Although the official presidential results have not been announced by the Electoral Commission of Kenya, Kenyan blogger, Gerald Baraza, has already declared the winner on his blog, “Kenya has a new President: Hon.Raila Amolo Odinga!… Congratulations Your Excellency Raila Amolo Odinga, 4th President of the Republic of Kenya!”
This should not surprise you. Kenyan bloggers have been following this year’s elections very closely. They have been covering the historic Kenyan Elections 2007 with constant updates of presidential and parliamentary votes. Other bloggers have been posting photos and writing about their own experiences and observations.
Mzalendo, a citizen-led parliamentary watchdog in Kenya, has done an excellent job of posting regular results of the parliamentary votes.
An update from Mzalendo at 2pm yesterday read:
Mzalendo now has the results for 47 Constituencies. For the complete up to date list click here
Highlights
- All of Moi’s sons have lost
- Minister Munyao has been defeated
Mzalendo now has the results for 64 Constituencies. For the complete up to date list click here
We’re now up to 95 constituencies, view the latest list here
BTW guys need to relax a bit on the requests for updates. We’re doing the best we can with our staff of two, and my laptop rapidly (and I do mean rapidly) approaching its deathbed. I was last in bed on Wednesday.
Kenya Imagine blog has a special Election Update page. Apart from posting regular updates, the blog asked voters to share election news and their experiences:
Have you any news on the elections? Please share it here. It needn't be anything untoward or alarming, although news of that will be very much appreciated also. Even news on the turnout, any delays in opening and so on is welcome. Are there enough observers about? Are there long queues? Do the Commission's officials look like they will cope with the hard work? Read here as Kenyans give their election experience.
How did the whole exercise go? Kenyan Pundit (Ory) considers this election a historic one even by international standards:
Folks this is a historic election by Kenyan standards, regional standards and international standards - I don’t think there is a precedent for the number of incumbents that are going down despite having massive resources behind them and attempts to bribe voters. And I challenge you to find an election in the Western world in recent times where people have come out with such determination, conviction, and a strong sense of civic duty .
I’m very very proud of Kenyan voters and you all should be no matter who you are supporting.
The media has focused on the presidential race and on the tribal nature of the campaign, but the story of the revolution (as I keep repeating, but really it’s worth emphasizing) is at the local level - Kenyans have realized the power of the vote and will no longer be taken for a ride. I think this election will be a watermark as far the maturity of voters and the impact it will have on the next Parliament (now we need to get rid of pensions for one-term MPs), Kenyans want results and CHANGE and not empty talk, and if ODM wins they will have an incredibly difficult time at managing expectations.
Ory’s observations of the voting day:
Despite turning up at 6:15 am turnout was already crazy. I’m really curious to see what the turnout will be overall because the few polling stations I visited in Lang’ata had an incredible turnout. When talking to guys in the line in Mada, they said they’ve never seen anything like this.
Observations from the day:
- Ballot papers were not on site like they are supposed to be. They only got delivered at 8:00 am, leading to lots of agitation among the crowd that had turned up early to vote. The crowd finally broke the gate into the school and rushed in (me included otherwise I’d still be in the line) after getting tired of waiting. Once that happened temperatures came down. Apparently many stations in Nairobi and especially Lang’ata did not start voting until around 9:00 am.
- Once inside the school, things were very chaotic. There was no one directing you on where to go and since you voted according to your last name’s initials it was a unneccessarily maddening process trying to figure out which classroom you should go to and then you have to line up again.
- There was lots of camaraderie and good humor in the line. Something very social about voting, which I didn’t expect. People also expressed their determination to vote no matter how long they had to stand in line. No one was wearing any party insignia or logos. There was also heavy tension in the air - any hint of something shady and the crowd could have lynched guys.
Thinker’s Room observed some interesting stuff:
I may have forgotten to carry my camera to capture the scenes, but there’s nothing wrong with my eyes and ears. Here is some of the interesting things I came across
• Some people woke up between 3 and 4 and were at the polling stations from 4 AM in the morning to vote
• If you’re thinking of heading to the ECK command center and waiting sweatily at ECK Chairman Kivuitu’s elbow for the results to be announced think again my child. No doubt remembering the events of 2002 the ECK has made sure that idlers and riffraff do not coalesce their shouting selves around the officials. Most roads leading to the KICC have been cordoned off and some very grim faced security personnel that appear to be either Administration police or General Service Unit. I found myself apologizing from a sharp look from one of those gentlemen.
• Some bars refused to serve customers who do not have the magical inked finger to indicate voting
• Some matatus refused to carry people that did not have the magical inked finger
• In Kibera things almost became sticky when it was discovered that Raila Odinga was not on the voter’s roll. Neither were people whose names started with O and A. Naturally this caused some acute consternation. The ECK explained that the lists had been split along alphabetic lines to reduce the numbers on the lines, and some lists were not delivered in time. Mercifully updated lists were updated and voting took place. I for one am very grateful that people kept their cool. Considering that in some communities names beginning with A and O are fairly thick on the ground, it could have been interpreted quite differently with very nasty results.
• Lines in Kibera were up to 2Km long. Yes, that’s kilometers.
• Nairobi polling stations are heavily populated by party agents that are reducing the speed of counting the ballots to a crawl
• Anticipating long nights, some ECK officials are making use of lulls in the voting to catch 40 winks on benches and on the grass.
• It was refreshing to see young aspiring leaders like Jonathan Mueke and John Kiarie showing up to vote. John Kiarie actually came with his wife and baby
• The Uchumi in South B was closed. (4 litres of soda don’t last as long as you’d think!)
• The voting queue at the Catholic Parochial polling station had to be seen to believed. It was even longer than the Kibera ones! Looping and winding on itself like that annoying snake game on Nokia phones
• There is talk that turnout could top 80% this election, which is a big increase from the last election where it was about 55%
• Preliminary coverage is inconsistent across stations. KTN is showing Odinga is ahead and Citizen and Nation are showing Kibaki is ahead (as of 11 PM)
• Some of the preliminary results are verging on the absurd. 99% for a candidate?
Mental Acrobatics calls for an independent news/current affairs radio station in Kenya:
This election has highlighted again that Kenya seriously and urgently needs an independent 24 hour news/current affairs radio station available nationally. Preferably on FM! Yes we have many independent 24 hour music stations and religious stations, now we need a hard hitting news/current affairs station. Something like the BBC’s radio 5 Live.
It is not sufficient to get a quick 3 minute update every hour or so from the music stations’ “team on the ground”. They just repeat what the official news conferences say and add very little insight or analysis. I feel sorry for the reporters, how much depth can you explore in 1.5 minutes leaving 1.5 minutes for a Q and A session?
Thank goodness for the BBC World Service which not only dispatched reporters around the country but also made the Kenyan election the lead story for the day (until the assassination of Benazir Bhutto (RIP) took over as the lead story). A lot of information I am using today is coming from the BBC World Service.
Gerald Baraza posted a breakdown of how Kenyan ethnic groups voted:
Here is a reliable and scientific prediction of how the various ethnic groups have voted:
Candidate: Mwai Kibaki - Raila Odinga — Kalonzo Musyoka
Kikuyu — 2,533,000 —– 5,000—– 2,000
Luyiah — 300,000 - —900,000— 60,000
Luo— 2,000 — 965,000— 1,000
Kalenjin— 150,000— 1,220,000 — 5,000
Kamba– -10,000— 4,000– - 910,000
Kisii- –200,000— 310,000 —- 2,000
Meru — 615,000—- 2,000 — 1,000
Other African— 150,000— 2,800,000 —50,000
Non African— 8,000— 8,000 —2,000
Total —-Kibaki- 3,968,000 –Raila– 6,214,000 –Kalonzo-1,033,000
In the same post, he writes that Kenyans in Michigan are planning to celebrate:
Kenyans in Michigan, plans are already underway for a grand celebration of this victory. Please get in touch if you do not want to miss out!!!
White African was impressed to see innovative use of technology by mobile election reporters:
I’ve been particularly impressed with the AfricaNews.com media group. They use technology in innovative ways, creating real usable systems to report and connect with Africans on multiple platforms. In the case of the Kenyan 2007 Elections, in partnership with the Arid Lands Information Network, they have created a site where mobile reporters from around the country bring news about the elections.
Juliana of Afromusing was covering the elections on her Twitter channel:
driving by polling stations, most of eldy area appears to be raila country by large margins about 19 hours ago from web
visited several polling stations in eld. some with long lines some are done. took pics. 04:39 AM December 27, 2007 from web
nation media txt and blogger daudi confirm railas problem voting in langata.new registers being printed 01:51 AM December 27, 2007 from web
fam. voted v. early in the morningm it was peaceful and quiet. 01:38 AM December 27, 2007 from web
phone call, rumour is that railas nm omitted from register in langata? 01:37 AM December 27, 2007 from webthe queues in eld for voting were v. long. pple were there in the dark of night. 01:30 AM December 27, 2007 from web
tweeting now from eldoret kenya using motorola q on safaricom gprs internet 01:25 AM December 27, 2007 from web
She is also blogging the election from Eldoret at Afromusing.
Two leading Kenyan newspapers, The Standard and the Daily Nation, set up multimedia election platform and for the first time introduced blogging in the newsroom.
Jesse Masai is probably the most notable parliamentary candidate who kept a blog as part of his campaign strategy. There is also a blog of Youth for Kibaki 2007, which has not been updated since July 2007.
Jesse Masai's latest post titled, Finito:Vox populi, vox Dei, reads:
Najivunia kuwa Mkenya.
I’m proud to be Kenyan.
I have lost, but am glad about it all: The immediate-former MP is truly and finally out.
Some of the things the above-mentioned did in at least three of my strongholds over the past few days - including yesterday - are better left unsaid.
I lost to, among a few others, ODM’s Joshua Kuttuny, a one-time schoolmate at Cherangany High School (these day’s St. Mark’s Boys).
We are contemporaries in much else, but similarities end almost immediately, as we do not agree on much in terms of world view.
My loss aside, am happy for my country and the manner in which it has been during this tense and fractious moments.
I believe our best days are ahead of us.
The next few weeks and months will see me sit down and write something decent about it - probably a book
A few minutes ago, Kumekucha, like Gerald Baraza, declared Raila the winner. He explains why:
Even as ODM were holding a press conference to claim victory in the presidential race, my tally as I had indicated in an earlier post clearly shows a Raila victory.
Interestingly the ECK is still giving Kenyans stories about missing returning officers and sitched off mobile phones to divert attention from the crux of the matter.
Back to my figures. Assuming an amazingly high average voter turn out countrywide of 60% from approx 14 million voters, that would give you a total vote count of 8.4 million votes meaning that as soon as Raila hit 4 million votes he should have been declared the winner. Available figures show that Raila has accumulated well over 4 million votes.
I think it was premature and dangerous for odm supporters to celebrate. Votes from Central and parts of Eastern where Kibaki has supporters had not all been brought in. With about a million votes from Kibaki strongholds yet to be tallied it is premature to conclude. There are many seats that are yet to be announced. Let us embrace peace in Kenya. Even if they declare Kibaki winner, let us just hold our peace. He has developed the country to some extent. I don’t think encouraging violence is a good idea. Even the US ambassador told Kenyans to wait for the process to be completed and to be united.
i am a student away from kenya but will only come back if there will be a new president
There seem to be a miscoception that for the election to be democratic only ODM president should win. This has been perpetuated before and after start of campaigns, i find ODM followers very intorelant, why should they target business to loot in Nyanza owned by a particular community? Voter intimadation has been rampant, PNU supporters have been intimadated by ODM followers in all ODM strongholds. Kenyans should realize the next president will rely on all Kenyans in order for Kenya to prosper, those who thought manna and free goodies will pour from heaven with a new government are in for a big shock.
A country’s developement takes time thats what Kenyans should realize, no one will fix Kenya’s challenges overnignt as Kenya’s politicians have been singing, after all we know they are motivated by the big salary that comes with MP salary and the CDF kitty ofcourse!
Am a Zambian, the same situation happened in our last elections with the challeger claiming victory only to be overtaken by the sitting president.
Caution dear friends in Kenya is advisable , peace is priceless.
I think Kenyans know who to vote for, and am pround of my fellow kenyans coming out in big numbers to vote the leaders.
lets now wait and see the outcome for me it doesnt matter who wins all we need is good leaders becouse i beleive leadership matters.
pauline
canada
Guys, ths s the surprise of the decade.how cn kibaki win wen we all knw tht raila has won ova him with >0.5m votes?hope the electoral commission wil make the correct descision for the good of ths country
am a ugandan but the safety of kenya is to our advantage ,nothing will be done in uganda when kenya is not peace full but as you know african politics is still immature ,this has happened in so many countries ,rigging by the incumbent is the order of the day in africa ,why did the eck balance they bring resuilts from where kibaki has support and odinga has suport such that pple get the clear picture
but you only count votes where you the opposition has support you get the figure so that you make a difference from where you have the support ,this election has already been messed up ,african leaders should accept defeat we love you kenyans
….l believe kivuitu has the powers to anounce the winner without any delay…but yestarday l heard him saying that he doesnt know why other polling stations have not yet produced their results, why cant he give orders to security to go and find out what the polling stations are doing with the votes ..are they cooking to multiply ..? why cant he cancel ..? as a matter of fact we all know that Raila has taken the lead both presidencialy and perliamentary ….having 94 seats in perliament, cant kivuitu see this and take as from the dark side of the light ….am sure the counting is over he already have cases where by the votes are above the registered number of voters in some constituency what else is he waitng for to anounce the winner …..?….note him that incase of anychanges from the current results that puts kibaki close to Raila might lead to him fired without any notice….coz it’ll automatically show that the votes which brought this difference was as a result of rigging ……and he accepted and anounce the delayed results ……WHY DID HE ACCEPT…?…THE RESULTS SHOULD NOT WAIT PAST TODAY ..THE SOUL OF ALL THE INNOCENT KENYANS ARE AT RISK…..OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT RAILA CAN U PLIZ DO SOMETHING. WE ALL LOVED YOU.
Kenyans have spoken but it seems the incumbent was not ready to lose gracefully!However i’m saddend bytheway the violence meted out to fellow Kenyans by their other countrymen.It is sad the they have to suffer for the mistakes of a greedy man.Alll I can plead to my fellow country men is to observe peace.for christs sake we don’t have to be another Rwanda!If their is a crime committed then let those aggrieved seek legal redress!killing or looting willl not solve anything!Peace to Kenya.
It might be premature to celebrate, but hope we must keep, truth must we value amidst stories of vote rigging.
In the very same way that former president Moi handed over power to Kibaki after losing in the 2002 election, so should former president Kibaki hand over power to President Raila (2007). He was won fair and square, and if anyone says there was no rigging involved, then they must be kikuyu because everyone else saw the rigging happening right before their eyes. How can you claim to have won the presidential elections, considering the fact that 159 parliamentary seats out of 210 went to Raila’s party (the opposition), only leaving 51 seats to be shared amongst the other losers (kibaki’s PNU party, etc). If kibaki and his PNU party were anywhere as popular as Raila’s ODM party, they would have surely won more seats in government. Rigging elections, looting public funds and oppressing press freedom, are the legacy of kibaki’s government.
it is with heavy heart i write this..am saddened by the situation back at home..someone is so seriously thinking bout state house and has forgotten the ordinary kenyan..
What’s up with kibaki?haoni haya?how can he do this?he has now divided the country so harshly.He is the same person described as one of the brilliant politicians in Kenya..shame..shame
I cant believe all you Kenyans, I mean, everyone is seems to be screaming ODM, Raila. The man has absolutely no credentials. OK, fine Kibaki has his faults, but surely he is the better choice of the two evils. I have a list of the reasons of why I didn not vote for Raila:
1. As minister for Roads, he did nothing! The infrastructure was so bad that it put tourists away. In the short period that Kibaki was prezzo, he managed to fix Nairobi-Mombasa Road.
2. Raila claims he is for the poor, but look at the state of his constituency!! Kibera slum is an eyesore, an utter embarassment to the nation.
3. Raila named his son Fidel Castro, his dad had known ties with the Russians, I do not think Kenya need communism, we need a capitalist and generate wealth by all means.
4. Raila claims that he will distribute wealth to the poor? Just how will he do that? open bank accounts and dump govt cash into them? I hardly think so?
I much rather prefer Kibaki’s tactic of economic growth, which will generate wealth, jobs and equal opportunities for all.
5. Raila incites racial hatred. We all know it, we all ignore it, we are so bloody blinded! After elections, riots broke out only in his strongholds! God knows what message he was fueling his supporters with.
6. I watched every one of Kibaki’s campaigns. They are all accessible at youtube.com. Never once did he raise his voice, incite, insult, slunder. His message was mature, measured and intelligent. Nothing makes more sick than gloating politicians who cannot piece words together to make a sense. Raila calling some politicians donkeys??/ what was that all about?
7.Driving a hummer during campaigns? a show off sign? the whole world is crying global warming and our wanna bee president is floating around in perhaps the worst pollutants.
8. Kibaki introduced free education, because he realises the importance of that, he has promised free medical care for children under 5yrs. The guy is a genius! He is crying development and when you are hurling insults at him.
9. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Raila, knows this, and as part of his campaining tactic, he stirred idle, jobless, and very vulnerable youth with violence. Hence the violence in Kibera, Kisumu and elsewhere.
10. Upto 7% economic growth. Kibaki’s reign can boast this. And for those of you out there with brain, this is a no brainer! it is a sign of success. Other African countries are looking up to us, the international comm was applauding his efforts.
I wish, for all who read this to seriously think clearly and deeply about the kind of Kenya you want. Next time you hurl insults at a man who has your best interests at heart, remember they did the same to Jesus.
For me, I long to live in a nation free from tribalism, a developed nation, poverty free and peaceful.
For once Kenyans seemed to fully understand the power they have in electing leaders and taking them out of office as well. It’s unfortunate that the same people they entrusted to help them perpetuate democracy and free will turned on them due to their own selfish needs. This is no different from Moi’s government who practically ruled until he was tired so to speak. It seems like the older generation share alot in common. They cannot be trusted and taking the presidential seat in such a manner begs the question, ” who’s welfare do you have in mind anyway.”
This is so sad. Raila won. I didn’t vote for him but we must speak truthfully. We are reaping what selfish politicians have sown. The levels of violence in Nairobi are scary. I’ve spent time praying for about 3 families I know who in banges due to the riots. Please take a moment and pray for peace. There are real people who have died tonight let’s pray that no one do so.
Every poll lately has had Raila winning. Kibakis Cabinet has been ousted. Most returns had Raila winning. Most returns from Kibakis stronghold aka kikuyu land were delayed notwithstanding its proximity to Nairobi. North Eastern Province a region that voted largely ODM voted for Kibaki? Kibakis stronghold had returns exceeding the number of registered voters i e 115%. Who can convince me that only two tribes send Kibaki back to State House? Let me say this in some very categorical terms, Kenya belongs to all Kenyans and no amount of rigging is going to chance this reality. Kibaki cannot rule people who have thrown out his cabinet, including him, by force. Kenyans will not allow this. Kibaki is not my President. By the way I am not a LUO either. Raila won the elections..
Chesi
The danger in all this is that ODM never considered that they might lose the elections. There is no absolute in this lifetime, so the fact that this reality never crossed their minds is very disturbing. In my opnion mistakes were made in the way the results were being released - obviously the ODM strongholds came in first and the agressive reporting by The Nation caused an extreme high for ODM supporters. When the Kibaki votes came in and might I say in large numbers the other side couldn’t accept them because they had tasted power in their minds. Turn out in Central was very high, only those in the hosiptals didn’t get the opportunity to vote. Even the sick at home were given free transportation to and from the polling stations. The fear that Raila was out to avenge for himself and his father was heard loudly and taken very seriously by the kikuyus and they showed up in very very large numbers. The votes were not rigged! Defeat is hard to accept, but it is also a sign of a mature leader. Inciting the country and having emotional outburst won’t get you places. How about planning for 2012 and doing so without making certain communities feel threatend. Unfortunately kikuyus are constantly accused of being tribal but a vast majority (not all) of the luo community habors ill feelings towards the kikuyus. There is more that bounds us than divides us - we need to find common ground and begin working together with honesty. May all kenyans find peace and wisdom prevail in the leadership.
MY Dear kenyans.
it should not be very hard timelife in kenya.that is How the World political goese. please my brothers kenyan. taked it easy and hold it back for the next decade to come.
and come for your president as well as he was calling for justic and unity in the country wide.putdown the pass and take the new.
With benefit of hindsight, we should have expected that Kibaki will pull all stops, including outright theft of votes, to remain in state house. Aftger all he was always part of the Moi Dictatorial clique for 13 years (1978-1991), only jumbped ship to help split the opposition vote (1991-1992), was a lukeward opposition leadr (1993-2001) and took advantage of the Kanu split to win (2002). After which he quickly shed the shhepskin to reveal his true colours of messing up the draft constitution, but lost the referandum (2005). He has now repackaged the conservative, dicatotial corrupt clique to steall an election. This is `not about ethnicity, and I am so soory to see the violence in Nairobi. But is is vintage Kibaki- dictatorial, corrupt to the core, conservative. Before all of the enthnic chauvinists shout of LUO, let me confirm that I am very much Kikuyu Damu.
It’s sad to see people dying when the outcome of the election is well known. Those dying aren’t dying in vain… they are dying for what the believed in ….. Voting Kibaki out of power. To day i read on the net that police have aquired a shoot to kill order. GOD is not sleeping. The blood that those power hungry individuals in state house, the police including all the ECK Officials have spelt shall haunt you forever. Mr Kibaki you can sit there 5 years but think of your greediness and what it has caused…how many families have lost out by the tax payers bullets that you gave the police to shoot them with. Civil wars break out such ways. Let’s hope it won’t happen in Kenya.
It is hard to understand to understand the complexity if Kenyan politics unless you take a very critical look.
I support the Kenyan government’s actions in banning live broadcasts. They did it for the general welfare of its citizens. The opposition was known to preach ethnicity and hurling insults, ODM candidate in particular preached of a RIGGED election long before the elections were held. The kind of politics he displayed had a very psychological twist, in that he fore-armed and fore-warned his supporters. Whether the results were rigged or not, he expected a particular reaction from his supporters, this is reaction is largely of a violence nature. To support my claims, notice that the only areas marred by violence are his strongholds- Kisumu, Bungoma, Kibera slums and Mathare slums.
The psychological games do not stop here. Raila Odinga had planned a coup in 1982, a very similar violence scene as we are now witnessing. Note that most of his supporters, or atleast those rioting were either very young or, born after this coup. He is relying on the very fact that they cannot recall the aftermath of the coup, or have no idea of its existence at all. He is manipulative and would use any means to gain power.
The saying goes that ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop’ Raila Odinga knows this best, he knows the youth he is employing for his gains are young, hungry, jobless and poor. This explains the looting scenes shown in his strongholds. He has promised them ‘redistribution of wealth’. Exactly how that is to be carried out is very unclear.
In contrast, Kibaki’s pre-election message was calm, peaceful, even at times urging all candidates to be friends. I urge you to watch these videos on youtube.com. He is inspirational, he has delivered a remarkable economic growth in 5 years only, he has offered free education to primary school children and was promising free medical care to children under 5yrs of age, he has improved infrastructure nationally, re-opened Kenyan textile industries and it was only fair to have him for another five years.
Kibaki is intelligent, he is a dignified (as compared to his insult hurling opponents), in fact most call him the gentleman of Kenyan politics.
Kibaki is an economist by traning, he does not promise ‘redistribution of wealth’, he knows that wealth should first be generated before distributing it.
As a devout Kenyan, I applaud those who voted for Kibaki, and for those who keep supporting Raila, I urge you to think carefully about your choice and know that your actions put the rest of the nation at stake.
we wiil not let kibaki lead Raila won 6provices,nyanza,western,rifft valley,coast,nairobi,north eastern,NO raila no peace we all go home to defend our rights
I am pained by deaths of people that were uncalled for. What does it pay for people to be injured and die and leave children and families for politicians who do not know them and do not even care enough for them, politicians who cannot curb their greed for power to save lives and maintain peace. How does running a mock on the streets help you or your family? And neither would have Raila’s coming to power have helped those causing mayhem on the streets. Wealth comes to those who think, plan, and work hard and smart.
Has any of the pro-Raila people stopped to think that maybe there was no rigging by PNU? And who says that the ODM camp did not rig? And why now has Raila and his cronies become the goody two shoes and have adopted a holier than thou attitude when we all know them for who they are? It was actually funny to see members of the Pentagon demanding justice and talking about democracy and people’s rights when we remember their actions and attitudes while in the Moi government. Does a chameleon change its colors or was it the thought of no gaining the power they yielded back then that made them so passionate? I thought they were part of rigging electins with Moi back then? And why all this talk of the people of Kenya having spoken - weren’t Kibaki and Raila’s votes almost equal and Kalonzo had his almost 1 million votes. Don’t ignore the Kenyans who voted for Kalonzo and Kibaki by saying Kenyans have spoken - don’t these people have a voice and didn’t their voice count?Especially because Raila’s and Kibaki’s votes were almost the same. Why are you and I at home airing our views on the internet while people in the slum are rioting due to the results. if you are a supporter of Raila why are you not out on the streets joining the ones rioting.
What we need is a leader who will ensure a stable country that is peaceful so that we can have growth in all areas for our future and future generations. Let’s all join together and pray for peace and spread peace around so that we can rise above bitterness and anger or pride and gloating with regards to the election results. It is not worth it for any of us.
I also urge our leaders to know that whether they have lost or won the fate of this country is in their hands because followers actions are directly related to who they perceive a leader to be. So they should swallow their pride and join together and help peace prevail. Thank you President Kibaki for reaching out to Raila and thank you Kalonzo Musyoka for urging all leaders to unite. Maybe this is a chance for Raila to endear people to himself by being bigger than what the people who did not vote for him perceive him to be by accepting defeat graciously like a gentleman and using that as a platform for his election in 2012. he can learn from ECK chairman who was able to make people who were so aggravated yesterday laugh like James Orengo by calling him Jimmy and also by congratulating Henry and Ruto for their election in their constituency. If not people will hold him responsible for the blood shed that is going because it involves only his supporters, who are using the election results to loot and vandalise. Ask the gentleman whose car was burnt in Kisumu what he thinks about Raila.
Will Raila come out and talk sense to his supporters in the same way he created the euphoria about Orange, ODM, nyundo etc.
Raila needs to accept defeat like a gentleman. The presidency has been decided and the country must move on. Raila is one man and he cannot be seen as larger than the country. Tight races are common place around the world, remember the 2000 presidential race in the United States? Remember how the Americans came together once it was decided? No man is greater than a country, leaders come and go but a country will always remain. Order must be restored in Kenya and because the opposition has chosen to act with violence it means that the government must step in to protect lives and property. The behaviour of violence in Kisumu shows how a sect of our society is still very uncivilized. Even when people are so educated they are still so indoctrined and cannot think for themselves. When a leader emerges from the Nyanza who is calm, not arrogant and embraces all communities I will vote him. It is not about tribe, it is about stability and the advancement of our nation in a non-violent way. How is it ODM never imagined they could lose this election? I have a major problem with this issue. It was said to be a close election everywhere, and usually when that happens the incumbent is usually relected. ODM needs to stop thinking and talking in the absolute and then they will be more realistic. We all need to calm down, excercise restraint, respect lives and property and support president Kibaki. He is the best president for Kenya in these very trying times. He will move the country forward more positively and he must advance agendas to address issues of the poor and the younger generation. What has been down for Kibera slums, have you all asked yourselves who the MP is for Kibera? “food for thought” emotions lead to euphoria and in times of euphoria factual thoughts are set aside. Lets become a people of critical thinking and reasoning and not a people led by emotions - regardless of our financial status. God bless kenya, and give our leadership wisdom to guide this great nation. Peace to all kenyans.
I hope those of you who are supporting Kibaki and his government are doing so from Kenya. If you are not in Kenya, what are you doing in other countries? The poor governance in Kenya including poverty has caused a mass exodus of Kenyans and most only want to go back home when there is hope of better governance. I’m afaid the Kanu governemt has and still is in power only under different name and face. If you are supporting the current government then your slogan should not be ‘kazi iendelee’ but ‘Kanu Juu’
Those listing Raila’s faults should know that Kibaki’s faults can be published in a novel beginning with his political career in the Kanu Government.
Raila is not burning cars or looting. On the contrary. He is urging Kenyans to be peaceful. It is the people of Kenya who are just about tired of rigging of elections by governemtns. Why make them go to the polls when results will be rigged anyway. Read your newspapers.
Lets deal with issues at hand and not about leaders faults and the Kanu regime. People are dying there is chaos in the country in ODM strongholds. It then follows that the best placed people to quel this are the ODM leaders so can they therefore take up this responsibility as leaders and talk sense to their supporters in the same way as when they were campaigining and created the orange ODM euphoria. We need and just want peace for our lives to continue.
I am sick and tired of people who continue to speak about Kenya’s economy “growing” by 6 percent, etc. Most of you saying this, belong to one of 2 categories. People who have benefited directly from the looting that has gone on in Kenya under Kibaki, and thus don’t feel the financial pinch, or those living out of the country. At what expense will this so called “growth” continue? As far as i am concerned, Kenya has become too expensive for many things due to this so called “economic growth”. How can a simple bottle of wine cost over 1,000 Shillings? I have purchased many bottles of whine in the US and the UK lately, and Kenya charges more than 2-5 times for such items, than it costs in the US and UK. Even tourists are complaining that things cost more in Kenya than in many European countries. As a Kenyan, my salary has not increased, but the salaries of those theives in government have. So do they feel the pain?… No is the answer, its not enough for them to steal our hard earned money, but to increase their salaries and allowances, is to add insult to injury. Kibaki and his 6 percent growth can go to hell. Trying to show the international bodies numbers and leaving his people to suffer…? I would rather have slow but steady economic growth, where what you earn can allow you to live a happy life in your own country. House prices have sky rocketed… why?… Has a brick become 2-5 times more expensive all of a sudden, or is it simply that the same idiots who steal our money then give themselves pay rises, are not saticefied enough that they want whatever we have left in our pockets for our families (hard earned), in paying them rent, etc. Kibaki must leave right now, and give the majiority of Kenyan’s who voted their chosen president, president Raila the opportunity to govern our country. I am not Kikuyu, neither am i Luo but Raila won fair and square. If we made a mistake chosing him, its still our right to decide for ourselves… Anyway, we made a mistake with Kibaki last time didnt we..? So there you go. Thats what voting is about..freedom to make and learn from our mistakes. Have a Happy New Year, but dont forget, kibaki must go!!!.
This is in reference to the point raised by the author calling him/herself kibakiout!!!!
How can you sincerely compare the price of wine in Kenya with that of UK or USA! I urge you to take a basic lesson in economy or commerce, because like it or not, its all about economy, Europeans, Asians and Americans know this, this is why they have managed to advance. We, Africans in our denial and tribal allegiances, have comfortably lagged behind. We are greedy beyond forgiveness.
What I meant to say was that, Kenya does not produce her own wine! Kenya has very little bargaining power in terms of commerce worldwide, Kenya has a history of a week economy, so like it or not, the international community has been crediting Kibaki for putting us on the economy map. Too sad you and many others do not understand this.
Kibaki had a strategy of Kenya becoming self-sufficient, this is why he has been revamping the textile industry for example, we spend too much money importing and rely on agricultural products as our only exports.
That aside, how does killing innocent kikuyus make your wine cheaper? how does killing other fellow kenyans make your wallet fatter?
As it is, we are loosing billions of shillings daily by this pointless war, dear author, if you ever worried about your finances, you have ssen nothing yet, the worst is yet to come, we are looking our peaceful reputation, we are lost faith in foreign investors, we have been divided ethnically, this will indeed make us poorer than we have ever been.
Penny,
The wine was just a simple example of how overpriced goods in general have become in Kenya. Maybe you need to take a course in simple common sense. Not long ago, the government wanted to increase the tax yet again on these so called luxury goods claiming that those who drunk wine, etc, could afford to pay more. We get wines as well from places like south africa, which have nothing to do with the EU and US, and thus does not need to be overtaxed. Its all show for foriegn investors. And by the way, i never said anything about killing kikuyu’s being right or otherwise. It is wrong to kill anyone without cause, so please don’t take my words out of context. Any government that took over after moi’s would look good anyway, regardless of how little they did, considering how rubbish moi’s government was economically. If kibaki’s government was really doing so well, and considering the fact that our country is a top tourist destination, then what happened to the roads in kenya? where did the funds to build new roads disappear to? At some point this year, the government was advising tourists to fly to maasai mara and mombasa because the roads were so bad! So where was the economics then, considering that tourism on its own, brings in about $800,000 a year into our economy. Did that bald headed man in power forget that in all of this? you talk about comparing wine prices in the UK and US to kenya, yes i do. I have lived in both countries (more than 4 years in each)in the past 10 years, and i compare it purely to how much one earns in each country, the spending power of the dollar in the US in purchasing simple goods, and the same in the UK. The prices they charge in kenya are absolutely rediculous in comparison to what the average kenyan earns. You touch only on imported goods, but those extortionate prices dont stop there. A packet of farmers choice hotdogs locally made, costs in excess of 500(KES). Now tell me how someone with an average income can afford to even buy that kind of thing for there family. Worst still, is that there is no alternative. The type of strain the government has put on farmers, retailers and restaurateurs, has made things more expensive down the line. It is a false economy with standards and quality of services, that fall way short of the prices. You can’t expect me to believe that creating this type of ‘economy’ is good for the people. And that is why millions of people who in 2002, joined hands to vote kibaki in, voted him out this year in an election that even the EU and US recognised as flawed. They saw the lies he had made before them in his bid for election as president, for what they actualy were. Rigging is the final legacy of the man who stole the election in front of our eyes and those of the rest of the world. If he had made the economy so good as you think he has, for the people who actually live in it, the outcome of the election would have been better. The only people who benefited from it are him, muthaiga mafias and the rest of his cronies. At least my money is hard earned, and not stolen under false pretence of nation building. Anyone other than moi, could have received the same international investments as kibaki after the 2002 elections. He is not a special case.
Penny,
The figure above was supposed to be $800,000,000 and not $800,000.
Raila is not a leader for Kenya! If he were he would be trying to stop the voilence in Kisumu, RV and slum areas of Nairobi. I am so glad he did not win. The vast majority of people that I know who were backing ODM are so relieved he didn’t make it! After they have seen him in action these last few days! We need someone who can unite the country and he doesn’t have what it takes. He is selfish, self motivated, and tribalistic with a vengence! He wants to rule at all costs! In Kisumu they have started to run out of the essentials, NGOs are now concerned about diseases that will flow in. The whole time Raila and his nicely dressed crew are living in luxury in Nairobi pushing their hummers because there is no gas. The reason ODM et al… are so angry is because they absolutely refused to even consider even for a moment that Kibaki might win! It was a close race! If his supporters bought expensive suits, fish fillets, expensive champagns to celebrate prematurely take it as a lesson “not to count your chickens before they hatch”! Many in the luo communities weeks before the elections undid relationships with people just because those people had the audacity to think for themselves and chose to back PNU, hence Kibaki. Kibera is the largest slum in the world and whose constitutency is it in? Why isn’t lake victoria being utilizied to the maximum to provide employment and a world wide market for fish? Look at the local leaders, they are the once who have to advance the agendas of their communities so that these communities can advance. Not everyone should wear a smartly tailored suit to an office job! People need to get their hands dirty and work! Nothing will be given to you for free and redistribution of wealth is a big joke! Kenya is a free market economy and not a socialist country. Take your suits off put on the overalls and report for work. Instead of buying hummers and other shiny expensive cars invest in your communities and pull up your fellow countrymen as you invest, their is no welfare in Kenya! God bless Kenya and countinue to guide Kibaki as he commands this ship in these dark and spooky waters!
It is shameful to speak and compare the price of wine when sugar, milk and ugali flour has skyrocketed in price throughout Kenya in the past 5 years,
Very few Kenyans will ever have tasted Wine. Today very few Kenyans have tasted food.
International TV reports are showing the violence, reporting now 1-1-08 2200hrs GMT 250 dead and 75000 displaced people and villages and towns burning, Police with shoot to kill orders and a report that the Security forces are overstretched and tired.
It is also foolish of all of us and politicians to think they can turn on or off the violence since it will be overtaken by criminals and gangsters.
There are few or no reports of the final Parliamentary returns surely this will dictate whether Kibaki can form a Government.
JWK,
If you think that it is wrong to wear nice suits or sip on champagne just because one is a politician, then maybe kibaki should reduce his salary and allowances to a reasonable amount, instead of being so greedy to a point that he gets paid more than the prime minister of England. Look at england and see just how much it gains economically, then ask yourself what kibaki has done for kenya, to earn 16 million shillings (£ 124,000) per year, more than the English prime minister. If you don’t think that part of his salary would be best used in national building, then you must be bias. On the other hand you say that these suit wearing politicians don’t look after their communities. That may be true to some extent, but kibaki forgets that he was the president of all kenyans, and should not only concentrate his efforts on his community, but to all. If you still believe that kibaki won fair and square,and that he is the rightful leader of kenya chosen by the people, then you must be narrow minded or blind, not to have seen what even the EU and US termed as rigging. That is why the “dark and spooky waters” you talk about exist in the first place. Kibaki can solve the problem by letting faireness prevail, and stop clinging on to power that isn’t righfully his. He is behaving like a spoilt child who doesn’t want to let go of another ones toy. And lastly, if kibaki is truly a leader, then he should put a leash on his wife, and stop her from making kenyans look like crazy, slapping and uncontrollable misfits.
Kibaki out,
I hear you well. You and I know I have plenty of common sense, so please do not offend.
One cannot begin to compare the UK or even USA markets with the Kenyan one. We are at a very juvenile age, this is why they are called developed nations and we are developing. USA and UK subsidise their farmers, this stabilises production. And I mean mass production. You cannot begin to compare their level of industralisation to ours, it is quite simply chalk and cheese.
Kibaki’s agenda was to take us out of our ‘developing’ over reliance stage, to one where we are self reliance.
I pose a question to you and before you begin typing your answer, think! What was/is Raila’s strategy to bring us out of poverty? to perhaps put us on map again? To make us a bit level to India or even China.
Secondly, you speak of poor infrastructure in the form of roads, that put off tourists. Kibaki’s govt has a contract with private and Public companies to rebuild Kenyan Infrastructure through PPIAF. Similarly, under his govt Mombasa-Nairobi road has been revitalised.
When Raila was the minister for road and works, did he not think to roll sleeves and do something. So enlight me what his strategy is on this issue.
There something inherently dark about Raila,and quit rankly ‘kibakiout’ the only shiny thing about him are orange outfit overalls.
Raila will never be a president of Kenya. He should just give up on politics and try other things. How can a man who want to rule a country use looser to kill, destroy while he is comfortable in his house. Raila just hold your peace and act like a gentle man, accept the defeat. Also as a leader we except you to stop the violent by urging your follower the same way you asked them to start. Fellow Kenyans just keep praying and trusting in God. God is seeing all what is happening and no sin shall go unpunished. May the love of God help those who are creating violent and open their eyes and they may come from the dark to light. Peace to all!
To Kibakiout,
I totally agree with you that the salaries for the all elected officals in the Kenyan parliament are outreageous. I also agree with you that the president should be a leader for all kenyans, no dispute there. However, it is up to the local leaders to advance the development agendas of their communities! It is sad that lake victoria is under performing while unemployment is sky high in Kisumu. However, this would be up to the local leaders to advance the project that would benefit the community! Look at Kibera! All I know is ODM cried wolf about rigging the elections before they even took place, I believe it was a strategy on their part. You don’t know for a fact that there was rigging so don’t go with that euphoria and make such statement. I have said the same thing to people claiming ODM rigged all over Nyanza, my position is they don’t know because they weren’t there. These kinds of statments are imflamatory and should not be made unless they are absolutely factual and can be fully backed up. That is what the courts are for. We have got to start behaving like civilized people. What we are seeing on television is lawlessness by holigans behaving worse than wild animals. How does a human being burn women and children alive, in a church!? The ODM folks should not get the opportunity to rule Kenya, they lack the temperment to hold things together during difficult situations when mature, and calm minds are needed. I still believe that Raila wanted to rule at all costs and the fact that they didn’t even ponder the possiblity of a loss is extremely naive on their part. It is just not realistic. I think his supporters are angry and disappointed which is understandable, but in the long run minds will change. I have seen minds changed already, people who supported ODM are glad he didn’t make it now that they see him act under pressure. The courts are there to address such issues of dispute, but human life should always be considered priceless and precious.
God bless Kenya and guide Kibaki to lead this great nation in the right direction.
Kibakiout,
About the Lucy Kibaki issue, I couldn’t agree with you more! I think she forgets to take her meds! She absolutely needs a leash. She is an embrassement to us all, hopefully, things will improve during the 2nd term where she is concerned. I hope you can see that we don’t have to disagree on everything. There is more that bounds us than divides us but in times like this we just want to dwell on what divides us. That just creates more hostility and to me it is a great pity.
Happy New Year!
While campaigning the Pentagon went around the areas that are in turmoil with choppers to woo voters, where are they now? Why wont Ruto go to the heart of Eldoret, Kiamba Village and the like and talk face to face with people and reunite them and call for peace? Or is he too busy sitting with Raial and Musalia and Kosgey arranging for tomorrow’s rally? Which will probably take us back to more chaos. Where were the ODM leaders when the church full of innocent women and children was being burnt down? Probably in some posh hotel issuing statements to give conditions of how they will not sit to talk about peace until A, B, C is fulfilled. As people die. Not that Kibaki is any better, we have not heard from him as our President we wonder where he is, this is not the time to take the hands off approach people need to feel and see leadership right now. We need to know the government is in control and they need to be at the forefront doing tangible things to bring and maintain peace. Now is not the time to use the government spokesperson.
We need a new crop of leaders. Who will Kibaki be president over if the whole country burns down? Who will Raila mobilise if the whole country burns down?
JWK,
I agree. Happy New Year to you too.
i am neither a kikuyu nor a luo but from a neutral point of view Raila won the election roho safi. leave everything aside, your tribe and political affiliation and think of these points:
1. 22 of the 34 cabinet ministers in Kibaki’s government lost in their constituencies,this was a strong message people wanted to send to Kibaki that they didn’t want him and his government anymore
2. ODM won in 6 of the 8 provinces, you can’t tell me that votes in Eastern and Central Province are more than those in the RV, Western, coast, NE, Nyanza
3 ODM won 100+ seats in parliament while PNU won only 34 seats, there is no more clarity than this parliamentary majority. It will be ridiculous to have more opposition MPs than government MPs.
4 the EU,US,AU,Commonwealth and local observers, Kivuitu as well as 4 other ECK commissioners have accepted that there were irregularities, these are not lies.they have basis and evidence.
5. The local independent media houses,KTN,NTV,and a wide variety of radio stations had reporters and their tallies showed Raila won the election.
With all these I am certain Raila won the election and Kibaki and his cronies stole the election from him. The only thing Kibaki and his cronies forgot is that rigging requires some intelligence. You can’t just rig the presidential seat while the opposition has a huge majority in parliament. Kibaki should thus do the country a favor by resigning and handing over power to Raila or if that is had there should be a vote recount to prove who really won the election.
However, I condemn all the senseless killings, looting, destruction, burning of houses, banning of the media, excessive use of police force, the arrogance the government side especially Martha Karua, and the revenge missions by the Mungiki and other tribal gangs. Right now I am in the US and the violence in Kenya is making headlines in all the TV channels here from CNN, BBC, CBS, New York Times, Fox TV etc. This has completely damaged our country’s image. I can bet the next five years are gonna be bad news for Kenya in economic terms as tourism and foreign investment will be hard to come by. The violence has destroyed all the gains we have made in the last five years and that is bad news.
we were making real progress though not in all aspects but sustained economic growth over the next five years would have brought some change to the poor.It always starts from the top down not down towards the top. That is capitalism which Kenya is based on.
But the sustained economic growth would not have come from Kibaki alone,even Raila had sound economic policies he would have implemented. we need different ideas.
Penny,
I understand where you are coming from. Believe me i know that Raila did nothing as roads minister. He might even be the worst thing for kenyans since Moi. But thats not the point. We go to the polls to elect leaders, and if we make mistakes, then its our right to do so. What we cannot do, is to allow anyone to take power by false pretence. If indeed kibaki won fairly, then he should grant a recount to allow those who feel cheated, a peace of mind and help stop the violence. His refusal to do so, can only fuel more animosity amongst innocent kenyans who had every right to vote for either candidate. That is the sign of a leader, and not one who refuses to meet at the round table despite local and international protest about the election results. His being stubborn, and preventing local and international media from doing their jobs, can only fuel speculation about whats really going on. Worse than a bad leader with no agender is a dictator, and kibaki has refused the peoples right to protest peacefuly, and the right of the press to cover the stories in full. No leader should ever be allowed to take away our democracy and our freedom. These are characters of leaders like Mugabe and it should not happen to us in our beloved country.
JWK,
About lake victoria. Since the introduction of the nile perch as an experiment over 30 years ago, over 50 percent of the native species of fish have been wiped out. The nile perch being 200kg and 2m long, has been feeding on native fish whose role in the lakes ecology and survival are of atmost importance. Lake victoria is only about 84m deep at its deepest point and due to the intoduction of the perch and pollution, the water has turned murky and oxygen-depleted, and has made it difficult to cultivate much more from the lake. That, and the fact that we share the smallest part of the lake with our neighbours, are reasons why we have not done economically well with lake victoria. Lets just hope that something will change soon to avoid the lake becoming the worlds largest pool of dead water.
This goes out to the guy/girl called “kibakiout”
Why your ideas are certainly off the charts. How can you blame the kibaki administration for rise of prices in the country? By the way, Kenya’s small economy cannot shield itself when world prices of oil are forever rising (Usd 100 today morning), the price of wheat all over the world is rising, infact i read somewhere that in Italy there are concerns that their beloved Pasta may be out of reach due to high price of wheat.
Please please base your arguments on real data not perceive ideologies that were being passed around by ODM during campaign time. E.g. They will bring down the price of unga to Ksh 20, yeah and how are they going to pay the farmers.
Either way, I’m glad Kibaki won. And kenyans must go on living, please be peaceful. Find a diplomatic means of resolving the burning issue. Killing all kikuyus will not make raila the president.
Above all, Kenyans be proud of your culture but respect others cultures.I donot even know why everybody loves to hate kikuyus. I have on several occasion be told to my face that ours are a tribe of theives. Of course there are criminals who happen to be kikuyus. me and my family are peace loving, law abiding citizens of kenya. Please respect us. I’m not tribal, i have many friends of all backgrounds. I voted for Kibaki because he seems to me a better leader than all other aspirants, not becoz he is kikuyu.
i hope one day we can have a country where tribe does not matter, but we are not there yet.
Lets try and tolerate each other today.
Kibakiout,
Not a personal attack on you, but when Kibaki introduced free education to primary school kids, he did it nationwide, it beggars belief that you can suggest that he only assists his own community.
You cant teach an old dog how to bark, I do hope you back your assumptions with facts.
On a different note, I agree that we need a new breed of leaders, both Kibaki and Odinga have been in this political mess for far too long, it is obvious that they are using kenyans as their battlefield, and gues who feels the most pain? we, particularly the poor ones, women and children being torched and raped…DESPICABLE.
A younger leader with a global perspective, fresh ideas (not the same old regurgitated spew) and respect for all communities will be like a breathe of fresh air.
On a positive note, if you look at the bigger picture, we just had a crash course in politics, our very young democracy is having serious teething problems. We are being taught not to incite people and not to cheat. This too shall pass; somehow I am feeling very optimistic today. A warm hug to all Kenyans, may love and peace flood the nation.
Ms. Mumbi,
I am tired of hearing the same thing over and over again, and this is why this will be my final entry.
You are just another kikuyu trying to fool yourself that kibaki won the election, despite all evidence locally and internationally to the contrary. Even the man who declared him the winner, admitted to not knowing who the actual winner was. Even the EU and US condemned the results. But is that enough evidence for you?…clearly not.
In your own words you say that you don’t know “why everybody loves to hate kikuyus”.., well i can tell you. It’s because of people like you. You clearly see the evidence against kibaki winning the election, and yet you remain in denial backing him as the winner just because of his tribe. Then you turn around and say yet again in your own words, that you have been told several times to your face, that your tribe “are a tribe of theives”…. Kibaki stole the presidency, and he is from your tribe… so he is just doing what comes naturally to him as a kikuyu. So can you blame people for telling you that?… i guess not.
The worst thing about all this, is that you turn around and act as though you are not tribalist…’typical’.
You say you hope “one day we can have a country where tribe does not matter”, well i have news for you. It will not happen when there are still people like you, willing to deny the truth, therefore denying kenyans their democratic right to vote into office, the president of their choice.
Where is the president when all the violence is happening? He is sitting down at state house, behind his securely guarded compound, having his head waxed as he sips on his tusker, sending spokespeople to talk to the kenyans for him instead of appearing himself, refusing press freedom, upgraded himself to dictator, refusing the peoples right to peaceful protest, refusing international help, approving shoot to kill orders on his citizens, refusing for a vote recount and being a coward by not addressing his people in their time of need. If that is your leader, then you can simply take him back, the rest of the kenyans dont need him in state house.
The sad thing in all this, is that we had become a tolerant nation after the 2002 election, till one man rigged and election, and all hell broke loose. Violence is not acceptable and too many innocent lives have been lost and for what purpose? Do people think kibaki or raila care about people losing their lives now? I don’t think so.
Kenyan voters, Raila, the EU,the US,the AU, etc, have asked for only one thing from kibaki, and that is for him to allow an indipendent commission to look into the rigging allegations, and for them to go ahead with another tallying of the votes from the election, but he has refused. If he really won, then what is he afraid of?
Finally, to all my fellow kenyan brothers and sisters, lets put fairness and justice before tribe, and that is what will change kenyas tribal problems. May the Lord rest the souls of those who have died in peace, and may we communicate in the future, hopefully about kenya under better circumstance. Have a happy new year.
I really think that the promises made to the opposition supporters were so unrealistic that it has made the loss so difficult to swallow. The whole incident has taken us back years. It is a pity to finally see how much hatred is out there for the kikuyus. We should all remain peaceful and be realistic about what has happened and the options avaialable to us as Kenyans. The demand by Raila for Kibaki to step down is unrealistic and quite frankly a bad idea. The mayhem that has been unleased on the kikuyus now unites them more than ever before. Previously there were feelings that resentments against the kikuyus existed, now the absolute proof is out there, just look at the morgues and those innocent little children massacred and burnt alive. The younger generation of kikuyus is shocked to the say the least. The older generation is saying “haven’t we tried to tell you so”. It is extremely hard to swallow that some had already pointed to the real estate and businesses they were taking over as soon as Raila took office. The thought is scary and absolutely unbelievable. Raila and his party needs to take their issues to court and let Kenyans live in peace. I still don’t believe Raila won the presidency, his anxiety and that of his supports led them to “count their eggs before they hatched”. Whenever one believes it is their absolute right to something “the ends do not justify the means”. I think that is what happened here. I supported Kibaki based purely on his record, I wanted Kenya to continue its growth while staying peaceful. My biggest problem with Raila was the Majimboism nonsense that they kept discussing. If it wasn’t for that I would have looked at his development record before I made up my mind. Can someone please tell us what his development record is. I am really serious this has now become a hotly discussed issue and we are not finding anything that has any substantance. I would appreciate someone shedding light on this issue please.
its realy saddening that we are back to saba saba. since we managed saba saba this will also go. poeple like penny will finaly know that extreme hate will bare frits. we know death means nothing to kikuyus but this time round they will appriciate that death can be desatrous.the kikuyu fools suport a gorvanment which benefit onlt 1/4 of there population.no wonder you are landless while your own hold hundreds of hectres of land in your homes.thank god we finaly removed you from our regions.we want to assemble you in cetral province and kill you there. dont doubt this time round you kikuyus will pay the price.kenya does not belong to kikuyus alone. we will kill all of you. you will never live outside central province again.
I have read most of your responses on election 2007 results and one thing am absolutely excited about is your sound of patriotism..although not from all…
When we come to a point where we can differentiate individuals from politics, only then will we prosper…
Talking about rigging - has anyone even positively commented on the new faces in parliament??? the fact that that I voted otherwise does not mean I cannot appreciate the freshness..
Lets also look at Eastern - specifically Meru, which is apparently the most controversial of all places - did you notice how most of the old PNU aspirants flaunted were trounced big time! This only proved one thing - they were very particular about who was going to represent them in parliament as opposed to preaching voting “3 piece suit”!! that is shallow politics and am glad the controversial constituencies proved they were beyond that.
On violence - why are the Luos going around persecuting the tribes that supposedly didnt vote for Raila and why are the kikuyus persecuting the ones who also supposedly did not vote Kibaki???
Remember the vote is a secret ballot - in as much as Central will vote for their own and vice versa in Nyanza - someone in Nairobi will of course assume that am Kikuyu so I obviously voted for my own tribe.
I went to the ballot box alone - I used the pen all by myselt and folded all the 3 ballot papers myself - I made sure no one saw whom I voted for - so how do you get to tell, just because you can read my ID!! If I didnt say so in my comments - you would not know would you?
I am disappointed and pray that we will stop slashing up babies who are wearing ODM or PNU t-shirts just because their parents have dressed them up in them.
Shame on us all and I hope God forgive us for prejudice.
Mac,
I am astonished at your ability to conjure up such a statement. I am appalled that you can even begin to support those henious acts and that you even suggest that the kikuyu killing should continue.
You are a total embarassment to Kenyans, to Africans, to humanity.
Hatred towards one community is a sign of narrow mindededness and ignorance.
And to prove you wrong, the nation will heal, this will pass.
A warm hug to all peace abiding Kenyans, and to you mac, I wish you will go to sleep tonight and wake up a new man tomorrow.
In light of what happened this past Tuesday, and in memory of the kenyans torched to death, and hundreds of lives destroyed pointlessly.
I would like to recommend every 2nd of January to be a ‘HUG A KENYAN’ day.
A day to give love and peace and hope it be reciprocated. A day to remind us of the consequences of hate and dissent and a day that Kenyans can look back and say, we will avoid such atrocities for as long as we live.
A day to celebrate and commit to our national unity and realise we are bigger than any political/ethnical affiliations.
May God be with us all as we all come into terms with what has happened and give us strength as we pick up the pieces and move forward.
Pass this on to as many kenyans as possible and let us make this happen
Apparently Raila got lots of money from his community residing abroad especially in the United States. The promises made to them were huge. Most had packed and were ready to go Kenya for their new appointed jobs or new business venutures. It ain’t happening. Opps! Another broblem, alot of them borrowed the money from cash advances on their credit cards! Opps! That’s not very smart! Think postively and take it as a lessons.
As for Mac and his message of hate when people fail in life they find scapegoats to blame, for Mac it’s the kikuyus. While he stews with anger the rest of the world is moving on, his loss.
Penny, no offense but it is going to take a long time to reconcile. They burned 50 babies alive! The anger has to subside first, it will take time. For you to understand the abolute gravety of all this, we have a friend in his early 40s, and my husband he is 40 were absolute Raila supports. They would sit down for hours and tell people why Kenya needed a change. Me and our friend’s brother were both adamant kibaki supports and we also could sit down for hours and tell people why kibaki was the best man for job. We are all kikuyus living in the United States and our debates were always fierce but health and civil (no emotions and never personal). I repeatedly told them I counldn’t support majibosim becuase it would cause chaos in the Rift Valley and maybe the Coastal areas. Our friends brother was the same way. That was last week. This week our friend and my husband, if you mention the name Raila, or ODM you will be asked to leave our house. They are absolutely disgusted by what has unfolded, and now believe the intentions of the opposition were never good to begin with. Our friend actually told me this afternoon how he was always open minded, never had tribal issues but he said if he woke up tomorrow and found out he had accidently married a luo he would have filed for divorce. Penny the anger is deep, they killed little babies, burnt them alive, it is dispecable! It has pitted communities aganist each other and reconcilation will not be easy. Only with time. Most of us truly had no hate. It is so hard not to when you see those babies lying in a morgue! It is genocide unleashed on the kikuyus, just so that someone can be president. It is sick, sick! I truly believe only a supreme being can intervene this time around. Right now I don’t want to forgive, I just want to stay close to my own where I feel safer. We believe our love for each other as a community will only grow, and that’s where we need to be right now, not with people you can’t trust.
Mac - you are a total embarassment! I hope to God you keep this mail in your records so that your future generation can understand why there is a curse in their family - let me clarify that - with this statement, you will reap what you have sowed and I hope to God that you will live a long life to see that come to pass.
To the rest of you Kenyan people - remember you owe man nothing but LOVE - make sure you are not in debt to that.
GOD BLESS
Ku,
I understand your pain, our pain. For days I have been having severe migraines replaying these events, I have this sunken feeling everytime I watch news. Maybe it is very premature on my part to talk of peace and reconciliation. But throughout my life I have learnt to forgive but never forget.
I am comforted that there are other communities in Kenya who do not harbour such tribal hatred, I know that there are Luos out there who can openly say that they love a kikuyu. To me, those are the ones that matter the most, and even those who are hating at the moment, have only been brainswashed with promises of false grandeur.
And on that note, I am reminded of the Jewish community, even Hitler and his concerntration camps could not finish them off. In fact, that only empowered them to achieve more. As we speak, some of the most powerful figures globally are Jewish, they are just as industrious and shrewd as the Kikuyus.
A warm hug to you and your family Ku.
That is truely funny because I heard they call the kikuyus the “jews of kenya” The good thing is that as the days go peace is being restored in Kenya and I guess even some in the ODM camp appear to have souls and have started leaking out information. A copy of their marteting strategy on how they would get Raila elected to the presidency at ALL cost has apparently leaked out and it is detailed and scary. It actually addresses the fact that Raila’s ties to communisim are a weakness, and that fact that he has no development record to point and Nyanza is such a poor province is also are weakness too. To counter all this the strategist decided they best way to get him elected would be to preach loudly near and far the “anti kikuyu hate message”. It describes in detail the mediums they would use, including majimboism and clashes in Rift Valley and Coastal provinces. It also describes how the are going to preach rigging as a strategy before, during and after the elections. Basically guys the man had nothing to offer the country or its people, he is a sick man who is hungry for power and has incited genocide to get it but by the grace of good he failed. Guys people need to think this man and his strategist promised the poor riches, he took money from his supports all over the world promised them all high jobs, because they were going to kick out the kikuyus. What is so sickening is most of his followers abroad are educated people, they bought into his empty messages of hope and apparently most took out credit card loans to give as political contributions. The joke around town now is were they making downpayments for jobs or what? That is why they are so angry. Now they are circulating a petition to get Kibaki to resign. They still don’t get it. It is arrogance to the T. They have websites such as Jalou.com where they have been preaching messages of hate since early 2007. Everything was planned to the T by people hateful beyond words. True self analysis and counselling is the only way out for them. They are living in a different world. Guys there is a God and he saved Kenya big time. We must all get on our knees and truly thank him for he saved our country. The truth is unfolding and it is shocking! Evil truly does exist on this earth. We saw it Kenya this week. God Bless Kibaki and God Bless Kenya.
I heard an interesting story from a pastor, it takes you to the Bible in the Old testament the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob’s mother helped Jacob get the birthright blessing from his father Isaac. The blessing was Esau’s and despite the deception on would perceive as a human being God blessed Jacob and made him one of the patriarchs of Israel. Jacob was a gentle, humble spirit while Esau was aggressive war like and he went to the forests and formed an army and planned over several years how he would attack Jacob and his clan at the time when Jacob was very prosperous and had so much to lose. God intervened at the right time. People of good faith prayed before the elections and are praying so much more in these troubled times we are living in. For me God spared us the worst because of people’s prayers and fasting. The worst has past and I agree with Penny we shall arise as a country and make so much progress that will belie what we have been through. We will make the West and doomsday prophets eat their words. We all know that most companies, countries and individuals prosper after going through a major crises. I choose to see this as a time that will propel us as Kenyans to greater heights. The rain in itself is a sign to people who are spreading hate, preaching violence and tribalism that God wants it to stop and for all of us to accept His will and follow His greatest commandment to love one another as we love ourselves. God is gentle and he speaks in whispers the rain is a sign that He has heard our prayers and peace will prevail He will restore our hearts, wash away the pain bring healing and joy and laughter will soon be heard through out our country. God bless all of us Kenyans wherever we are and may the Holy Spirit of love reign in our hearts. May our hearts turn back to God and seek Him constantly and see him in all Kenyans young or old, poor or rich, male or female. Prayer is thw greatest power on earth use it to restore Kenya.
God bless all Kenyans.
I disagree with Ani. The vote was for change from the corrupt government. Just as we elected Kibaki on the coalition movement, so did ODM in 2007. Talk about track record. Kibaki and his team are full of corruption and tribal favoritism. That is why he did not honor the coalition agreement. He then consulted the dictator and worst president in history Moi. He is talking he country back to Moi’s era where a few have it and rest can go to hell Raila’s vote was for change. Until we can remove the corrupt leaders, change constitution, bring justice and equality for all peoples in kenya, we will never go reach a level of electing someone based on their credentials.
Lets us make baby steps. Remove the dictators and instigators of corruption and injustices.
I came across the following blog from a different chatroom, thought of you all and decided to share.
Very captivating reading.
Posted 15 January 2008 07:22 AM
LARA
« Raila and ODM Thursday rally illegal,says Kenya’s Police Commissioner ODM wants ‘recognised’ body to vet poll results »
LARA-Luos against raila abroad
Posted by africanpress on January 2, 2008
Posted on Mzalendo on Tuesday November 20, 2007 11:54 pm
It is time for right-thinking Luos to speak. It is very unfortunate that a great lie is being told that all Luos are Raila damu and will vote as a block for him. This is coupled with the other lie that all Kenyans abroad support ODM. I can openly tell you that Raila has next to no support here in Canada and in some Luo stronghold back home. On his over-publicised visits here, he only managed to meet a handful of his supporters.
It is time we made some facts clear. For starters, not all Luos follow Raila like sheep. As we talk now, residents of my home constituency, Rarieda, are the envy of the entire Luo land. From the time they voted Honorable Raphael Tuju in, they have seen the kind of development that they only dream about come to their door step. For too long now, Luos have been cheated that the only Moses who will deliver them to Canaan is an Odinga. The success of Tuju’s effort have torn that Jaramogi mystic into shreds. It is now clear that other Luos can lead. However, instead of working with them, Raila wants to finish them. Tuju has been hands-on in the setting up of the Rarieda water project. Courtesy of the Internet, Raila can no longer hoodwink the rest of us abroad. How can we dismiss the picture we saw of Tuju in a construction worker’s overalls supervising the construction of the water pipes?
For over 40 years, Luos have blindly followed the Odinga clan, and what do they have to show for it? Nothing but abject poverty at the grass roots. In the meantime, he has been raking money in. There is no question that Raila is the richest Luo in the world. Yet his supporters in Luoland and Kibera are some of the poorest people in Kenya . In a very curious twist that only Luos can enlighten us on, while the likes of Kenyatta and Moi were handing out goodies, plots and money to the needy, poor Luos see nothing wrong in handing over their meager earnings to Raila, all in the hope that once he is president, he will magically transform Luoland into the garden of Eden. Yet it is well known that Odingas have not brought an iota of development in Luoland. Just compare Luoland to their neighboring Kisiiland. While Kisiis have never even had a president, their hard work and development conscious leadership is well- displayed by their stone houses with mabati roofs.
Now, visit Luoland and all you see are the same grass-roofed old round huts that Speke and Grant found in the late 1800’s! Yet Raila feels no shame when he drives around there in his Sh 15 Million Hummer Military vehicle for show.
In his selfish quest for the presidency, Raila has been telling blatant lies, hoping that he can develop a momentum that will usher him into the high office before the people realise his lies. By then it will be too lat