KALONZO-RAILA 2007: A WINNING TICKET!

"Agwandasymo",

I put up the proposition knowing fully well that people like you would find reason to come at me with guns blazing. I am not surprised.

The essence of a proposition is that people talk about it. If you see this as an ignorant proposition, it is still okay. I will not fault you for it. I will emphasize that I do not subscribe in any way, shape or form to the notion of circumcision as a qualification for president of Kenya. My proposition is borne from a recognition of facts on the ground in Kenyan villages.

If you are from an area in Kenya that does not perform the customary anatomical exercise of circumcision, then you may not understand how deep the beliefs and stereotypes that go with it are. If you are from an area that practises customary circumcision, or if you do understand it, then I would argue that you are in the territory of wishful thinking if you assume that because the effect of the customary exercise and the stereotypes that go with it are intellectually untenable, then circumcision is an irrelevant political issue in Kenya. The fact is that it is an important consideration that can not be ignored.

Let us look at the following historical scenarios:

1. In 1991, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga fared miserably in areas where what you call "irrelevant and backward customary garbage" prevails for the reasons that I stated.

2. In 1997, Raila did no better in the same parts of Kenya for again the same reasons.

3. In 2002, Raila did not run for the same reason, among other reasons.

4. In 2007, Raila has incessantly addressed the issue in the course of his campaigns. I would ask: "Why does Raila keep addressing the issue if at all it is irrelevant one?" Isn't it because he sees it as an important impediment to his candidadure?

Please let us discuss the issues and stop the personal attacks.

Thanks.

Michoma Moenga