WHY KENYANS SUPPORT RAILA ODINGA

From: Gordon Teti

In 2002 general elections in Kenya, there were 4 main presidential contenders, namely, Uhuru Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki, Simeon Nyachae and James Orengo. During that election, Kenyans were for change, and real change just like now after being disappointed by the two past regimes of Moi and Jomo Kenyatta.
 
Uhuru, as a stooge of Moi the dictator, was for the maintainance of the status quo. Kibaki, the chameleon, cheated Kenyans that he was for real change. Nyachae and Orengo were seen as spoilers just like Kalonzo of today. Consequently, the real horses during the December 2002 election were Uhuru Kenyatta and Mwai Kibaki.
 
During the 2002 elections, since "Moi had never lost any political battle," the majority of the Kikuyus, including Njenga Karume who was the Patron of the Democratic Party (Kibaki's own Party) defected to KANU. Why? Because " it was obvious that Uhuru was going to win." Project Uhuru became the Kikuyu project, unfortunately.
 
Kibaki was left standing on sand. It was at this point that the rest of Kenyans who were dying for real political change saw Kibaki as the Messiah who was going to deliver them from bondage. Kibaki himself promised the rest of Kenyans a real change.Kibaki therefore was the candidate for the Kenyans who wanted change while Uhuru was the candidate for those who wanted the continuation of the status quo - Kazi iendelee.
 
Though Orengo has fought all his life struggling to bring change while Kibaki was with Moi singing that "those who are fighting KANU are day dreamers... trying to cut a Mugumo tree with a razor blade," the rest of Kenyans who suffered under Moi's dictatorship voted for Kibaki in totality while rejecting Orengo. The Luos, rejected their own son for someone else whom they believed was going to liberate them from several years political darkness. On the other hand, the Kikuyus went back to Moi to ensure that kazi iendelee. It is not surpring that history is repeating itself in 2007.
 
What do Kenyans learn from the Kibaki-Uhuru 2002 scenario? Kenyans are not supporting Raila because he is a Luo or because Raila has sacrificed and suffered a lot for a long time pushing for a democratic Kenya. Kenyans are supporting Raila because they believe that Raila is going to liberate them from suffering. Kibaki was not suported by the rest of Kenyans, including Gordon Teti, in 2002 because he is a Kikuyu but because Kenyans looked forward to a better future under Kibaki's presidency.
 
Kibaki was voted to be the President of Kenya in December 2002 because he disguised himself as the agent of change, hope and prosperity. Uhuru was rejected because Kenyans were right to believe that he represents the suffering, torture, poverty, economic looting, land grabbing, Moi and the old garbage of Jomo Kenyatta.
 
Therefore, the December 2002 election is a mirrow of what to expect in the election of December 2007. Kenyans will vote against those who want to maintain the status quo and vote for those who promise a brighter future and a prosperous Kenya.