Dear All

The above topic has instigated alot of response, majority of which are criticism based on blind support and are lacking in counteragrument except that of Nyanja. My stand on the current politics of Kenya is clear. I still believe Raila is the best presidential candidate for our republic. I had reasonably and categorically said why I thought so in this forum and others. My purpose in this election is to convince others to believe in Raila and when my candidate supporters scare people away I take it personally.

Presidency in Kenya will only be won through reasoning not noise and not force and not through unevaluatable slogans. In the current democracy, you cannot whip people into voting, you must convince them. I believe Raila has the luo vote ie Jorams' and Job's but for him to succeed he has to get the votes of other tribes. In kenya tribes vote on blocks based on which of their leaders they support. It is therefore very crucial for Raila and his advicers to chat the best way to woo these votes especially by demonstrating mutual respect. Noice making, yelling, thuggery and big names is not going to cut it when the boundaries extend beyond luo land.

I have seen this trend every time. Whenever Raila makes one step towards achieving presidency, his people (his handlers and his tribe of which I belong) pull him back several steps by being over noicy, arrogant, unnecessary extensive pride, by behaving as if Raila has become president and that they own his presidency. I know Joram, Job and the rest are about to throw tantrums. I belong to this tribe. We have lost so many elections. It is time to stop and think why? It is time also to find solutions.

To Nyanja, my argument was not about the hummer but the name hummer/Nyundo. I did not say Raila did anything wrong or knew about it,I blamed his supporters and handlers/advicers. But I said heckling was bad for Raila and is controllable. I also said it is achaic. I see some people have said is a norm and some said I do not have the experience. I was in the University in Kenya, we elected many officials, it was so noisy but was it ok. I was there during the FORDK error when every descenting voice was heckled, not given a chance to speak their mind or whoped especially in Nyanza, who can tell me this is ok. Yes it happens but is it ok especially if it is planned. No it is not. Lets turn the tables, if Raila was heckled in such an important meeeting by Kalonzo Musyoka's supporters, I believe you Nyanja you would be talking of a different story. For democracy to be successful, we have to be civil. Honarable Odinga was civil but his supporters were arrogant even after the fact and this is what I said is hurting Odinga's compaign rather than helping. I no longer want to talk about the expensiveness of the hummer. The analogy was in the context of the slogan and whther the slogan depicted richness or just the Nyundo which I strongly suggested that it has nothing to do with Nyundo based on its origin. That is the message I wanted to give.

Every tribe in Kenya have some type of allegiance to their own. Yes Kenya is a tribalistic country. Dont ever doubt that. Yes we will overcome tribalism in the future but it is here now. If Raila has to win, him and his people must show respect to the leaders of these tribes as long as they can bring in the votes. There is no tribe in Kenya who would vote for a leader of another tribe that disrespects one of their own. Let me put it in perspective. Kamba vote will be split between Ngilu and Kalonzo pereod. If you want to win this vote you must align with one of these two and at the same time must repectfully disagree with the other. Yes we do not know who booed Kalonzo but when they did so they shouted Nyundo. Whose supporters are they and who by extension of assumption could they be. Yes majority in Kenya believed it was the luos and if not then some of his handlers must have known that this was going to happen. That is why Hon Hamisi missed the meeting. Anyone who says Raila handlers were not aware may as well say that Raila could have been assasinated there and no one would have known who did it. My point is that ODMK had the capacity to silence this people. Raila has elaborate security to pull this people out of the crowd. The fact of the matter is that they left them to proceed hoping that they were going to score a goal. They always say that you may have enemty with your brother but when a stranger attacks your brother you will fight alongside your brother. Well booeing a kamba may have angered even Ngilu herself. Kambas must be bitter bacause their great son was humiliated in public. Lets not think for once that Kalonzo has no supporters. We hope cracks will be mended but if they are not then there will be no Raila presidency neither will there be Kalonzo's. Spoil for everyone is the theme.

The moment was ripe for Raila to score great points by being civil the way he was but his supporters dragged him down. The nyundo slogan did not break the wall either instead it may have fitted into either side of my previous analogy.

Raila has lost several presidential elections. Strategising is key to his success this time. There must be a board that decides on the repucusions of some actions and how to counter them. No one should chew anything but the ideas should be thoroughly analyzed before they are acted on. So far the selling of Raila image has been left to either his distractors/enemies or his sycophants which of course do not have Raila, the luos or the rest of us at heart. The sold image of arrogancy must be turned into who Raila and the luo really are. Free hearted, kind hearted, outgoing, giving, uniters are some of the images that must be marketed this time especially in public.

Just to answer Job and Joram, without interlectual analysis of matters, there is no looking of the opposite side of the coin. All you have is the side you like. But the side you dont like will catch up with you. We know you love Raila and you have words arranged to criticise whoever challenges him even the voices of reason but come december, you will be the first one looking for a job from Ogego when Raila looses the presidency.

Interlectualism is not achivement of degrees. Its is a decisin to rationally think. The two of you failed me in this. Especially Joram who wants his dead uncetors to give him the ideas. My forcus is that Raila must have all the tools necessary to win this time and if it means criticising him so be it. I am not saying my ideas are supreme but at least I believe they have some merit and I have nothing to gain but good governance and development of Kenya.

The questions are when Raila said Kibaki Tosha how come there wasn't an out cry? If Kibaki had said Raila Tosha could the coalition have stayed together? Well we know it could have not. Why?. Somebody would say that it is because of tribalism, some would say it is because the luos are not circumcised while some would say that may be the other tribes are wary of the luo behaviuor and character. All this have been stated in this forum and others. However, I believe the last reason is something the luos can do something about if they want their son to capture the top seat. They sure cannot tell other tribes that they dont care when it comes to this. They must modulate their behaviour in election compaigns and Rallies. Joram and Job may be you need to start doing something good for your candidate instead of scaring people away by your words and and indications that you dont give a damn.

It is time the luo address issues thay can so that this time Raila can win. To make an Indian snake dance you must play the flute to the right tune. There are images that the luo can change for the shake of becoming "electable". Hecklemanias have to be disbanded. The luos already have their votes even when they are quitened. I say again they will not win Raila votes beyond luoland. Arrogance has to go, it has to be brought under control this time. Pride where every luo thinks that Odinga is already a president before he pockets the Kamba vote must dissappear. The luos and Raila supporters must learn their enviroment and play it get what they want be done right.

By the way Joram KDFC is strong. We just had a meeting in Denmark last weekend, Our next meeting is in Memphis Tennessee on 3rd-4th of August and in London in September 2007. If I knew your real name, I could have organised a meeting in your town. Meanwhile you are welcome to the meetings stated above. Come to reason with us not to heckle. We have recruited many members. We have made many partnerships and friends, we are on our way to the top. Our dream lives. You are behind news. Dont be left behind.

Dr. Barack Otieno Abonyo