Why I'd vote for Raila Odinga to be the President of Kenya

In 2002, my mother voted for Kibaki (Narc), Kiprono (Kanu) and Kipyego (Narc) for president, MP and councillor, respectively. Well into her sixties, she did it because she believed what Raila said, that Narc was going to crash corruption, eliminate tribalism and return pride and a sense of ownership to Kenyans. It was never to be. As soon the Kibaki presidency took shape, however, the Kikuyu became Kikuyu and the Luo became Luo, etc. Kibaki's Statehouse has succeeded, albeit without making any effort, in driving Kenyans to the pit that Moi before him did not manage, in spite of the latter's concerted and spirited efforts to 'divide and rule'. It pains me, and undoubtedly all other like-minded Kenyans, that what we invested in Kibaki in 2002 was our reflection and loss of balance and judgement. This is because we threw our hope to a gutter from which we must all arise and reclaim. It takes exceptional leadership and will to reverse the trend that we witness in Kenya today. As a nation, we survive basically because God doesn't allow Kenya to perish, the internecine hatred and skirmishes that come up once in a while notwithstanding. For who would have imagined that in a post-2002 Kenya, there would ever again be an ugly repeat of the ethnic slaughter and senseless clashes we witnessed in 1992? Who would imagine then that having sent Moi to 'look after goats and eat ugali' Kiraitu's Kenya was not going to be 'how Kenya should be governed' but how Kenya should NEVER be allowed to be governed?

It was therefore not without reason that I wanted to follow Raila's launch of his vision the other day. For when Raila launched his vision the other day, I couldn't help feeling a revitalised sense of pride and identity as a Kenyan. His vision is practically tenable and achievable, only if Kenyans believe in themselves and their ability to change things for the good, and refuse to be taught hatred by our bourgeois class. Obviously, when people have been battered by poverty, polarised and traumatised by hatred like is the case in Kenya, it is not easy for the populace to appreciate the possibility of an excellent government as promulgated by Raila in his vision. Yet we have nothing to fear except the failure to act now. Political inertia will not take Kenya anywhere. The status quo feels threatened because it is under-delivering. I'm ashamed to say that we cannot compare ourselves to the excellent services that Tanzanians enjoy from government, this in spite of Kenyans being the senior citizens in East Africa. I'd urge the people of Kenya to join me in giving Raila five years, only five years. If he fails in that time, we have five years to bundle him out and then we shall know that we have no hope in anybody. If he delivers, and I only have faith that he does, then he can seek another mandate. If you imagine that time to be long, please remember how long ago we elected the current government of elders.

I endorse him because as an educated son of Kenya, I know only too well what education can do to eliminate poverty and the culture of dependency. As a person that believes in integration, I support Raila because he has convinced me that his suffering was genuine. We have seen men who raped this country in the previous regimes grovelling before the current rulers and shouting loudest. Raila chose to stay with you and I in the cold rather than wine and dine on our flesh and blood. That requires character. That character is what will return Kenya to productivity and the recognition that leadership is a calling and a service. His government will give opportunity to the Nandi from Cherondo as it will a Kikuyu from Othaya and a Luo from Masono. Raila has had a consistent way of linking up with the people, he has remained a down to the bottom operative notwithstanding his immense wealth. Many equally rich men are keeping to the clean and clear. Secondly, having witnessed and been frustrated by the failures of successive regimes to measure up to the aspirations of Kenyans he is likely 'not to repeat the mistakes'. We need such a conscience.

Just in case you missed his vision, here is the verbatim stuff. Boy it was electrifying as I captured it live on Kass FM. Please join me in voting for Agwambo and dismiss the myth of 'a Luo is not electable' because Americans are on the brink of making history by electing a Jaluo!