Miguna Miguna gets Seal Of Approval during his US Visit

By Banda Nyaware

Mr Miguna Miguna toured US North Eastern states this past week to meet Kenyans in diaspora. Kenyans still remember Miguna as being one of the former student leaders who was detained by Moi government in the late eighties and expelled from Nairobi university. They were subjected to persecution due to their agitation for good governance.

He was released from detention only at the intervention of Amnesty International and the UNHCR that played a crucial role in his flight to Canada.

Miguna got political asylum in Toronto, Canada, where he settled, completed his studies, became a lawyer and raised a family. He started one of the most reputable law firms in Toronto in 1995. He has successfully represented clients in high profile cases in civil, criminal, constitutional, immigration/refugee and family cases. He is regarded as an expert in actions against public authorities in Ontario.

He is a top critic of Kibaki's government today and is noted in his regular incisive analysis and commentaries in all three major Kenyan newspapers.

He has also remained a civil rights activist while also practicing criminal and immigration law. He contributed some pieces of the now shelved Bomas constitutional draft.

In his US tour, Mr Miguna held several town meetings with the Kenyan diaspora, vigrously articulated both ODM-K's and Raila Odinga's platforms, and explained his vision for Nyando Constituency in Nyanza.

He met with Kenyan business men, professionals and students. At Islin, New Jersey, he held a meeting with members of KIDO (Kano Integrated Development Organization), a welfare association for people who have vested interest in Nyando but now living outside Kenya.

It can be announced that members of KIDO present endorsed Miguna's candidature at the end of the meeting.

One would not miss his sense of humor when he chipped: "Kibaki goverment ought to learn from KIDO". He made this observation when he was introduced to KIDO elected officials who coincidentally shows regional balance. The Chairman, Mr Tom Nyaoke, is from Kabonyo clan, Treasurer, Ms. Ann Agengo, from Kobura, Secretary, Mr. Doc Odotte, from Kakola, Mr Steve Ochola from Kochogo and the Patron from Wawidhi clan.

Mr Miguna stated he does'nt believe in Clan or tribal politics. He was responding to Mr. Mucha from the audience who asked why he would leave his lucrative law firm to join politics yet Engineer Nyamunga, the current MP, is known to belong to his own Wawidhi clan. He stated that a candidate ought to be judged based on his vision, platform and credentials. Miguna noted that Nyamunga has no background of struggle and has never been a reformer. As well, Miguna indicated that Nyamunga has retrogressively been using a few of his clan members to run the CDF. Miguna stated that he believes in true people-management of CDF and that he will ensure that all regions, clans, genders and age-groups are fully represented and completely own and manage CDF for the benefit of Nyando.

He pointed out that Nyamunga returned Ksh 23 million of the 2007 CDF allocation for Nyando back to the Kibaki government, yet Nyando is one of the poorest constituencies in Kenya. Ksh 23 million, he argued, would have been utilized to assist poor students from Nyando to get education. The money could also have been utilized to assist women groups, widows or even to provide help to the unemployed youth to engage in various productive ventures.

He said he was saddened to see that Nyando and the lives of its people, have not improved since independence. Poverty has persisted all these decades without any kind of positive intervention from the local MP or government.

Mr Miguna stated that it is sad that the current Nyando MP has never spoken in parliament, leave alone sponsored a bill geared towards alleviating the conditions of his people. This, Miguna believes, is a betrayal and failure of the primary role of a parliamentarian: That is, to act as his people's voice in parliament. He assured Nyando constituents that his voice will be heard loud and clear in their defence as well as in the promotion of their interests.

He was passionate about the failure of each successive Nyando MP over the years in addressing the issue of floods in Nyando.He promised that when (not if) elected, he will promptly introduce a bill in parliament that would tackle this problem effectively. He indicated that he is also consulting with donor agencies and foreign governments in order to help eradicate the flood menace from Nyando once and for all.

With his international exposure, connections and expertise, Miguna is confident that he will be capable of addressing Nyando's problems. He is a practical person who believes in action and less empty talk.

He stated that the foregoing problems facing his people are the main reasons why he has decided to contest the Nyando seat. He made the audience aware that his decision was made only after he had conducted wide consultations with the Nyando people, including current and past leaders. Mr Miguna stated that flood eradication is not as difficult as some people imagine. He gave the example of the Netherlands that has completely tamed water despite being situated mostly below the sea level.

Mr Miguna strongly believes that the common person must be empowered economically, politically and socially if real development has to be realized. He sited the case of rice marketing in the region where the farmers barely profit from the proceeds despite hard labor involved. He feels that most of the politicians are too engaged in private businesses at the expense of their citizens. It is his view that being an MP is not a reward but a responsibility that needs commitment and hard work for the peolpe. Mr Miguna states that he has a firm background of struggle, has a been a reformer throughout his life, understands the plight of his people, has commitment to the people's cause, has relevant and adequate training and international exposure and connections and is a team player within the ODM-K family. Compared to his competitors, Miguna believes that they cannot match his standing on every issue relevant to the plight of his people.

Commenting on poor performance in Education, Miguna does not subscribe to the notion of apportioning blame. He cited poor staffing and remuneration of teachers as one of the factors that should not be ignored together with the devastating economic conditions of the people. As well, he mentioned the ravaging effects HiV/Aids and delapidated infrustraucture has had on the school system in Nyanza. He is currently exploring with Nyando educationists and other leaders the possibility of establishing a source of funding that can be used as incentives for both teachers and students especially in lower grades. The funds will also be used to improve the standard of learning in a manner that is guided, monitored, most aggressive and comprehensive.

Mr. Miguna held similar town meetings at Malvern, Pennsylvania; Somerset, New Jersey; and Delaware. He was accompanied by Dr Odeyo Ayaga, North American Raila 007 Coordinator; Mr. Joshua Nyanja, the ODM-USA Coordinator; Patrick Lumumba Kore, a computer consultant originally from Nyando; Dr George Omburo, Raila 007 Chairman; a Pennsylvania Dentist Dr Walter Ngaji; Mr and Mrs John Akumu of Washington DC; Lawyer Joab Agar; Enosh Odera, Doc Odotte, Dr Sam Oyugi of Kingston New York, amongst others.

His visit created a tremendous boost in spirit and gave people of Kenya living in the diaspora a sense of optimism.

A lady from New York, Ann Kariuki stated that she believes Miguna would be a real complement for ODM-K government in parliament. This view was shared by many who met him for the first time after reading about him or watching him on television over the years. Most believe that he is simple, calm, a good listener and approachable. He connected with all those he met. He was given rapt attention by the various audiences he addressed.