Raila’s “Soldiers of Democracy”
I have often wondered whether Raila Odinga has a never ending political curse hanging around his head. The idea that Kibaki will release suspects responsible for the murder, rape and burning of people’s homes is simply crazy.
I don’t know how others are viewing this amnesty issue, but this is my reading of it:
Raila Odinga aligned himself with the Kalenjins. The Kalenjins then planned and executed the post-election violence with Raila’s “silent” complicity. Kibaki then “tricked” them into signing this coalition government deal, which everyone is now beginning to see is a total joke. Kibaki then showers Raila Odinga and his cronies with all the expensive trappings of power (even bringing in some of the planners of the violence – people like Ruto and Kosgey).
Now, while Raila and his ODM planners are enjoying all the trappings of power, their so called “soldiers of democracy” are languishing in squalid jails all around Kenya and all Raila can do is call for their release (which Kibaki is soundly ignoring). So, the question is, how would you feel if you were a young Kalenjin man who went out and risked your life for Raila, but are now left languishing in some squalid prison while Raila and Ruto are driven around Nairobi in expensive mercedes benz’s?
Do you think these Kalenjin parents, who may have sons languishing in prison today, are going to encourage them to go out again in 2012 and “fight” for Raila? If you are a thinking person, why would you do it again?
I keep underestimating Kibaki, but maybe he is smarter than we all think. I said in many of my previous postings (& I got a lot of heat for it), that Kibaki had to get control of the security situation BEFORE 2012 so that Kalonzo can move into statehouse and that’s exactly what he is doing. This process will take a few years, but they will get it done.
The “war” is not with the Jaluo. It’s with the Kalenjins and Kibaki and Michuki are determined to resolve this “problem” before they leave in 5 years time.
Raila got duped. {again}.
Amnesty or no anmesty, if anyone is suspected of having committed a crime, they should be taken to court within 48 hours or released. The Kenyan police has no right to hold people indefinitely, be it Mungiki, Sabaot, Kalenjin or whoever.
That is what Raila, Kibaki and anyone else should be talking about. If Raila is concerned about his foot-soldiers in jail, he should demand that they be taken to court or freed, not in campaign rallies but through a lawyer filing it in a court of law.
Raila Ujinga kweli ni mjinga!
KE
Unfortunately Kalenjins do no think like you KE!! All they want is that piece of land! and so long as Kikuyus sell off (the Kikuyu get less and less and they get more and more in their so called ancestral land!.) ~and they have achieved for so many Kenyans do not want any piece of real estate in Kalenjin araes
RAILA gets political milage (3 M votes) by calling for their freedom!!! (granted or not he does not care~he would even wish they were not released to incence and keep the Kalenjins to himself)
THIS IS BUT SICK the IDPS say they canot testify in court for fear of Kalenjin neighbours reprisals .Thats why there is a delay in trials….They are not so many youth about 1000 are in custody countrywide due to this violence!!!
KE;
you paint a rather grim future for the republic. in your view,what should the normal kenyan citizens (the ones who actually work for their money) do? emigrate to newyork as you have? or somewhere closer, say tz?
anonymous;
i heard the jail-count was closer to 13000, not 1000. may the guilty get jail time, but minus those who rigged the polls of course!
Just what:
I think the common kenyan should for the moment, forget about these idealized notions of democracy and be willing to settle for a dictator who will be a good steward of the economy.
The fundamental lesson of what happened in kenya {at least for me) is that you cannot rule a poor, third world country like Kenya with a soft hand or even via consensus.
Look at how this grand coalition illusion is already breaking down. Kibaki is just ignoring them and that is a good thing. Why pretend to be a democrat when you are not?
Kibaki should rule like a dictator for the next 5 years because this will allow him to sort out the security appartus and ensure Kalonzo gets the job in 2012. Then, when kalonzo becomes president, he should rule like a dictator for the next 10 years, but place all his efforts on rebuilding the economy and ensuring that the security situation is airtight.
In poor, third world countries, order must be imposed with the stick and occassionally even with the gun.
KE
Sorry KE i think you are going berserk…we are at WAR with Kalenjins? Kibaki should ensure Kalonzo wins(you mean rigged in)!!!
I presume WE (means Kikuyus). So its official to you that the war is on with the Kalenjins!!!Why then do you want Kalonzo after five years!!!(why not rig in Uhuru~That way ‘we’ shall shall be save)..Dont you think Kalonzo is risky !!!Do not forget he got ODM DNA
You think Other tribes will just SIT and applaud!!! Whats the future of KENYA ACCORDING TO YOU!!!
The Kalenjins are NOT the problem!!! Its persons like you that are!!!
KE
If you hate Kalenjins this much why dont you advocate for their seccesion then!!! so that you remain with those whom you love (including Luo’s)
You are exactly like the Kalenjin murderers!! why dont you visit em in Eldoret and have a cup of TEA .
@Just what
Am with you!!!
kenyans may learn to forget democracy and ignore the whole ‘human-rights’ (maina kiai &co) talk. but if you ask me, the best option for anyone who can is to pack up their bags and leave. there are many more places under the sun to ply a trade.
its no wonder the brits, euros and americans consider our country a ‘jungle’.
Lord:
We can’t have a Kikuyu president in 2012. It would be too much and everyone knows it. That’s why GEMA needs Kalonzo. The whole point is to prevent Raila from getting anywhere near statehouse and I think they will manipulate the process to ensure that Kalonzo gets in. Kenya is no longer a democracy and even if you blame Kibaki for that, it won’t matter because Kenyans vote on tribe, not on “intellectual idea’s” about governance.
When I use the word “war”, I mean that the violence perpetrated by the Kalenjins has to be prevented from ever occurring again. There was a security lapse and Kibaki was asleep at the wheel, but I think he learnt his lesson. He will not ignore the advice of his intelligence advisers again and I believe they are going to spend the next 5 years working to ensure that the rift valley is pacified.
The Kalenjins need to start using their brains and stop letting politicians like Ruto lie to them. All those young “warriors” are now languishing in jail while people like Ruto run free. (and Kibaki is still the president so they got nothing).
KE
I think you r brutally honest about the state of affairs in KENYA .(any one sees that its a tribal jungle out there). So you think the plan is to perpetually keep power within GEMA (even when ussing proxies like Kalonzo) ! What is the end game of this!!! Shall we have a country?
There is law which says IF SOMETHING CAN GO WRONG IT WILL GO WRONG! according to your strategy the country will be locked in a deadly tribal GAME that something will definately go wrong and PUFF no country
Why not think of a constitutional ORDER that guarantees thie TRIBES space so that those of us who work can plan our future…The WORLD is moving fast~ Life is too short and precious to engage in CHILDLISH eventualy to loose TRIBAL GAMES
#Just what
Running away is not an OPTION.. Please come back
@ke
if amnesty is not granted to all liberators and major political reforms done, all kenyans should get ready for a brutal civil war after 2012. it will not come from kale land by the way, the thing u dont get ke is that we african’s have no respect for human life; dont expect luos, luhya’s and other tribes to confront police with rocks and palm leaves come 2012… the way kibaki and gema politicians are acting should send red flags to all non-gema kenyan’s.. who doesn’s know that gema cant wait to revenge not knowing that they were the ones who caused all the mayhem in kenya in january..
I just arrived from kenya and everything is fine. There is a boom out there.
I ventured into private clubs and also into low class areas. There is a buzz in the air and those who are hardworking are making some money.
Of course there are some losers and moaners out there.
I did not sense any hostility among ethnic groups. The person I visited is from a certain business oriented ethnic group. He has many employees from other ethnic groups (including supposedly “enemy” ones). Relations are excellent.
There is a housing boom. That person has built 48 apartments in the last 3 years and sold them all off. He is building more and there are enquiries even before they are finished.
The infrastructure is still terrible though. The roads leave alot to be desired and I also experienced a power blackout. Water supply was also intermittent in some areas.
Security has greatly improved in many areas. There are alot of police all over and the police are quite friendly.
All in all, Kenya has immense potential if only we did not have idiots like some I have seen on this forum – I will not name names for they know themselves.
God Bless Kenya.
Kei O:
What other areas of potential did you see in the economy?
One of Railas Kingpins and supporters of poll violence is dead. Kines. His farm was used for training worriors and he was rewarded a cabinet minister. Surely God is faithful. If our political systems reward crooks with cabinet positions, then he will ensure they dont dring from the blood of the innocent! His soul shold rest where other victims of the violence he planned or supported lie.