THE GIST OF THE MATTER ABOUT BREAK INS AT THE ODM OFFICES

At the rate of insecurity in Kenya it could be very easy for a common man to believe that the breaking into ODM offices was just "a normal burglary" as Police declared the raid. However in the same token the police promised to investigate. An investigative mind that does not believe everything on face value is tempted to ask why the police came up with such a conclusion before investigation in the first place. Just like the ODM officials, I personally smell a live black cat. It is common knowledge that thuggery has been used clandestinely as a tool to not only intimidate political rivals but also to get an inside scoop into opponents plans or even eliminate opposition in its entirety.

Seeing the government hand in this is not far fetched at all. Just recently, the government sent the Artur brothers with a few police officers and raided the standard. Lucy Kibaki herself raided the newsroom. In America, Nixon aids helped raid the democratic party offices. It is therefore by no means any surprising that this happened. Of course I believe the ODM officials knew this was coming. However, if it is true that the government was involved then the public must ask why and develop projected reactions incase such fears occur later

If this was done because of a simple search of information then it shows that we are being led by a crude government. A government of the sixties. It shows that we have a government that is technologically challenged. First it is an indication that the government lacks high-tech facilities or high-tech personnel to get access to the computers. Their hacking ability is inferior to ODM's technological protection capabilities despite the fact that the government has money at its disposal. It therefore confirms our fears that the government is no where near pushing Kenya into a developed world status. Secondly it also points to the fact that NARC people have no ideas of their own and hence have resorted to stealing information about the way they ought to move forward. This is seen in the context that they are still struggling with whether they should have a running mate or not. Kibaki himself still does not have a party and is wondering on how to tame the parties in the "purported coalition". Indeed Kibaki's coalition is so confused to an extent that they do not know what to call themselves. It would look trivial to think that these are the kind of information they were looking for because I feel I the Kibaki government may deserve more credit than that.

It is my belief that Kibaki's people were looking for big things. Things that can bring down Raila's associates or Raila himself. Things that incriminate the ODM officials and take them right into the four corners of a room in jail. This would be worth the sacrifice of integrity because it can easily make him be a sole presidential candidate. Desperate people look for desperate measures and hence if they fail to get incriminating evidence, the purported thugs could have opted just to see the ODM planned activities. Yes there more to be achieved by just obtaining the plans. One is to organize alternative activities on the same days as ODM events in the same venues at the same time before ODM does. Second is to monitor movements of ODM officials for possible political assassinations.

Kenyans must have their eyes open. While we see Kibaki as a gentleman, those who surround him will never be expected to take defeat lying down. Kibaki's friends have a lot at stake. Many of them are going to loose their jobs when Kibaki looses his presidency. Many have stolen money and are scared to death what might happen if Raila come to power. The reason for the elimination of Ouko and Mbuya may be the very same reason for possible plans for elimination of the luminaries. These break ins may be a prelude of what is to come. Kenyans and ODM in particular must be on high alert and must not be naive. During the second liberation there was small burglaries before tribal classes and burning of houses in the Rift Valley. The more ODM looks like they may win the election, the more they should be stringent with the security detail of their luminaries. Kenya is in Africa where political assassinations have happened again and again.

ODM members must not wait for the government to protect them. How can you expect for the person who is planning your death to plan for your protection. Mboya was killed, nothing happened, JM was killed, Kenya moved on, Ouko was killed, investigations after investigations are still on. These statements may be misconstrued as poor shout of an alarmist but only those politicians who took prior precautions and shouted an alarm like Shikuku have lived to see Kenyan second liberation. What other evidence does ODM need to know that they need to be extremely protective? I suggest ODM should have a special security especially for Raila and the other members of the pentagon. Otherwise demonstrations after the fact will not help anyone.

Dr. Barack Abonyo