Raila explains why Obama snubbed Kenya in Africa tour

Brief:

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and renowned US-based scholar Prof Ali Mazrui put up a spirited fight in the international media to explain why Obama snubbed Kenya on his first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa after his election as US president. ...more

User comments(15)

1. On Tuesday July 21, 2009, 5:05 AM , Mwendwa Gakurahia, Kenya wrote:
  He is definitely not a Luo. He knows when to bring people together instead of causing the death of people. Mr Odinga should stop associating himself with OBAMA, He does not like you and he is not your brother

 
2. On Sunday July 12, 2009, 13:09 PM , joash matonda, Kenya wrote:
  Thank you brothers for shedding the light to the world about our unbreakable bond with brother and the entire American community. His action to snub Kenya for a while was a prudent and brilliant idea especially at this critical moment of self searching,evaluation & realistic revisit of the controversial past elections electoral violence that denied the people of kenya the power and sovereignity of vote

 
3. On Sunday July 12, 2009, 11:47 AM , Otieno Koyo, China wrote:
  US has her own interests including manipulation of other countries' politics. The reasons that took Obama to Ghana are: Ghana's oil and gold, strategy in establishing military base in Africa, competing with China which has extended her warm relations to West Africa, among others. US sought Ghana as second resort after failing to build a military base in Wajir. We are proud as Kenyans, though poor.

 
4. On Sunday July 12, 2009, 11:37 AM , Ndirangu, United States wrote:
  We have performed poorly as a nation.Corruption nepotism,bad governance characterises kenya.The p.m talks about stolen elction all the time is that the only problem. Bad policies myopic leaders and parlimenary dictatorship is ailing us now.Obama was categorical, 'make your house in order and i will work with you' I do concur with him.Let improve on our policies we will be recognised next time.

 
5. On Sunday July 12, 2009, 10:03 AM , nic smith, United Kingdom wrote:
  Mr Obama won't come anywhere near Kenya and rightly so. He doesn't want to be associated with the corrupt government who look after themselves and their families whilst millions of Kenyans live in poverty. A country of 4000 millionaires and 40 million beggars.

 
6. On Sunday July 12, 2009, 9:43 AM , Vincent Arap Rono , United States wrote:
  Endorse Kibaki? He's one reason why Obama hasn't been to Kenya. Mr Kibaki and his regime rigged the 2007 election & secretly planted himself as president. Wananchi didn't see a ceremony. When Kanu was defeated, Moi handed power peacefully.Until Kibaki quits office, Kenya is haunted. Why would Obama visit when there's a wrong person in power? No excuse for violating a democratic rule!

 
7. On Sunday July 12, 2009, 5:53 AM , samuel areri, United States wrote:
  Raila is dreaming the reasons why Obama snubbed kenya wrongly.Corruption such as Raila's sister's appointment,procurement of presidential limousines without his knowledge,unresolved kisumu molasses plant,forgetting to settle the displaced people that are suffering as a result of Raila and Ruto,Raila's association with Gaddaffi are the major reasons why. Let Kenyans know this truth and nothing else

 
8. On Sunday July 12, 2009, 4:28 AM , eric.k, United States wrote:
  these ex kanu relics still do not get it. It's failure of institutions not who is in power. Why do we suffer from amenesia? When will kenyans rise up and demand institutions not keep depending on personalities whose umbilical cord is still attached to mama na baba kanu. How do you have one of the most investigated ministers in charge of internal security? Abuse of power is all these guys are after

 
9. On Sunday July 12, 2009, 3:47 AM , Geoff Hansen, United States wrote:
  Why did President Obama avoid Kenya, the homeland of his father, on his first trip to Africa since becoming president? The answer largely rests in Obama's desire to stay as far away as possible from Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a fellow Luo tribesman that Sen. Obama worked hard to get elected president in Kenya's December 2007 presidential election. The White House remains engaged in full campaign-like cover-up mode, working desperately to keep the American public from knowing how close Obama's ties to radical socialist Raila Odinga truly are.

 
10. On Sunday July 12, 2009, 1:54 AM , Wounded Africa, United States wrote:
  Glad to see Obama snub Kenya..I If he were to go there, he would be endorsing poor leadership, corruption, among other social evils. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Kenyans but we did. Shame on us! Nobody need to explain anything.

 
11. On Saturday July 11, 2009, 23:55 PM , Nelson Onyango, United States wrote:
  It is sad to see our politicians and scholars rationalizing why Obama did not come to Kenya. Kenya is not an example of a democracy, it is just the perfect laughing-stock as far as failed and inept multi-partyism goes. If we perpetuate our world renowned corruption and injustice, even our very own Africans will snub us, much to our dismay. Lets remove our log and not focus on Ghana's speck.

 
12. On Saturday July 11, 2009, 21:10 PM , mararilyn M,ukhana, United States wrote:
  This is a great embarrasment for Kenya. A country that has lot of promise and potential. If kenya wants to shine again, its leaders need to show a level of maturity. If Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama can work together , like mature adults, what about Kenya. Odinga and Kibaki, stop sugar coating facts and style up!!!!!!!!-----says angry, embarrssed Kenyan student abroad- stop embarrassing us!

 
13. On Saturday July 11, 2009, 20:47 PM , cattle_herder, Kenya wrote:
  Kenyans should adjust to the fact that Obama is an American and is president of a superpower democracy. He does not have to blindly follow the wishes of tribalists and nepotists in Kenya nor good people(majority) in that country. He can visit any country as he wishes. Whenever he wants to visit his family in Kenya, he can do that too. For now it is policy and democracy on the high agenda.

 
14. On Saturday July 11, 2009, 20:11 PM , siala, United Kingdom wrote:
  his 'family' would have got in the way...

 
15. On Saturday July 11, 2009, 19:00 PM , Meshack Maarufu, United States wrote:
  Corrupt entities use stealth to recruit critics into their camp. Now Mazrui has shed his scholarly reputation qualities. He&Raila are sugarcoating Obama’s view of Kenyan political and social ills, and redefining his reasons to snub Kenya. To them Obama only hates the single event of a stolen election? They aren’t whitehouse spokesmen. Join wa Thiong’o in endorsing Kibaki but don’t alter facts.

 

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