*MOI IS SUFFERING FROM RAILA PARANOIA!*

* *

The year is two thousand and eight. All is quiet and peaceful on the dark January night. Suddenly, a haunting scream cuts through the dense darkness with the sharpness of a razor. It is Moi screaming on top of his lungs. An aide runs across the room to check on the former president. Thank God, it is only a bad dream.

"Mzee…mzee…" The aide calls out as he tries in vain to stir the former president out of his nightmare.

But Moi is completely possessed and he starts screaming uncontrollably… "Raila…Raila…Raila!"

"Mzee…please wake up." The aide respectfully shakes the old man by the shoulder. Just like the three previous nights, Moi is having another of his disturbing Raila nightmares.

The aide shakes Moi harder and finally the former president snaps out of his scary dream. His face is covered in sweat and his lips are trembling. He stares at the aide like a zombie, he looks around the room and then turns back to his aide, "Who is the president of Kenya?" He asks in a loud whisper.

The aide takes a few steps backwards. Clearly the poor fellow dislikes the question, or is it the answer that he is being forced to deliver which terrifies him? The aide hesitates.

"Who is the president of Kenya?" Moi demands angrily.

"Ah…mzee, you already know it is Raila Odinga!" The man replies meekly.

"Oh No… Not Raila… Oh No… Not Raila!" The former president agonizes in excruciating pain. Moi's worst nightmare is now a living reality.

Such a scenario may seem exaggerated and over dramatized but mind you, it is not far-fetched! At the moment, Raila stands a chance at becoming the fourth president of the Republic of Kenya. I admit that President Kibaki presents a tough and credible challenge but Tinga has never had a better opportunity than today. Moi realizes the likelihood of a Raila presidency and the old man is horrified!

A few days ago, the former president came out with bluster and not only declared his support for President Kibaki but also promised to deliver the Rift Valley vote. He declared that Raila and Kalonzo were nothing more than tribal chiefs seeking to divide the country. But we know Moi. We have experienced Moi. And Kenya is lucky to have survived his twenty four year presidency, which was characterized by economic plunder, mass corruption, tribal divisions, staggering unemployment, thieving government officials and great injustice.

Obviously, Moi, just like any other private citizen has the constitutional right to support whichever presidential candidate he wants but that's where his political influence must stop. Moi has lost his political credibility; his bad history invalidates any vision he might have for our dear country. So now we must ask: Why is Moi supporting Kibaki? It is hypocritical to pretend as human beings that we all don't have our own agendas-some self-serving and some for the common good but Moi is a career politician and that fact alone demands Kenyans to question and scrutinize his agenda with vehement vigor.

It beats logic that today Moi considers Kibaki the best thing for Kenya. After all, Kibaki served Moi as vice president for ten years. But as we all know, Moi sacked Kibaki unceremoniously and replaced him with political charlatans. After the Multiparty era, the two men remained on the opposite ends of Kenyan politics. During the last elections, Moi campaigned feverishly against Kibaki and tried to impose Uhuru Kenyatta on the Kenyan people. Even during the Orange and Banana phenomena Moi stood against Kibaki. But after all that political history, it is perplexing that today Moi wants us to believe he has new-found faith in Kibaki!

What Moi doesn't realize is the fact that in only five years Kibaki has accomplished what Moi failed to do in twenty four years. Although the current Kibaki government is not without flaws, it has managed to reenergize Kenyans and prove to the people that good things are still possible in Kenya. If anything, Kibaki's quick success, though not perfect, validates Moi's abysmal failure as Kenyan longest serving president. It is a pity that Kibaki is now reaching out to his predecessor who can only hurt him politically.

In my opinion, Moi doesn't believe in Kibaki as much as he fears Raila. In his wildest dreams, the former president never imagined that one day Kenyans across tribe would consider electing Raila the president of Kenya. Moi is a terrified man suffering from what I call RP-Raila Paronoia- and he wants to take the rest of us down with him. Moi knows that Raila can change Kenyan politics forever. Moi understands that Raila can right many of the wrongs perpetrated on the citizenry during his Nyayo era.

Raila is his own man, he is not susceptible to Moi's manipulation. He proved it by defying Moi during the last elections and made it worse when he killed the old man's dreams of a Uhuru Kenyatta presidency. When Raila quit Moi's "dream" team he took Kalonzo, Kamotho, Siatoti, and many others with him. Moi also understands that it is by Raila that Kibaki found his way to State House. Moi knows that Raila connects with the masses and has the ability and charisma to lead and influence the citizenry. Moi hates things that he can't control; explains why a Raila presidency has him shaking in his boots.

As we all know, Raila suffered imprisonment and detention during Moi's rule. To justify Raila's unjust incarceration, Moi and his cronies vilified the man and demonized him. They sold Raila as a "radical" to the Kenyan people and unfortunately some among us bought the message and still cast Raila unfairly. Time, change, and events have proven Raila right and in the process have greatly diminished Moi.

In summary, we must respect Moi for who he is but we must not fear the man. We must not have high expectations of the man for he is big on rhetoric, weak on strategy, and terrible on performance. We cannot sacrifice the greater good of the country in order to honor Moi and make him feel special. Kenyans are not stupid! We are smart people capable of rising and making our country a great place for every Kenyan man and woman. What we do not need are stumbling blocks to impede our progress and change our course. Kibaki, Raila, and Kalonzo are all men capable of presenting their mandates to the people based on their visions, skills and ability. Let us judge each man based on their character, deeds, and vision. Moi must allow the Kenyan people to decide freely without any undue duress from him.

When it comes to Raila Odinga, we must all refrain from unbridled emotion and start applying the right logic. Sure, the man is a maverick and a nonconformist. Maybe he is a boisterous politician but certainly he is not a radical who wants to hurt Kenya. And if you find yourself screaming and shaking in the middle of the night, shake it off, maybe have a glass of cold water and go back to bed and get some sleep. Leave Raila Paronia to Moi as we must focus on building our dear country not only for us but also for posterity. Kenya must be all it can be!

George Kyalo Mutua

Atlanta, GA, USA