Raila Odinga's Minnesota Tour is a Thundering Success

By Miguna Miguna, February 27, 2007

They came in their hundreds - Africans, Americans, Kenyans, Blacks, Asians, Whites, young and old - all wanting to hear The Agwambo speak. Even the heavy winter storms that covered Minnesota with freezing rain, snow and fog - from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to Mankato - could not stop the huge audiences that trooped to various centres to see, hear, shake hands with, debate and share ideas with Hon. Raila Odinga.

Although different people must have attended these meetings for different reasons; everyone acknowledges that one common denominator was Raila's charisma, verve, vision and ability to engage his audiences with passion. It is only after meeting and listening to Raila that all our preconceptions, phobias and fears evaporate. Unlike many African leaders who are elitist, avoid direct interactions with the ordinary people; Raila comfortably mingles, talks and listens to everyone. Raila attracts support from everyone because he does not discriminate on the basis of class, position or other primordial considerations.

It was a breath of fresh air to see Raila engage university professors, corporate executives, media personalities, students and Pan Africanists with the same ease that he whizzes through the shanties of Kibera in Nairobi.

Tinga charged though Minnesota with messages of Pan African unity, stability, peace and development; total liberation; good governance; complete eradication of corruption (petty and grand); the enforcement of the rule of law; ethnic, religious and gender equality; and equity. And the reception was overwhelmingly positive.

Unlike the previous visits, when he catalogued both president Kibaki's and his government's failures in fulfilling the people's basic needs as well as honouring his pre-election promises, this time, Raila concentrated on his vision and agenda for both Kenya and Africa.

Reciting the Kenyan national anthem, Raila reminded his Kenyan audiences that the things all Kenyans have demanded, wanted and deserve are: Justice, peace, unity, love and prosperity. He pointed out that Kenya's founding fathers did not coin this message on the national anthem by mistake. Yet, more than forty three years after independence, Kenyans have not experienced these basic needs. "ODM-K", Raila stated, "intend to and is committed to realize these dreams for Kenyans."

On the issue of constitutional review, Raila promised that an ODM-K government would enact the Bomas draft as soon as possible upon assuming power, but not later than sixty days after being elected.

Raila saw a direct link between the failure of the government to issue identity cards to the youth and the escalating crime in Kenya. He stated that because millions of the Kenyan youth do not have identity cards, it is impossible to successfully prosecute offenders when no one can prove their identities. Anyone arrested can give a fake name only to disclose a different but true identity, thus making the justice system farcical. As such, offenders learn to beat the system due to their anonymity with the result that crime rate skyrockets.

Both insecurity and corruption scare away investors from Kenya, thereby depriving our country of the much needed economic development. Consequently, tackling insecurity and corruption is closely intertwined with Kenya's economic development. Raila said that ODM-K intends to eradicate both vices once and for all.

Raila exuded confidence throughout his tour. He was emphatic that when (and not if) he forms the next government, his primary focus will be on infrastructure development, economic expansion targeting between 10 to 20 per cent national growth, gender empowerment, and the complete eradication of corruption and insecurity.On gender empowerment, his plan will realize a 50/50 gender parity compared to Kibaki's promise of a 30 per cent increase in female representation, which is being promised in the fourth year of his five year term.

Raila restated his commitment to eliminate ethnic based politics that has excluded, marginalized, discriminated against and impoverished the majority of Kenyan citizens. He recommended the expansion of the national cake and making it available for all Kenyans regardless of their communities. Since Kenya has been ravaged by poverty, tribalism, economic decay and non-existent infrastructure, Raila recommends a Marshall Plan similar to what was done in Europe after World War II.

He reaffirmed his commitment to seeing essential / minimum constitutional reforms enacted before this year's elections. This, he asserted, were necessary so that a level playing field can be created for fair, transparent and democratic elections to occur. Also part of these pre-election reforms include making the Electoral Commission of Kenya and Parliament independent; enfranchisement of all Kenyans, including the youth who have not been given identity cards, dual citizenship for Kenyans so that those living abroad can vote in their countries of habitual residence; entrenchment of affirmative action for women specifically targeting their representation in Parliament.

Raila emphasized that these essential/minimum reforms are not negotiable.

In his usual soccer analogy, he depicted Narc-K team as comprising of old, tired, and ineffective members who cannot compete with the ODM-K team. With Kibaki as captain, Moody Awori playing defence (#2), John Michuki (#3), Njenga Karume (#4), Joseph Munyao (#5), Simeon Nyachae (#6) and so on, compared to the ODM-K team, which is made up of Omingo Magara, Najib Balala, Anyan'g Nyong'o, Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Linah Kilimo, William Rutto, Julia Ojiambo, Musalia Mudavadi and others, the winning side is obvious. The ODM-K team is made up of young, dynamic, reformist and disciplined members while the Nark-C team is principally former colonial administrators, anti- reformist and dictatorial demagogues. The ODM-K team is the true face of Kenya.

From February 22-24, Raila was the keynote speaker at the 31st Pan African Student Leadership Conference, Minnesota State University (MSU) at Mankato. His keynote address was titled: The Place of Africa in the 21st Century.

Hon. Odinga flew to Minneapolis, Minnesota, directly from Seoul, South Korea, where he had gone for another tour with Mrs. Ida Odinga.

Accompanying Hon. Odinga from Kenya for the Minnesota tour were: Hon. Omingo Magara (MP, South Mugirango, ODM-K National Treasurer and ODM-K Nyanza Representative), Nerea Musita (ODM-K Deputy Director for Logistics) and Akinyi Walkowa Odinga (Executive Director for Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation).

Hon. Raila Odinga's functions at MSU were coordinated by the Pan African student organization and their leader at the MSU at Mankato, Okony Cham, Dr. Michael T. Fagin, Dean of Institutional Diversity and Special Assistant to the President for Multicultural Relations, Caryn Lindsay, Director of International Programs, Dalton Crayton, Academic Support Advisor, Thomas Gjersvig, Director of International Students, Dr. Scott R. Olson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the president of MSU at Mankato.

Other important keynote speakers at the 31st Pan African Student Leadership Conference were Congressman Keith Morrison (US Congress), Dr. John Jal Wang from the UK and Dr. Bravada Garrett-Akinsonia.

At the Conference, Hon. Odinga delivered a universally acclaimed keynote speech. After the conference, many participants expressed their relief and hope of seeing a progressive Pan Africanist setting the stage for Kenya's true liberation, economic prosperity, and continuing to make contributions towards the realization of continental unity.

During the Conference, Raila held extensive meetings and consultations with the university administration, faculty and different student organizations, including members of the African, Kenyan and Anyuak (Ethiopian) students in order to explore structured institutional collaborations.

On Sunday, February 25, 2007, Hon. Raila attended an overflowing Kamukunji/ Town Hall Meeting at "The Edge Christian Fellowship Centre" in Minnesota where attendance was about 500. In the evening, Hon. Odinga presided over a black tie fundraising dinner at the Grand Rios Indoor Water Park Hotel at Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where a plate was US$100 and US$180 for a couple. The fundraising dinner was attended by approximately 250 people. Live entertainment, prizes and ruffles were also part of the evening.

Both Hon. Magara and Hon. Odinga promised to visit Kenyans in Minnesota immediately following their victory in December 2007 in order to thank the community for its overwhelming support. They stated that the only reason Minnesota would be the second destination after the elections is if they have an appointment at the White House.

Senator Barack Obama sent greetings through Hon. Raila Odinga. Although he had accepted the invitation to attend the fundraising dinner, he couldn't attend due to conflict with his own Democratic Party presidential nomination schedule.

Representatives of the Hon. Raila's presidential campaign team from Houston, New York, Toronto and other North American cities also attended.

Of special note was the presence of the former Prime Minister of Somalia, Mr. Ali Khalif at the fundraising dinner in Minneapolis.

Special tribute goes out to all members of the Kenyan community in Minnesota, specifically members of the "Change for Kenya Raila 2007" under the able chairmanship of Dr. Siyad A. Abdullahi. Other members of the "Change for Kenya Raila 2007" Committee that deserve to be mentioned are: Joash Maangi, Robert Nyagudi, Cleophas Omondi, Dr. L.A. Otieno, Adan D. Mohamed, Nicholas Mireri, Bob Nyangweso, Dr. Mzenga Wanyama, Akinyi Oluoch and others.

We extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to all the corporate sponsors, including but not limited to Mshale Newspaper.

The Langata Member of Parliament and ODM-K presidential candidate, Hon. Raila Odinga has just successfully completed a marathon tour of Minnesota State and is now in Dallas before heading off to Tallahassee and other stops before returning home.

We wish to reassure ODM-K supporters and members that the party remains united, focused and committed to winning the general and presidential elections in December 2007.

The ongoing political intrigues, artificially created appearances of wrangles and differences will not stop the ODM-K from winning this year's elections and forming the next government.

Many of those intrigues are symbols and kicks of a dying horse! They are myopic and ineffective schemes by the enemies of change, reform and ODM-K. Indeed, those are schemes by people and forces that do not want progress.

Let us all continue to be vigilant, dedicated and disciplined in our struggle to liberate Kenya from the shackles of corruption, bad governance, orchestrated ethnic discrimination and tribalism, poverty, backwardness and inequality.

Sincere apologies to anyone, business or group that made contributions but who have not been recognized.

ODM-K - Maisha Bora!