WHAT PNU CALLS ODM EUPHORIA IS A REVOLUTION!

From: Obeng Bash

Indeed 2007 general election appears to follow the 2005 referendum script. The Steadman and other polls so far done depict the referendum scenario Raila Odinga is leading in all the provinces safe for Central and Eastern.

What is different is the fact that Mt. Kenya elite are in one camp: the PNU. The Gema elite whether political, clergy, merchant or technocrats all support Kibaki in PNU. The rejection of Majimbo by Archbishop John Njue the head of Catholic Church and the same by Rev. David Githii of PCEA church is yet another proof that the elite from the House of Mumbi are interestingly in one camp.

Political elites like George Saitoti, Uhuru Kenyatta, Joseph Kamotho, Paul Muite, and Koigi wa Wamwere have made PNU look like a Mumbi affair. What is beginning to be obvious for Kenyans outside House of Mumbi is that the battle this time round is one community against the rest of other kenyan communities. Gema communities are slowly being put on one side against other Kenyans.

The hostile reception of ODM group in Meru and the ejection of the same from a hotel in Central some time back are making it obvious that ODM leaders are not welcomed in the epicenter of Mumbi hegemony.

One of the three Steadman polls gave a very interesting scenario. Kibaki had scored 88% from Kikuyu, 86% in Meru, 41% from Mijikenda, 24% Luhya and 13% from Kalenjin. On the other hand Raila had 93% from Luo, 76% from Kalenjin, 68% from Luhya, 64% Kisii and 51% Mijikenda. As the battle for State House surges on it appears Kenyans outside Mt. Kenyan are gravitating towards Raila Odinga. He is seen to mean well for other communities outside the house of Mumbi.

Poverty index show that areas out of Mt. Kenya regions are the poorest and the most marginalized lot. They see Raila as their Moses and a real savour. His crusade for the introduction of Majimbo is good news to regions that have remained backward despite massive resources at their disposal. For 44 years development took place in areas within Mt. Kenya radius. National schools and public universities were mainly confined to Nairobi and Central provinces . Every sector of the economy has remained a preserve of the house of Mumbi. During Kenyatta era every aspect of the economy became the domain of his community. The same is true for Kibaki's five years at the helm.

The perception for the last five years is the fact that the house of Mumbi is the royalty and the first family and community. With all the Mumbi elite and the hoi polloi behind Kibaki and PNU the battle is taking an ethnic path. The PNU point men from other communities and regions are political light weights. They lost heavily during the referendum. In the Coast current PNU cabinet lost heavily and so were those from Rift Valley, North Eastern, Western and Nairobi . The PNU members who delivered for the banana side were Kombo and all the Bukusu leaders. In Trans-Nzoia the minister for Agriculture Kipruto Arap Kirwa was heavily beaten. The same was true for Simion Nyachae in Kisii.

Many in PNU may dismiss the referendum factor yet the truth of the matter is Kenyans have had no new constitution after 100 days of Kibaki's rule neither after referendum. The notion that Kenyans are not yearning for a new constitution is to be arrogant and ignorant of the plight of 57% of Kenyans languishing in absolute poverty.

The other factor that will ignite the December 27th election is the rejection of the older tribalist generation and its architects. The role of aged politicians for 44 years in Kenya will be a factor. The likes of Munyao from Ukambani, Nyachae from Kisii, Karume, Kibaki and Michuki from Central and Moi from Rift Valley all the prime movers of political landscape in the 1960s is a bone of contention. Many believe the old guards are the real architects of tribalism, corruption, dictatorship and grabbing of resources in Kenya . All the senior politicians who called shots from Kenyatta to Kibaki era are among the richest individuals in Kenya . They own massive tracks of land and are key share holders in every leading company in Kenya and abroad.

Kenyans see these leaders as self-centered and blind to the plight of the masses. For 44 years Kenya become the third most unequal nation on earth. The insecurity in the country is a product of economic apartheid in the land. Leadership in Kenya has become a preserve of the rich and the corrupt. Justice and wealth has like wise become the preserve of a club of upper-class.

If money counts and if money can buy voters the old guards are the most favored, but the opinion poll show otherwise. Kenyans are fed up with commercial leadership and tribal politics. Up to 2002 money and bribery moved mountains. The 2002 general election upset moneyed individuals. The same was true during the referendum. Money was poured and goodies were dished out by the government but it did not deter Kenyans from rejecting vehemently the Wako Draft.

The ODM revolution now taking place throughout the nation is termed as euphoria by the PNU group.

Kenya is ripe for a revolution-a political and economic change and a real change of paradigm of the nation. The centralized and unitary system of government has become irrelevant globally and irrelevant in Kenya . Kenyans want regional autonomy. They have suffered a lot under colonial and post colonial centralized system of government for 44 years. If the opinion polls are anything to go by it means one thing: change is inevitable. The popularity of ODM throughout the nation is a proof that Kenyans are now ready to defy the old guards. Moi's support of PNU has not helped to prop up Kibaki's fortunes in Rift Valley among the Kalenjin. The more Moi demonizes ODM and Majimbo the more resistance he gets in his backyard. KANU is as good as dead. According to Steadman Kanu's rating nationally is at 1%.

Indeed 2007 is a year of change and a revolution in Kenya . Raila's popularity is a revolution in Kenya's political and economic landscape. His popularity is a rebellion against the status quo by the masses of Kenya . It is a struggle between the rich and poor.

The Kikuyu youth who have been tortured in the name of Mungiki all support the ODM revolution. The poor and downtrodden all support the ODM. Change the buss word in Kenya . The rich has used ethnicity to advance their economic domination of Kenya for 44 years.

Things are bound to change on December 27th!!!!!!!.