As aimed, Miguna distracted ODM
The campaign momentum was almost peeled back with Miguna Miguna’s book, Peeling Back the Mask: A Quest for Justice in Kenya. By any standard, Miguna is a very bright man. It calls for an intelligent brain to weave such a read.
First things first. What formed the basis of the decision to appoint Miguna as Premier Raila Odinga’s official advisor on coalition matters? Who advised and recommended to Raila that Miguna fitted the bill to be his official government advisor?
Except for Otieno Kajwang’, Fred Outa and the residents of Nyando, the rest of the Luo nation has been very cautious commending on Miguna’s revelations. PM Raila remained cool until when he instructed his friends through Friends of Raila (Fora) to reply to Miguna.
Miguna’s pride, IQ and sophisticated humour reveals and presents a real Luo man in the traditional context. I absolutely have no beef with Miguna’s overbearing mien, that is Ja-Nyando at his best!
A flashback on former PS John Githongo’s Anglo-Leasing dossier and the Kikuyu’s reaction over the issue is a vital and valid comparative case study. It is indeed true that Githongo, a former PS of Ethics and Governance in President Kibaki’s Narc government, almost scuttled Kibaki’s presidency.
How did the Kikuyu nation react? Did they demonstrate at Githongo’s rural home, burn his effigy and ‘coffin’? No, it never happened. Central Province was stunned and remained quiet praying for the whole thing to cool down. That’s what happened.
No saints
The emotional impatience among the Luos to react to Miguna’s book has been hard to bear. Interestingly, the blaring responses against Miguna have not negated the latter’s description of Raila’s persona as ‘disastrous in structured meetings... a good listener... he isn’t a good organised leader, manager or administrator.’ No leader is a saint anyway. Were Miguna’s revelations about Raila’s character and emotional stability in bad spirit?
As a socio-political analyst, I see Miguna’s book as the unseen giant annex and big footnote of Raila’s revised autobiography, Raila: An Enigma in Kenyan Politics. This is because when the PM will revise his autobiography, there are issues in Miguna’s book that he, Raila, must capture.
Sarah Elderkin, ODM’s media consultant, penned a swift rejoinder which pulled out as a good journalistic device aimed at toning down the robust humour and stings that characterise Miguna’s pen.
Unfortunately, Elderkin majorly focused on side shows and went for Miguna’s personal character. However, I was delighted when she defended the PM that it was not strange for a man like Raila to weep publicly.
Masked reaction
She further talks of Miguna’s character at Kilaguni Lodge that she could not divulge. How I wish she would have quenched the thirst of the Miguna phobics and maniacs with her Kilaguni story. I considered Elderkin’s reply a masked reaction by the PM and a candid question to Miguna, why’ve you done this to me?
A critical question whose answer may incriminate or vindicate Miguna is, what is the allowed level or percentage of exaggeration an author is given when writing a biography or antobiography? We have read people’s auto and biographies where readers have raised concerns that some information has been concealed.
As presidential candidates crisscross the county, I am afraid those opposed to the PM may generate humerous jokes from Miguna’s book that may prick Raila.
This is where Ababu Namwamba will be called upon to reload the secretariats’ propaganda team because, as ODM will be fighting back stings from Raila’s opponents, the party will at the same time be required to clear the grey areas raised by Miguna.
If Miguna’s secondary aim was to scuttle ODM’s current outreach programme, he, indeed, has achieved the objective.
When he comes back in mid-August, as he has promised, he will again distract ODM’s activities because he will be the centre of attraction. Miguna would have wasted four precious weeks for ODM.
I now look forward to Prof Kivutha Kibwana peeling back the mask on Kibaki’s presidency.
{bigoodasienwa@yahoo.com}
KWS, residents must agree on game attacks
The human wildlife conflict being witnessed should be addressed once and for all. The fact such cases continue hogging the limelight exposes the apparent ineptitude of the Kenya Wildlife Service in addressing them. They portray KWS as lacking profundity in its work.
Instead of seeking lasting solutions to the problem by incorporating credible mitigation measures, KWS has largely resorted to punishing the Maasai morans, who are desperately trying to ensure security for their people and property.
Killing wildlife, especially the ‘big five’, deals a big blow to tourism and the economy. Nonetheless, it is unrealistic to compare animal life with that of humans. Though it’s the role of KWS to protect wildlife, it shouldn’t do so at the expense human lives.
For instance, when six lions were recently killed in Oloika, Kitengela, KWS vowed to arrest and prosecute suspects. Area residents claimed KWS had turned a deaf ear to their worries about the game ‘intrusion’.
A few days later, three morans, while on a retaliatory attack, got injured but managed to kill one lion. They were pursuing a pride of lions that had killed a cow in Kuku Group Ranch in Loitoktok.
KWS is either too ignorant or slow in answering distress calls by affected residents, prompting them to take matters into own hands.
Recently, a meeting scheduled between KWS and Maasai leaders failed to kick off.
The Maasais’ readiness for talks with KWS shows they do not kill the animals for fun but for their security and that of their property. In retrospect, their actions are justifiable.
Instead of crying foul each time the wildlife is killed, KWS should consider putting up electric fences and other forms of wildlife proof barriers in the affected areas. However, erecting and maintaining the fences is an expensive venture. It must be done in consultation with affected communities and the Government and prospective donors.
To get to the core root of the problem, KWS must hasten to give audience to the concerned communities even as it makes requests to the Government for funding because riding roughshod over Maasai will only aggravate the matter.
{Dennis Mbae, Nairobi}
Shame as protestors spill precious maize
Demonstrations and protest marches that have no regard for precious foodstuff and other valuable resources are loathsome and must be condemned.
Days ago, I watched with disbelief and disgust a group of protestors scattering sacks of maize grains outside Prime Minister’s office ‘protesting’ alleged corruption unearthed by Miguna Miguna, the PM’s former advisor. I thought I was watching a movie shot in some rich country.
What saddened me the most was how such struggling Kenyans had the audacity to misuse precious food stuff during such tough times. The price of maize floor is high, especially in rural areas, and majority cannot afford a decent meal a day.
I believe many must have watched in horror as valuable food was spilled to the ground and only wished that someone would have given it to them instead. Obviously, some politician must have footed the bill but the act was thoughtless and callous.
{David Sonye, Rarieda}
Sackings to revive lost faith on courts
The work being done by the judges and magistrates vetting board is good. The vetting process is open and transparent.
The sacking of ‘unfit’ judges is an indication we are now on the right direction to effective Judiciary.
We are now starting to enjoy the fruits of reforms.
Most of them were sent packing due to delays in making judgements.It was stated some of them had a pile of pending cases of upto four years.
This assures Kenyans that the era of obtaining fair justice in courts has just began. It will restore the faith Kenyans lost on Judiciary.
{David Mwaura, Maseno}
Aspirants must sell their reform records
When Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the next elections will be a two-horse race, he was dismissed, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Keen political observers seem to agree the contest will be between proponents of status quo against reformists.
Interestingly, in their recent campaign trails, aspirants have resorted to reform and development-oriented issues, avoiding character assassination of opponents that Kenyans have lately been accustomed to.
The aspirants are now highlighting their individual contributions to the enactment of new Constitution and their other reform credentials.
As we continue to vet them, let’s look for the reform credentials.
{Concerned Kenyan, Via Email}
