raila 2007 and ODM-USA.
Lang’ata MP Mr Raila OdingaRaila and five MPs allied to ODM – Mr Sospeter Ojamong’, Mr George Khaniri, Mr Omingo Magara, Mr Paddy Ahenda and Mr M Buhari – addressed unusually large crowds of Kenyans in Toronto, Minnessota, Texas and Washington.
Foresees an eminent break of ODM
In Minnesota, Raila’s first stop from Toronto, Canada, he addressed 800 Kenyans at Brooklyn Park.
Many people who attended Raila’s meetings say they had an impression that he has not only been giving the appearances the performance of his lifetime, but he has left a strong indication that he is going for nothing short of the presidency.
"Raila is not talking as if he is prepared to play second fiddle to anyone. He is talking as the person who has put his whole in the coming presidential elections, which makes him a danger to the ODM coalition," said Mr Maurice Mwangi of Maryland.
Mwangi foresees an eminent break up of ODM and he believes Raila and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka will eventually be the people to make that happen "because they are not ready to forsake their personal ambitions of being the next President of Kenya."
Group was an ethnic mix
In what resonates with the visit by Kanu secretary general Mr William Ruto to the US in August, Kass FM, a Kenyan vernacular radio station with a studio in Washington, disrupted its Kalenjin programmes last night to accommodate a global conference for the Lang’ata MP.
Ms Julia Opoti, an assistant editor with Mshale, a community newspaper in Minnesota, specialising on African issues, described the group that turned out to meet Raila as "very diverse."
"It was an ethnic mix, and people of all ages were there. I would say that a lot of people who came were mostly interested in hearing Raila speak, not necessarily because of ODM affiliation, but because he is a famous political figure," Opoti, who covered the Raila function, told The Sunday Standard.
"I saw a clear distinction between Raila’s supporters and detractors. Those who support him left the meeting very satisfied, and those who do not care much for him were left wanting. I think I can safely say that there are almost an equal number of people on both sides," she added.
Received a standing ovation
Other dinners he attended drew about 300 people, mostly by his supporters, who paid between US$40 (Sh3,000) and $70 (Sh5, 200) a plate. Raila’s biography, Raila Odinga: An Enigma in Kenyan Politics, launched locally in July, was also selling at $50 (Sh3,650).
Opoti said Raila met a reception far different from the one that greeted him in 2001 when he last visited the State.
"Back then, he was booed by placard-waving Kenyans upset with his collaboration with the then President, Mr Daniel arap Moi.
Last week, he received a standing ovation at the conclusion of his remarks," she said.
Initially, confusion threatened the tour as two groups, ODM-Kenya and ODM–USA battled to host the Lang’ata MP and his entourage.
The struggle saw members of the two groups exchange bitter e-mails before the matter was resolved.
Differences related to logistics
The organisers of the Raila tour contend that there were no disagreements between ODM-Kenya and ODM-USA.
They have also dismissed reports that a controversy was brewing between the two groups.
"The differences you heard of related to logistics, with the organisers in New Jersey asking about the most suitable venue.
But other than that, there was nothing to it, they agreed on one place," said Mr James Sang, one of the organisers of Raila’s tour of Washington, which began yesterday, said.
Mr Leonard Wandili, another of the tour organisers, also dismissed talks of rivalry.
"Kenyans should be aware that many groups would emerge as they have done in the past to derail ODM’s agenda. They should also know that others will be formed to popularise ODM’s agenda and this is how we are viewing this so called ODM-USA. Again, this goes to show how popular ODM is and how many Kenyans want to be associated with it," he added.
Visit a favorite topic in chat rooms
Others saw the hand of detractors in the row.
"I’ve not heard of such a group but I wouldn’t be surprised. Many similar groups will be used by ODM detractors to throw ODM into chaos."
Others saw people whose agenda was want to reinforce perception they were in ODM and had Raila’s blessings.
"We saw that during Kanu days when groups like YK 92 sprung up and were used by Kanu," Dr Busolo Wabuyiele of Columbus, Ohio said.
The hitch aside, the past few weeks have seen the main agenda of discussion among Kenyans living in North America being the second visit in less than three months by Raila.
The visit not only dominated Kenyans’ text messaging services, but also became a favorite topic in Yahoo Group’s Internet chat rooms among Kenyans fascinated by the politics of their motherland.
Wandili, one of the organisers, said he has been surprised by the turn of events.
"Since news broke that Raila and several ODM members were coming to Canada, our phones have been ringing off the hook from Kenyans around America who wanted to host the group in their States."
Visit has stirred open discussion
It is not clear whether it is Raila or the party that is attracting such attention. But what was clear was that such crowds of Kenyans were last seen when President Kibaki visited the US in 2003, months after the Narc victory.
"Generally, this gives you a sense of how promising the newly registered party, ODM-Kenya is," Mr Joash M Gongera, a member of the organising committee in Minnesota, said.
Gongera, a lawyer, said he never expected the huge turn out. The visit has stirred open discussion among Kenyans in the Diaspora as to whether Raila is fit to lead Kenya.
"The fact that Kenyans are now ready to openly talk about stereotypes around Raila Odinga, his family, and the community from which he comes, is a clear indication that they are considering his candidature. In the long run, many will see these stereotypes for what they were - just stereotypes," said Mr Miguna Miguna, a key plank in the visit.
Mr John Wainaina of Dallas, Texas, however saw Raila from a different point of view.
"This man cannot be trusted. How many parties has he joined and formed?" he asked.
Petition on voting rights and dual citizenship
A number of those eyeing political seats back home have been jostling for a seat at the table with the Lang’ata MP.
These are the people who have been behind fundraisers, packaged as dinner in expensive hotels.
In the US, dinner that costs an upward of $100 is considered a fund raising event for a cause.
In most of these dinners, the attendance has been overwhelming. Though the organisers are reluctant to disclose the mount, many said the attendance, exceeded expectation.
But they all agreed that most of those who were actively involved in fund raising were themselves eyeing political seats back home.
The Kenyan Community Abroad (KCA) through its President Mkawasi Mcharo has prepared a petition on voting rights and dual citizenship, two dicey issues that Raila, as a leading Presidential candidate was to address.
"We believe Raila is one of our current leaders who talks the talk and walks the walk therefore we want him and other parliamentarians to ensure that the Government puts in place mechanisms for Kenyans in the Diaspora to vote in the forthcoming elections. The Government cannot afford to take us for granted anymore," said Mcharo.
Radio station hosting Raila
Raila and his group arrived in North America on October 26. Their first main function was on October 28, at the University of Toronto (St George Campus).
From Canada, they moved to US and held another meeting at the Edge Christian Worship Centre, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
They held other meetings in Atlanta, Georgia, Texas, Baltimore, Maryland, and the last meeting was expected at Jersey City, New Jersey on Sunday.
In a notice "to all Kenyans wherever they are," Kass FM International’s CEO Dr K A Sambu, announced his station was hosting Raila at its Washington DC studios yesterday at 10pm, local time.
"The station will switch to Kiswahili and English for the duration of the conference The Hon Raila Odinga will be introduced by the programme host, whereupon he will make his introductory remarks, and share his vision with the listening audience. He will then welcome questions, criticisms, and suggestions from listeners," Sambu announced.
VIPs are given priority
His notice read, in part: "Owing to the overwhelming active interest shown by the public so far the only options open for listeners to take part live is through "EVENT MEMBERSHIP." At centre top of our website - www.kassfm.co.ke- click on ORDINARY or VIP MEMBERSHIP.
VIPs are given priority when raising questions but we hope everyone will be heard.
If the ‘event membership’ option is not responding to a click, please move down right under the picture on the homepage and click on SPOT SPONSORSHIP. Transact at least twice to qualify for membership as conference participant.
Upon receiving an e-mail from you regarding the above we will send you in return your conference participation pass code, number and, later, your position in the virtual queue. As conference participant you can operate from any phone anywhere: on the road (if not driving), in the house, at the club, or at your office."
Last August, the station, which had just set up its Washington studio, linked Ruto in a debate mostly with Kalenjin speakers.
International whirlwind tour
The Canada and US stops are part of what the organisers call an international whirlwind tour for Raila to engage closely with Kenyans abroad, scholars, friends of Kenya and reflect on what ails the country.
Many Kenyans abroad interviewed by The Sunday Standard said the tour was important to Raila because it offered him the opportunity to engage with Kenyans.
They see the visit as nothing short of campaigning for the top job in Kenya and what he says to Kenyans and friends of Kenya will have a strong bearing on his candidacy.
"Even those who generally don’t like him have learned to respect him because he is clearly first among equals in the ODM pack. Many admire his courage, tenacity and shrewdness," Wandili, who is based in Toronto, Canada, said.
Mr Andrea Onuonga, president of Washington DC-based Kenya International Organisation, agrees that the twin issues of dual citizenship and voting rights were on the agenda for Kenyans and Raila was bound to be pinned down on them

Saturday August 26, 2006

Home News Business Sports Editorial Cartoon Commentaries Headlines ODM-Kenya leaders upbeat about future Standard Team Liberal Democratic Party of Kenya chairman Mr David Musila and Nominated MP Mr Mutula Kilonzo are optimistic that the ODM-Kenya would form the next government. In separate interviews the two said the formation of the party was a result of intense pressure from the public for them unite. "ODM has a bright future and if anybody is doubting that then he must be forgetting history," added Musila. Musila, who is also the National Assembly Deputy Speaker, said when ODM went to fight it out at the referendum last year it was a loose movement but it trounced the Government. "What of now that we have formed a solid party under the same movement? I believe we shall be stronger than when we formed the original Narc before the 2002 General Election," he added. He disclosed that LDP would not go for presidential nominations as there was no need now because a candidate would be chosen from ODM-Kenya. Kilonzo, on his part, said the new party would hold. "It will form the next government." And yesterday, the party leaders demanded that the on-going voter-registration be extended by at least two months. They said more time was needed to overcome logistical and bureaucratic bottlenecks that threaten to lock out more than the five million potential voters targeted by the exercise that ends mid next month. "We challenge the Government to list district-by-district registration figures. We’re informed in some areas, registration clerks are even going to schools registering students. Why can’t this be done everywhere?" Musila asked. Even as they waxed optimistic, pro-government leaders were less optimistic. Nobel Peace laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai, said the formation of ODM-Kenya has left her confused and declared that she was not ready to dissolve her Mazingira Green Party for the sake of the newly created outfit whose principals she was not familiar with. The Tetu MP said that the new party, which is based on individual membership, seems to have worked against individual parties. Maathai said that she would be happy to join a coalition like Narc, which advocated for other parties to evolve and co-exist without killing the parties’ visions. Co-operatives and Marketing Minister Mr Njeru Ndwiga said the outfit comprised nothing less than Kanu remnants. "Point out to me who in ODM-Kenya has never been or is not in Kanu. They have embarked on an exercise to rebaptise Kanu," said Ndwiga. Transport Minister Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere described ODM-Kenya as made up of political parties, which have conflicting ideologies and which can therefore never garner mass support. Immigration and Registration of Persons Assistant minister Mr Ananiah Mwaboza said yesterday that his team was ready to do battle with ODM-Kenya heavyweights led by Mr Raila Odinga. Tourism Minister Mr Morris Dzoro said the parties that have come together did not consult their members. But Health minister Charity Ngilu said that the launch of the party is calculated to strengthen the movement, describing it as a wake-up call for Narc to put its house in order.

i find it rather very defeatist for the KANU old guards and some who not very far in the past defected form kanu forming a splinter and ineffective party coming back and trying to destroy what has alredy been achieved.
it is sad as though the young KANU members who have opted to work with ODMK have to fight to stay afloat politically.members of KANU e.g Barngetuny and Biwott are an utter disgrace not only to kanu but the whole nation as a whole.
it is rather with this frame of mind that i urge the young KANU members that they should know that kenyans love them and will be behind them all the time as long as they realise that its no longer Mois nor Barngetunys.

i find it rather very defeatist for the KANU old guards and some who not very far in the past defected form kanu forming a splinter and ineffective party coming back and trying to destroy what has alredy been achieved.
it is sad as though the young KANU members who have opted to work with ODMK have to fight to stay afloat politically.members of KANU e.g Barngetuny and Biwott are an utter disgrace not only to kanu but the whole nation as a whole.
it is rather with this frame of mind that i urge the young KANU members that they should know that kenyans love them and will be behind them all the time as long as they realise that its no longer Mois nor Barngetunys.