Sam Okello,

You are right, the past week hasn’t been like any other in the recent past and if I didn’t know any better, all you wrote below would pass as gospel, I mean where else on earth does a slum lord from the biggest slum in Africa show up in Washington DC and to an untrained eye it appears as if man made his maiden landing on planet Mars? Not to slight Prime Minister Hon. Odinga at all my friend, but your commentary about him and his trip to Washington and the imputed achievements you assign to the trip make it necessary for a response not all too flattering and at this rate of your exuberant juvenile gloating, it is no surprise the man won’t rise any higher, help the man excel by being modest, he would need that to succeed.

Now to the specifics of your comments, there is no wave of nationalism sweeping African leaders across the continent nor is there a new, super intelligent, deeply pragmatic and sincerely hopeful leadership as exemplified by Hon. Odinga Sam; Hon. Odinga is not the symbol of Africa’s best, pride- maybe, wisdom….well…not by a long shot. Nelson Mandela, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kwameh Nkrumah exemplify Africa’s best, so make sure you get your facts right. We have had many African leaders and indeed from around the world visit Washington DC and the earth didn’t move nor did bulls lose their lives, believe me. Have you bothered to ask why this new face of Africa was not accorded an audience with President Bush? I mean it would have been in order, right? After all he already met with most of the faces he saw in Washington before, right?  I don’t quite understand what you mean when you say Odinga told the world…. That the continent was turning a page, Africa is moving with dignity and hope, the era of begging and handouts is over… did Hon. Odinga usher in that new era? What is that, an epiphany unveiled by the Prime Minister in his recent trip? How do you reconcile that statement with his earlier statements asking for aid to resettle IDPs? I mean can you get any more convoluted than that?

About your support for PM Odinga, yes, majority of it is tribal and we know that. It is your right to support your own, has totally nothing to do with Raila being charismatic, frankly if it weren’t for the tribal card you all have mastered so well, Raila would have easily made president. The trip to Washington in no way endorses the Prime Minister as the face of Kenya nor that of Africa for that matter; we are all happy he came to share his views but that in no way negates his own record; I mean if the leadership and development of Lang’ata constituency and the Kibera slums over the last 15 years is a benchmark of things to come for the entire country, we sure have plenty of goodies to look forward to, don’t we now? Point being guys, the PM has plenty of ground to cover to convince many that he fits the bill.

Now you mention Zimbabwe and Mugabe’s reign of terror, maiming women and children, killing fathers and brothers, literary raping the economy… in no way do I support Mugabe but you are accusing Mugabe of the same exact things ODM perpetrated on innocent Kenyans barely months ago! Odinga himself not only failed to condemn those acts but indeed fully justified them, saying it is the prize of democracy and that violence was a spontaneous reaction to stolen elections. To this day, he and his cronies at ODM such as Ruto are calling for the unconditional release of criminal suspects, saying they did nothing wrong! I mean for someone wanting the job of the chief law enforcement officer of the entire nation, doesn’t worry you that he’d make such calls with no restraint nor shame? I mean what is lawful about murder, rape, destruction of property? What is democratic about burning women and children in churches? You tell me genius, coz I sure can’t figure it out.

You also talk of amnesty, unless you are completely delusional, only wussies and cowards kill innocent women and children and call themselves freedom fighters! I mean are you actually serious? News flash my friend, we will have an orderly society in Kenya and the rule of law will prevail, those involved in violence will be visited by the full force of law and for those now enjoying the fruits of their incitement, just remember, there is no statute of limitations on murder. So if you participated in some shape or fashion, funded, encouraged or otherwise aided and abetted violent activities resulting in the loss of human life, you will be paid a visit by law enforcement and you can run but not hide, ask Felicen Kabuga, he’ll tell you!  So Sam, I have gone out my way to be civil and matter of fact so perhaps everyone can see the other side of the argument and maybe appreciate our civility to each other but I must warn you, it took a lot of restraint; temper your commentary next time, you hear?

– – –
From: David ochwangi
Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 5:35 PM
Subject: Re: The New African Leader

– – – – – – – – – – –

Hi David
 
There is lots of truth in your rejoinder to Sam’s…in fact it sort of distracts us from the near sycophancy tone in Sam’s publication. However Im wondering why you have to be soo belligerent about it. We are all entitled to our opinions….no need to send warnings and spoiling for a fight.
 
Let peace prevail in all we do and say.

– – –
Date:  Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:28:34 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Akinyi Akinyi
Subject: Re: The New African Leader

– – – – – – – – – – –

Akinyi,
I’m not sure what your definition of belligerent is but I promise I didn’t mean any harm. I have been around the block enough to know the value ( damage) done by propaganda. Propaganda must be met in equal measure if not stronger, the recent violence was started long before elections… I am a watchman of sorts. Views like Okello’s must never be allowed to permeate cyberspace without reasonable challenge. If I had my way, I would charge him with first degree naivety and declare him terminally foolish…. but…

– – –
Date:  Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:52:01 -0700 (PDT)
From:  David ochwangi
Subject:   Re: The New African Leader

   ****
http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=999
http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=991
Date:  Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:16:12 -0400
From:  Tom Owiti
Subject:   RE: The New African Leader – Do me a favour
   ****