Face the Nation Forum

We need a Face the nation Forum on a live televised debate among the ODM-K presidential aspirants with Q&A sessions, with live audience like town hall meetings in the US, before the nominations, should ODM-K resort to Delegates nomination system of their flag bearer. We watched the successful debates before the November referendum and this could be a clear way of getting to know our leaders visions and to help them explain more vividly their blue prints that are just but a printed material that anybody can write through a consultant.

These people need to explain why they want to be nominated and after nomination what they can do better than the current incumbent. I suggest this because I read with a lot of dismay when these aspirants and their endorsers give very many non-sensical reasons why they are better than the others, why they are prefered among the other candidates.

1. Kalonzo (Eastern) -
I am a christian, God Fearing man who grew up in poverty and understands what poverty is like.
I am the best who can take Kibaki Head on because steadman Opinion polls suggest that I poll second to Kibaki and the first in all among presidential aspirants in ODM-K.
I also have a lot of experience in the Government,
I am a peace maker - I foresaw peace negotiations in Somali.

2. Ruto (RV)
I am one of the youngest aspirants.
My province has the largest registered voters and I can easily bag 3 million votes.
I have the most number of delegates to see me through the ODM-K nomination (98,000).
Thanks to the king of politics and a giraffe (MOI) who can see 30 yrs in advance for having created unnecessary constituencies in Rift Valley that Ruto can boast about now.

3. Mudavadi(Western)
Western Kenya have been voting for presidents and we have never been reciprocated. The presidency was to go to western under the 2002 MOU between a westerner - Kijana Wamlwa this year 2007 and we still stand a chance of getting it.
Not forgetting that western has the highest number of presidential aspirants in this coming election. Mudavadi, Jirongo, Kombo.(where is Dr. Kituyi?)

4. Uhuru(central)
Again, I am one of the youngest.
My father said that Presidency will not go beyond river Chania and am the best option against Kibaki should the voters decide to vote Kibaki out.
I can also split the Central Province with Kibaki (don't forget the voting pattern during the referundum).

5. Balala(Coast)
Voters might not like all these aspirants and I am the best option.
I am young too and we need young youthfull leaders

As indicated above regionalism/majimboism is seen outrightly here where all provinces are represented apart from NEP, this in my view shows a good democratic representation of our divided Country along tribal lines as depicted above hence Majimboism might be the best option for our country.

May I pledge to our fellow kenyans to support Raila Odinga towards his presidential bid because this person has all the reason to lead our country. I challenge anybody who does not support him to tell Kenyans why they do not like him apart from very idiotic accusations of not being circumcised as if circumcision is one of the pre-requisite for one to lead the nation as we've heard and read very prominent elite politicians accuse him of that.

This is why I appeal to Media houses in Kenya to engage our leaders to be leaders to face the Nation and explain what they have done, will do to our country if nominated and finally elected to lead Kenya.

My last questions to Kenyans are (though not a pre-requisite to be the President). Who among all these Aspirants have served Jail terms for fighting towards our liberation? I mean Kenyans liberations? Who among the Aspirants has served in the oposition the longest not because he could not be in the Government but because he did not believe that those government(s) were serving the interest of Kenyans?

Elisha Obongo
Hewlett-Packard
Enterprise Systems Group
Tel: 281 514 4906
email: elisha.obongo At hp DOt coM