WaKenya Diaspora

Opinion newsletter dedicated to fair 2007 Kenya election coverage Issued Nov. 20, 2007
Issue 4 Vol. 1 #4

Negative campaigns analyzed

Internet attacks to eventually benefit ODM most say
By Aggrey Kitonga

Kenyans in U.S. say negative cam-

paign against ODM and its presidential
candidate Raila Odinga, have helped
build Odinga up as the biggest threat to
President Mwai Kibaki’s re-election bid.
Over the past week, Odinga faced
a barrage of nasty Internet campaign
from quarters allied to Kibaki’s PNU.
Documents described by ODM Pen-
tagon member Najib Balala as fake,
claimed Odinga signed a memorandum
of understanding with a Kenyan Muslim
group promising them autonomy when he
comes to power.
“That was clear propaganda,” John
Muchemi of Dallas, Texas said. “Some-
times I wonder how some people think
people can believe something like that.”
Muchemi said it was in PNU’s inter-
est to distance itself from such negative Under siege from all quarters, Raila has enjoyed wild support around the country. But he finds himself
campaigns because it denied PNU an under attack from suprising quarters including the Kenyan clergy, but some Kenyans see tribalism as
the motivation behind the clerics’ attacks.
opportunity of selling its policies.
“I don’t think they want people to think “I think they got desperate, it would
that’s what they mean when PNU says verifiable and within reasonable scope.
have been believable if they didn’t make
kazi iendelee,” Muchemi said. “Now they have soiled the topic, which
it sound as if Raila wanted to put Muslims
Sylvester Rading of San Francisco, if they had handled well, would have
above the law,” Rading said.
Calif. said the propaganda would have Rading said propaganda works well
passed if it was not so exaggerated. See RAILA on page 2
when it’s subtle. The message should be

Kibaki faulted for weak leadership

By Mark Kairu Kibaki was aloof and looked the other
Disillusioned supporters of President way as Kenyans called for his leader-
Mwai Kibaki and his opponents are ship.
united on one thing—Kibaki has not He said many Kenyans were
shown much leadership over the past mostly disappointed because Kibaki
five years. failed to tackle corruption, a pillar of
While his supporters are cau- his promises during his inauguration
tious about criticizing him during the in 2003.
campaign season, they admit he has “For Kibaki, an incumbent to be
failed in most of the pledges he made trailing in the polls for so long is just
in 2003. bad news,” Muthui said. “He should
Mark Muthui a resident of Austin, have been more decisive with corrup-
Texas said Kibaki’s second term did tion and dismissed all those ministers
not depend on his achievement in in his government accused of graft.”
the past five years, but the mistake Kibaki’s government has been
his strongest opponent Raila Odinga accused of condoning corrup-
makes. tion, in his expose` of the corrup-
Commander in Chief President Mwai Kibaki com- “It sucks when you have to rely on tion rot in the Kibaki government,
mands very little respect with his hands-off leader- your opponent to stumble to win the
ship style. elections,” Muthui said. See KIBAKI on page 2
Muthui said over the last four years,
KIBAKI from pg. 1
former anti-corruption Tzar John Githon-
go released a series of secretly recorded
tapes implicating ministers in Kibaki’s
government to corruption.
Githongo’s latest tape posted in Mars
Group Kenya Website www.marsgroup-
kenya.org, reveals Kibaki’s minister
for Energy Kiraitu Murungi and former
minister of finance David Mwiraria trying
to cover-up evidence of the Anglo-leasing
corruption.
Achieng Keno, a resident of Santa
Clara, California said his biggest problem
with Kibaki’s leadership is the fact that he
reneged on the agreement that made him
president.
“That was greed of the highest order.
He can never be trusted and I feel sorry
for people like [Musikari] Kombo” Keno
said.
Kombo, the Ford-Kenya boss has put
his weight behind Kibaki’s re-election and President Mwai Kibaki and first Lady Lucy are running a disjointed campaign buoyed by an alliance of
formed an alliance with the amorphous politicians united against ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga. Kibaki has been faulted for being
Party of National Unity, Kibaki’s re-elec- slow in reacting to Kenyan’s concerns and his wife has been accused of abusing privilege.
tion vehicle.
Keno said Kibaki also reintroduced across as if it’s not concerned with the
tribalism by appointing mainly his Kikuyu “And when his wife attacked Nation, that welfare of poor wananchi,” Chebii said.
tribesmen in key government positions. was it for me,” Njeru said. “I don’t know The insecurity caused by the Mungiki
Keno said Kibaki maliciously targeted if there was anything he should have sect in various parts of Central Province
Kalenjins for sacking and brought bad said, but it showed how his family were and Nairobi was James Wangai biggest
faith to his quest of cleaning up the civil abusing privilege, people don’t forget disappointment with the Kibaki’s admin-
service. abuse and Lucy gave them a major one istration.
“It’s true that Moi dished out goodies to remember.’ “He just seemed powerless in the
to his people, but not all of them were Santa Monica, California resident hands of these people,” Wangai said. “I
bad,” Keno said. “Some were very quali- Leonard Chebii said targeting of Kalen- would have liked to see Mungiki leaders
fied like Sally Kosgey.” jins for sacking and the clashes in Mt. getting arrested and taken to court.”
Kibaki is also faulted for sitting silently Elgon are the two issues that turned him Wangai said he the police effort of kill-
while foreigners attacked EA Standard against Kibaki. ing Mungiki members without taking them
Newspaper offices and his wife, Lucy at- “I hate to hear when people say Ka- to court created a dangerous precedent
tacking reporters in Nation House. lenjins are incompetent, yes Moi favored and gave the government a bad name.
“I wanted him to come out and say some of us, but there are many who are “Now Kibaki’s government could face
something about the Arturs and Standard qualified,” Chebii said. human rights violation charges just like
raid,” Mukami Njeru, a resident of Albany, He said Kibaki’s lack of urgency to Mobutu, it’s pathetic, Kenya is above
New York said. send police to quell the clashes in Mt. such things,” Wangai said.
Njeru said Kibaki was perceived as Elgon and Kuresoi was also another indi- Kibaki’s choice of words was Japheth
having lost control of the country or cator that he was not a good leader. Senteu’s of San Francisco, Calif., main
insensitive to the plight of Kenyans when “When we vote for the govern- concern.
he failed to comment on the matter that ment, we expect it to provide se- “It just bugs me when he calls people
dominated the media. curity, Kibaki’s government comes Kumbafu,” Senteu said.

RAILA from pg. 1

Njue, not related to newly-named
“The Kibaki government has messed Cardinal John Njue, said the clergy at-
up on a lot of things and they said tacks on ODM would also not help PNU
nothing, now they can hardly wait to because they were not sustained.
attack Raila, it looks dishonest.” “PNU cannot depend on church peo-
ple to fight for them especially if they’re
-Dennis Njue from GEMA communities,” Njue said.
“When someone like Bishop Mark
Houston, Texas
Kariuki attacks Raila, it just looks like he’s
given them some mileage,” Rading said. helping Kibaki because he’s a Kikuyu like
Mary Kerubo of New Jersey said him.”
ODM was going to use the propaganda Njue said it would have been more
to its advantage. Supporters, some carrying giants posters of credible if members of the clergy pointed
“PNU is so disorganized so they can- Raila Odinga, cheer him after he presented his out flaws on both sides instead of just
not respond when ODM starts using the nomination papers to Kenya’s electoral com- coming across as if they’re against
attack to demonize the president and mission Wednesday Nov. 14 Odinga.
PNU,” Kerubo said. “Kibaki will have to aware of the MoU circulating on the Inter- “The Kibaki government has messed
do double-time to counter the ODM at- net because they lacked Internet access. up on a lot of things and they said noth-
tacks on this issue.” “I think it’s a waste of time for PNU to ing, now they can hardly wait to attack
But Dennis Njue of Houston, Texas do its attacks on the Internet, they should Raila, it looks dishonest,” Njue said.
said the attack was pointless to begin do it in the campaign trail like ODM.
with. Njue said Few Kenyans were That’s more effective,” Njue said.
 Is this another Morris mess?
Genius or blunder; Kenyans across U.S. weigh in on new ODM consultant
By Elizabeth Muvinya tions. During his heydays in American advantage of such obvious goofs by
politics, he was known as the man who ODM to bring Odinga down.
Last week ODM Presidential Candi-
had the president’s ear. “This shows that Raila has lost focus of
date Raila Odinga
his campaigns, how can he allow that
caused yet another “Morris has never been man in his campaigns? The guy was
controversy after charged or convicted of cheating on his wife,” Njenga said.
introducing his new a crime, the man has Catherine Mwangi-Smith of Redding,
political consultant, written several bestsellers California is also not forgiving.
American politi- teaching politicians how “Raila is insulting Kenyans by bringing
cal strategist Dick to win elections, and he such a person to help him, kwani there
Morris. has proven that he has the are no Kenyans who can do the job?” she
The move mojo, why not? I say “Go said.
evoked mixed Raila!”” In his press conference Morris said
feelings with some
he was offering his services to the ODM
accusing Odinga of --Franklin Makhoha team pro-bono, a factor one Kenya said
reverting Kenyans Dick Morris is a regular guest in The Oakland, Calif. was irresistible.
to colonialism O’Reilly Factor, a news commentary show
“Hey, you can’t beat free,” Franklin
and others saying hosted by Bill O’Reilly, in the Conservative-
leaning Fox News Channel in the U.S. He was, however, Makhoha of Oakland, California said. “I’d
it were a good
forced to resign Aug. 19, accept anyone in my campaign if he of-
political move that
1996 amid tabloid reports fers his services for free—even the devil
would inject fresh
that he allowed Sherry Rowlands, a 200- himself if I can get away with it.”
ideas in the ODM campaigns.
an-hour escort, to listen in to his private Makhoha said PNU members were
Odinga’s move attracted mixed feel-
conversations with President Clinton. just bitter because Odinga had acquired
ings in the U.S. as well.
His wife stood by him and as the master the help of a quality political strategist
“It was a risky but good move,” ODM
strategist he is, Morris started looking and they were clearly panicking.
supporter and Miami, Florida resident
for work elsewhere and found it in TV “Morris has never been charged or
Francis Chemoss said. “I’ve watched
networks as a political commentator and convicted of a crime, the man has written
Dick Morris on Fox News here and apart
analyst—his best product—bashing the several bestsellers teaching people how
from his bashing Democrats, I think he’s
Clintons. to win elections, and he has proven that
smart and can be very helpful.”
“I admire his ability to survive crisis, he has the mojo, why not?, Makokha
Karano Kiarie also from Miami said
him and Raila make a good pair” Caro- posed. “I say “Go Raila!””
Odinga made a dumb move.
lyne Masese of Tallahassee, Florida said. Makhoha said if Americans hated
“I’ve always said Raila is his own
“His scandal happened a long time ago Morris as much as PNU supporters
worst enemy, why did he need to an-
and there was nothing criminal about wanted Kenyans to believe, why do
nounce that guy in a press conference?’
what he did. At the end of the day the they spend millions of dollars buying his
Kiarie posed. “I think Morris will give them
man is more than one incident.” books?
fresh ideas, but he’ll open up ODM to
Stephen Njenga of Atlanta, Georgia “If I were PNU, I’d be seeking out Karl
some juicy attacks from PNU, which he
said Morris should be deported back to Rove, that’s one guy I know, who can
doesn’t need now.”
the U.S. Njenga, who described himself save PNU now,” he said.
Morris is credited with helping U.S.
as “Kibaki damu,” said PNU should take
president Bill Clinton win several elec-

Pick from Kenyan papers

ODM move to stem rebellion

By Ben Agina and Ayub Savula results would be transparent. elections and bring change,” he said.
EA Standard He said the party election board, However, Mudavadi blamed the ECK
chaired by retired Judge Richard Kwach, over the nominations debacle.
ODM has reached out to aspirants who was composed of professionals. “ECK should have extended the dead-
lost in the party nominations by incorpo- “Unfortunately, the board was over- line for submission of nomination lists
rating some in the presidential campaign whelmed by the logistical tasks. Many po- when it was made aware of the difficulties
team. litical leaders wanted to run on the ODM political parties were facing,” he said.
The Orange party has also admitted ticket. They wanted to be in the winning He added that the deadline left no
that the nomination process fell short of team,” said Mudavadi. room for petitions and repeat nomina-
expectations and dented its followers’ Mudavadi congratulated the candi- tions. ODM recommended that the ECK
confidence. dates nominated on the party ticket. He should in future be mandated to handle
Addressing a Press conference at Or- also thanked those who were not nomi- nominations as a way of improving de-
ange House, Nairobi, on Tuesday ODM nated for participating and urged them to mocracy and building political parties into
running mate, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, said stick with the party despite their loss. strong institutions.
the nominations were the first attempt by He announced that some of those Mudavadi assured all Kenyans that
a political party to conduct primaries us- who lost, including former MPs, Mr Musa the party condemned all forms of vio-
ing the secret ballot. Sirma and Prof Christine Mango, would lence.
Mudavadi explained that the party’s be in the presidential campaign team. “Violence can never be used to gain
first task was to show that it was commit- “It’s now time for all of us to stand political mileage in any democratic proc-
ted to internal democracy and that the together and work for ODM to win the ess,” he said.
Kalonzo becoming more relevant

Supporters want ODM-K presidential candidate to avoid mistakes made by other candidates. Polls place him third with about 15 percent support nation-
wide.

By Andrew Ongoro the votes in Eastern Province,” Tarus Kamba like me, that’s part of it but
said. “Kibaki is trouncing him in his the main reason I support him is be-
Kalonzo Musyoka, the ODM-Ken- own backyard despite all the prob- cause he’s not tainted with corruption
ya presidential candidate may be due lems in PNU.” like ODM and PNU,” Mwikali said.
for yet another miracle. The jostling in Simon Ngumba of Minneapolis, Critics have scoffed at Musyoka’s
ODM and the disorganization in PNU Minnesota said Musyoka has all the claim that he’s clean and corruption-
is set to create major fallouts that’ll time to get the votes to be president. free charging that as a minister in the
likely benefits Musyoka. Ngumba said the problems affect- disgraced Daniel Arap Moi’s regime,
“Kalonzo should just chill and wait ing ODM and PNU will linger on for Musyoka could not escape the blame
for them to come,” Erastus Kanyi, of the rest of the campaign season and place on the administration.
Denver, Colorado said. Kalonzo should take his time so as Musyoka is undoubtedly, however,
Kanyi said Kalonzo could pull a to avoid the mistakes made by ODM gaining prominence and his candida-
big surprise in the coming election candidate Raila Odinga and Presi- ture is getting noticed even by those
because ODM and PNU are engaged dent Mwai Kibaki. who thought he was finished when
in all kinds of internal problems “Kalonzo is in the best position, he Odinga led a team from the united
leaving him free to campaign unper- should pace himself and attack them ODM –K.
turbed. slowly by slowly,” Ngumba said. “He’s Salim Mohammed said he sup-
Stephen Tarus in New York said the only one who can gain votes be- ports Odinga but he’d be willing
Musyoka cannot be taken seriously cause he’s more neutral.” to support Musyoka as long as he
as long as he continues to copy Ngumba said he’d not be surprised
showed he could beat Kibaki.
if Musyoka beat both Kibaki and Od-
every ODM moves. inga to clinch the presidency. He said “My problem is Kibaki, anybody
“He has to distinguish himself. It Musyoka’s steady rise in polls is an who can beat Kibaki will get my
seems as if he lacks original ideas indicator that he’s the man to watch. vote,” Mohammed said.
and he’s hanging on the coattails of “Kibaki and Raila cannot go any He said the Kibaki regime has not
Raila to get to State House,” Tarus higher in the polls, but Kalonzo is mov- helped Muslims and it has reneged
said. ing upwards. If this trend continues, on agreements made in 2003 to
To win, Musyoka has to gain all he’ll pass in between them like he improve the lives of Muslims and
the votes from the nomination fallout always says and take the presidency,” people of North Eastern Province.
in ODM and PNU and also take Ngumba said. “He promised to fix the problems
advantage of the disorganization in Esther Mwikali said Musyoka was in N.Eastern but he has not done
PNU Tarus added. her choice for president. anything, I like what Raila is saying
“I don’t know what’s stopping “I know some people will say but if Kalonzo proves to be more
Kalonzo from taking 90 percent of I’m supporting him because he’s a popular I’ll support him.”

Our staff Aggrey Kitonga enya Diaspora.WaKenya Diaspora is one of the

Editor in chief Andrew Ongoro first virtual news magazine serving the Kenyan
Sally Sande Chapman Diaspora in the U.S.
Reporters Photos from the Internet.
Elizabeth Muvinya Contact us by e-mail
Mark Kairu Opinions expressed are not endorsed by WaK- [email protected]