Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:12:55 +0000 [10:12:55 AM CST]
From: Abraham Chola [United Kingdom]
Subject: Re: NEWS :- Wetangula leads Kenyan VIPs to Obama inauguration
think what Kenyans need to do is to ask themselves: “Why does the President and the Premier seat on the fence and let their ministers & MPs spend public fund the way they feel like? What value does such a trip add to our economy?
It is very clear that this delegation does NOT even have any formal invitation from neither the president-elect nor the USA Gov’t for the main event. Does this delegation just want to be in the ‘list’ of guests who attended the inauguration for personal interests?”
It really sickens seeing how our leaders are reckless when it comes to spending public money and yet we see everyday in the news how poor Kenyans are suffering and starving of hunger yet they do not say a word about it. The costs (monies/PDMs) of that ill-advised tour should have been properly utilized to save some poor Kenyans who are in need of food.
From: firstlady kikuyu
Sent: Wednesday, 14 January, 2009 12:07:19
Subject: Re: NEWS :- Wetangula leads Kenyan VIPs to Obama inauguration
Good afternoon fellow forumists,
There are some mats, I think they vie banana route, written I FEEL NOTHING. I think we should have our mps and ministers wear caps with such a label. It suits them well. I FEEL NOTHING.
Good day wanabidii.
Mumbi
On 1/13/09, Morrison Muleri wrote:
As a Kenyan based in Washington DC I opted not to pay the $200 to attend the bash as I thought it can be used more productively educating my niece back home. About 4 million people are expected to descend on this town starting Saturday. I know of at least four ‘Kenyan’ parties in Washington DC and the neighboring Maryland and Virginia. It’s strange that GOK will spend such a huge amount of money to send a team to attend one of these marginal parties. Roads will be closed and we all have to jump into Metro underground trains. Hotels are very very expensive. Why bother at such a time?
There will be very many visitors of the state around inauguration time. It is almost impossible for anybody less than a head of state or government, a senior USA government official, a relative or a close friend to reach Obama next week.
With better planning, the GOK should have arranged to send a delegation almost a month after these celebrations so as to get bilateral talks with Obama or high ranking officials of his government.
Morrison Muleri, PhD
From: nicholas oyoo
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:07:18 AM
Subject: Re: NEWS :- Wetangula leads Kenyan VIPs to Obama inauguration
This matter should be looked at with soberly. What gains will accrue for Kenya and especially our relations with the US? I say there is a huge blank there. They are going to an African ‘Bash’. It is misleading the way it was reported that they are going for Obama inauguration. If there was any contact with the incoming administration that would have added some value.
And the way Wetangula said on on TV how it is easy to ‘request’ the speaker and by extension parliament to fund such fancy trips, left no doubt that we need serious mind set changes in this country.
If Wetangula had to speak in that Bash he should go alone. And it makes zero sense to have the bash in Washington anyway.
By the way why is ambassador Ogongo still there? He should be recalled for undiplomatic language. His reference to Obama as a junior senator without an idea was unfortunate. And not just because Obama won. Such reference to a person holding an office of such a nature must never be tolerated.
— On Tue, 1/13/09, maureen achieng wrote:
From: maureen achieng
Subject: Re: NEWS :- Wetangula leads Kenyan VIPs to Obama inauguration
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 5:03 AM
No No No
they shouldnt go especially as a gesture to the IDP’s. They should have told us…’we had a chance but decided to put up a holiday in Kenya for all Kenyans and set aside the money to settle some of the IDP’s .
Dear MP’s can you do something good for once!!
— On Tue, 1/13/09, John Gichuru wrote:
From: John Gichuru
Subject: Re: NEWS :- Wetangula leads Kenyan VIPs to Obama inauguration
To: bidiiafrika@googlegroups.com
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 4:33 PM
Frank,
Discounts or no discounts, that’s our money they are spending, money that could be used in a more constructive manner. You have just mentioned the IDPs. Do they sit and think how many of these brothers and sisters could smile if what they are to use the money on them? I still maintain it’s wastage of public resources and still opposed to it. The ambassador’s representation is enough. All the rest of us, let’s celebrated the milestone here at home.
On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 11:39 AM, Frank Rich wrote:
Relax guys, don’t be too hard on Wetangula and co.
The side show he’s attending comes at real discount. If he had attended the main function, the costs would have been higher. Maybe the saved amounts could be used to resettle some IDPs!
FR