Calls For Mass Action That Killed Many Innocent Kenyans
Background:
Any average intelligent
Kenyan would readily tell
you the actual genesis of the so- called
Post –Election-Violence of 2007/2008, and why the mainstream Kenyan media then choose to erroneously them as post-
election- violence(P.E.V), as opposed to politically- instigated- civil-
disturbances.
However, not
many Kenyans knew that what happened after the
disputed presidential results
had been meticulously planned several months earlier, and executed by a few
brilliant professors of political science and reputable social engineers.
Perhaps what
many average Kenyans didn’t know is that the calls for mass actions were
desired to be implemented months before the d-day, and a substantial budget set
aside to actualize it.
Sure as day
follows night, the presidential hopeful Raila Odinga disputed the outcome of the
voters’ verdict that relegated him to
number two contender. And with the hindsight of his political advisers, he
decided to soundly ignore the wisdom of pursuing justice in a competent court of
law.
To keen
political analysts, there was much more than meets the naked eye over the
rather pedestrian claim of the disputed presidential results. It is instructive
that in Kenya, presidential elections are done
together with those of parliamentary
and civic in one general election.
It is also
instructive that no other candidate in that general election moved to the streets to dispute his/her unfavorable
outcome. They intelligently readily subscribed to the election laws that govern
the conduct and management of general elections in Kenya.
The
foregoing representations soundly refute any pedestrian claim that the 2007
general election suffered a credibility crisis as a result of its defective
conduct and management; read an insightful commentary by the chairman of the now defunct Electoral Commission of
Kenya (ECK) later Samuel Kivuitu, in a
related blog titled: Kivuitu : ‘You Are
Not Almighty God To Judge me’
It is also instructive
that no single contestant in the said general election died in that senseless
mass action that sadly saw the slaying of over 1000 innocent Kenyans in their
motherland, and wanton destruction of property worth millions of Kenya shillings.
Perhaps had
you asked the disputant of the presidential result then ,
he would have had asserted that the
eventful deaths of the1,133 innocent Kenyans, mass displacement of over 650,000
Kenyans and wanton destruction
of property worth millions
of Kenya shillings ,was but a
small price to pay for his being denied his right to rule by hook or crook.
Perhaps he
was a helpless captive of his
sadistic cabal of court jesters. Perhaps his frustrations and desperations are
quite understandable; how was he to face the realities of the shifting
goalposts, and the disappointed foreign master who had invested so much in his
political campaign to deliver the Kenya presidency to them?
This
introductory note was meant to dispel the erroneous misconception of the media
coinage of 2007/08 Politically- Instigated-Civil -disturbances as post-election-violence,
but only conceivable consequences of the
earlier calls for mass action by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) political
party.
Profile of a Cheap Politician
It was the former US statesman, Adlai Stephenson who asserted
that: ‘’ Politicians approach issues with open mouth rather than with open mind”
A great Chinese philosopher, Confucius, told us that: great man being universal
in his outlook, is impartial; petty man being partial; is not universal in his
outlook.
While many naïve people may not readily discern the true
meaning of Stephenson’s assertion above, as regard objectivity of open mind and
pettiness of cheap politicians that is informed by a closed mind Confucius may
as well had being concerned with the distinction between the prestige that
attaches to a statesman, on the one hand and the pettiness of a cheap
politician as purveyor of dirty politics, on the other hand.
Cheap politicians do not have the intellectual capacity to
make them subscribe to virtues of courtesy and sense of decorum. For in his
state of the mind that thrives on trivia, his closed mind only informs him
which side of the bread is well- buttered.
Politicians are the same the world over. But the Kenyan species
are of different breed and lot altogether.
One of the most disturbing fixtures of a politician is the
age factor that makes them reluctantly subscribe to the natural law of growth and decay. They
would readily tell you that a politician never say die but he can pay any
amount to a genetic cloner who can ably clone him back to the days of his
youth. He can even change his names by a deed-poll if he’s a perennial loser in
electoral contests.
The greatest problem
with politics is that it is neither a
respectable profession to which one can qualify, after proper and adequate training , nor is it an
universally acceptable vocation for a self- respecting man who cherish
virtues of honestly and propriety.
I was writing about
the profile of this queer Kenyan politician who approaches issues with
open mouth rather than with open mind. With his mouth open and minds closed, he
cuts an image of an imbecile and piteous invalid.
However, he pride himself to have understudied Machiavellian
commandment of ‘’ doing unto others before they do unto you’’. He is a keen
student and admirer of Joseph Goebbel, Adolf Hitler’s second world-war hero’s
Minister for Propaganda and Disinformation, who taught him that ‘’ a lie told
so many times and repeated to so many people can begin to sound like the
truth’’ he conveniently like to ignore what English writer, Alduous Huxley told
us that: ‘’facts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored.’’
He readily blames the electoral system and process every time
tyranny of numbers vindicates his unelectability. Russian writer may as well as
being referring to him when he asserted that.’’ It is no use to blame the
looking glass if your face is awry’’
The Pentagon Summit Equation
In 2005, soon after the ‘NO’ team successfully defeated the
national referenda to promulgate the then proposed new constitution of Kenya against
the’ YES’ Proponents, THE Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) hijacked the campaign
platform to savour the euphoria
and market their party leader Raila
Odinga in readiness for the 2007 general
election.
My people have a folk-saying that ‘a self-assuming woman
calls herself a beauty queen’. If such a piteous woman encounters a true beauty
in the arena, murderous jealousy takes the better of her and paralysis her
thought system.
Pundits were vindicated when shortly later predicted the
eminent acrimonious disintegration of the pentagon summit and disenchantment of
the pentagon luminaries over what were perceived as ‘unacceptable’ propagation
of the of the blatant luo-nyanza
politics.
At that juncture, the ODM party operative unremorsefully decided
to ride a roughshod on their estranged political partners whom they perceived
as uncompromising and readily condescendingly pay homage their political-party
deity.
It took the timely
intervention of the luo-nyanza professors of political science to readily discern that’ a day in politics is
a long time, and that so many things
could happen-for better or for worse- in the span of a day’s time’.
Those professors were the think –tank of the ODM political party,
and because they had the tutored intellectual capacity to think a head of the
political moment, it took them no time to realize that year 2007 certainly was
not far –away ahead. And that their ‘project’ was not at all that politically
popular and credibly electable nationwide other than the luo-nyanza
constituency.
The professors also knew that in politics there are no
permanent friends or enemies, and that allegiance to a political party or parliamentary
coalition is very critical in the political life of a politician. The exception here is where credible
independent candidate can very easily defeat a party-sponsored candidate
inspite of its well-financed campaign machinery.
Any credible professor of political science would readily tell
you that there a whole world of difference between political agitation, political
leadership and good governance. And that
an enlightened electorate can readily discern leadership qualities and
attributes in political aspirants.
The ODM Presidential
nominations
Throughout the first half of year 2007, saw blistering lobbying
by ODM party-ticket presidential aspirants who so aggressively sought to out-do
each and capture the highest status of the party
Leadership, the presidential hopefuls, Raila Odinga, Kalonzo
Musyoka,Musalia Mudavadi,Willam Ruto,Najib Balala and other two made their
intentions public by launching their individual campaign platforms.
As it is characteristics of ODM party elections, tempers rose
high as each of the hopefuls took a hardline stand as to how the party’s
presidential nominations should be done.
While Mr Odinga wanted the delegates to be based at
locational level, Mr Kalonzo was adamant that the delegates should be based at
sub-location level.
Mr Odinga’s think-tank readily discerned that any arrangement
where delegates would be chosen at locational or sub-locational would play
right into the hand of Mr Ruto and Mr Kalonzo’s Eastern province standing at
1,366,respectively.
Mr Odinga’s now demand that the delegates electoral college
should be based at constituency level. Even this voting arrangement favoured Mr.
Ruto as Rift Valley had 49 constituencies. ,Eastern province had 36,
Nyanza 32,, Central 29, Western 24,
Coast 21, North Eastern 11,and Nairobi
8 constituencies.
Each constituency had
to produce 2,000 delegates ,with Rift Valley producing a total of 98,000 delegates
Eastern had 72,000 delegates ,Nyanza had 64,000, Central 58,000,Western 48,000,Coast had 42,000,North Eastern 22,000,and Nairobi Province
had 16,000 delegates.
Each of the presidential hopefuls knew without any doubt in
mind that the candidate who has the financial resources with, which to buy
delegates will sure carry the day on the ODM presidential nomination date. And
that in electoral colleges, there is nothing like being a popular candidate.
Electoral colleges are easy manipulate in your favour by generous bribes.
The Secret Brief
Perhaps what you never knew is that the 2007 Post –Election
Violence (P.E.V) was meticulously planned by Kenya’s finest professors of
political science social engineers, several months before the day.
Local and international donors donated generously towards the
campaign of Raila Odinga as the ODM presidential nominee and the presidential
candidate at the national level. After the defeat of other ODM presidential
party –ticker aspirants the luo community could be loudly heard proclaiming
that they were the owners of the ODM party.
A caucus of luo-nyanza professors of political science and
social engineers now readily formed a core strategy team that doubled up as
Raila Odinga’s think-tank. Their care mandate was to ensure that Mr. Odinga was
elected as the 4th president of Kenya at all costs.
And since they were al too aware and well-informed of the
science of electioneering and their candidate was not a popular national
leader, their duty was to specifically devise and come up with objective
strategies and winning political slogans that would thankfully change the
status quo in favour of their candidate.
All other ODM presidential
party-ticket aspirants how lost in the party primary felt short-changed
by what they perceived as unacceptable introduction of luo-nyanza politics in
their political party. The luo nyanza strategists were all too aware of that blistering
factor.
But they also were all too aware that their candidate had a
near fanatical following that could be easily used as a tribal militia against
other uncompromising Kenyan communities. They identified the kikuyu community
as the most hostile towards the luo presidential candidate.
The kikuyu are by far and large, the most populous tribe not
only in Kenya but also comparatively economically wealth than other communities
and owned enviable properties all over the country.
In their secret brief, the ODM core strategists readily
identified the kikuyu community and kibaki’s incumbency and sterling track-record
as the greatest threat and stumbling block to a smooth sailing to state house
by a luo-candidate. And that no success could ever be attained without invoking
the ‘’forty-one-against ‘political slogan and revival of the sensitive majimbo
debate that work against the Kikuyu.
The secret document was officially titled;’EXCUTIVE BRIEFON
THE POSITIONING AND MARKETINGOF THE
ORANGE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT ‘’THE PEOPLES PRESIDENT’’-Hon Raila A. Odinga’
The purpose of that secret brief was; 1.0 To ensure that the
Orange Democratic (hereinafter referred to as ODM)remain united and focused
throughout the national presidential campaigns period; 2.0 To ensure that Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga is elected the fourth
president of the republic of Kenya in succession to the then current president Mwai Kibaki; 3.0
To ensure that the post elections ODM
secures an absolute majority of parliamentary seats in the tenth
parliament to facilitate the ease of the intended constitutional reforms.
Its preamble stated that the document was intended to provide
the conceptual guidelines and road map for the periods leading up to the presidential
elections set for December 2007. The document noted the challenges and
obstacles likely to confront the should experience and strong following in the
Rift Valley:
i.
Kibaki’s
incumbency and track record; and
ii.
The
FINANCIAL Muscle of The Mt. Kenya elite and their potential to play rough and
dirty.
The secret document outlined
strategies for overcoming the odds and delivering the presidency to Hon. Raila Odinga
and ODM in the December elections.
The secret document made deductions
based on the candidates strengths and opportunities and observed that his
strengths outweigh his weaknesses. The document also identified the
candidate/party’s victory as imminent if they (strategists and party membership)
recreate and maintain the euphoria achieved during the 2005 constitutional
referendum and in the last general Election of year 2002.
Highlights of the Recommended Action Plan:
Kikuyu Alienation:
The document identified that
owing to the strategy of kikuyu
alienation and its success during the 2005 referendum that had pitied the pro-
kikuyu party of National Unity(PNU) and ODM, it was to be utilized once-more for the 2007 General Election.
Regional pointmen should be
identified to galvanize their respective communities around the anti-kikuyu initiative. Concurrently,
every effort must be made to undermine Kalonzo in order to prevent him from
emerging as an alternative avenue for anti-kikuyu sentiments.
In this regard, particular caution
should be placed on regions such as RVP where Kalonzo has the potential of
attracting some of our votes; Anti-kikuyuism must be reinforced with promises
of job and economic gains to key players from every community supporting this initiative.
The Media
The secret
document also readily identified that the Orange team had maintained intimate
contacts across all media and that even though a number of senior media
managers are active in our campaigns we should establish the strongest media
centre possible, manned by local and international experts. Indeed, this issue was to be approaches with the understanding that
victory in the media war could very well mean victory at the polls.
Schedule of Activities
The secret
documents also identified schedule of activities that were to lead to the
implementation of the strategy items above.
STRATEGY
|
RATIONALE
|
HOW TO ACTIVATE
|
WHEN TO ACTIVATE
|
ACTION BY
|
The anti- kikuyu crusade
|
1.
This is an
important wedge issue. It will help galvanize the rest of the county against
a common enemy and set the overall tone of our campaign
|
1.
Mass media (allusion
to predominance of kikuyu in public service and business).
2.
Public rallies
3.
Leaflets
4.
Viral email and
SMs
|
Throughout the campaign period heightened
activities three weeks before elections
|
All members, R.O to lead the execution
of this strategy
|
Uhuru Kenyatta as Kibaki’s Choice for
2012
|
1.Accentuate the anti-Kikuyu
sentiments
2. Cause unease within the PNU ranks.
3.Attract the luhya vote by
eliminating the belief that there will be a luhya successor
4.Communicate the intention to retain
power within a select group of prominent political families (Kenyatta Moi,
Kibaki)
|
1.speculative newspaper articles, op-eds
2.public pronouncement of campaign
rallies
3Blags/web forums
Leaflets, with special focus on
western Kenya and RVP
|
Immediately with heightened media activities
at the end of November
|
|
Majimbo
|
Majimbo present the promise to the
electorate that their resources at the exclusion of foreigners particularly
the kikuyu Akamba and the Indians. It is particularly important for
galvanizing the coastal vote
|
1.Public rallies in RVP, western and
coast
2.op-ed columns in the mainstream
media
3.TV/FM radio call in shows
4. public forums such as workshops
with high profile personalities such a Ghai
|
||
Rigging
|
1.Prepare the ground for rejection of unfavorable
results
2. Increase interest in monitoring
activities to ensure no rigging happens.
3. Deflect attention from ourselves
should to manipulate voter turnout in green areas
|
1. Op-Ed columns
2. TV/FM radio call in shows
3. petitions to embassies and ODM
friendly NGOS
4. Public rallies
|
||
Ethnic Tensions/ Violence as a last
Resort
|
To discourage voter participation in
hostile areas.
|
1.continue pro- majimbo utterances
2.use ODM agents ethnic on the ground to engineer ethnic tensions
in target areas
3.support Kapondi’s forces in Mt.
Elgon
4. Leaflets targeting Kikuyus, Kisii,
etc
|
Mid-Dec
|
Flashback
The secret document was dated 8th
September 2007. At around November of 2007 an embittered insider who was privy
to its publication sneaked it out of its secret custody and readily sneaked it
out of its secret custody and readily availed it to leading Kenyan socio-political
analysts to date preserve its contents for posterity what is most intriguing to
date is to verify whether that secret document was aver presented to the waki commission,
the Group of Eminent Persons (GEP), the NSIS, the ICC investigation.
However, the
intendment of this article was not to open a sensitive can of worms but to
provoke the intelligence of all right-thinking Kenyans to undertake a postmortem
analysis of the 2007 politically instigated- civil – disturbances.
History will
judge us very harshly if we will not sincerely and truthfully let posterity
know who exactly benefitted from the
slaying of 1,133 innocent Kenyans and wanton destruction of properties worth
millions of worthy Kenya shillings and in so doing strap the future generations
with enduring shilling and in so doing strap the future generations with
enduring legacy of abject poverty and strangulating public debt.
We owe it to
ourselves to be the intelligent creatures like the Homo sapiens we are. –
Mfalme
Davis