Raila's Reaction Ill-Informed

Raila Odinga’s decision to write an article that appeared in the Sunday Nation was misguided and unwarranted. 

In the article, the PM argues there is no correlation whatsoever between age of a leader and his performance in office. He provides examples of leaders—Reagan, Mandela, McMillan, etc—who occupied offices at what would regarded as old age yet performed competitively. His article and reaction is motivated by statements by Ruto and the other aspirants that claim 2012 presidential race will be determined by age of the candidates. It will be a race of generational change, it is claimed, where the old ones will go home as the young ones take over.

I understand PM paranoia, especially now when he seems to be dissipating his political capital rather fast. He rightly reads his opponents statements as an attempt at alienating him from the electorate based on his age--66 years. But the fact of the matter is that, when it comes to Kenya’s politics, the PM is a rainmaker. The rest are highflier. As such, he should not have dignified “age as the next determinant” argument by a response.

In my view, the article depicts the PM him as out of touch with contemporary issues within and without the country. Subsequently, implies the PM is rather too politically self-centered and tactless and willing to defend what should not be defended at the expense of other more urgent and significant issues.

At this time of the year, there are many more social and political events, all bearing significance, taking place in the country, on the continent and in the world. In the country, famine is looming. This has become an annual phenomenon now. On the continent, we are experiencing a rather historic moment. Tunisia and now Egypt are undergoing leaderless revolutions, thereby potentially triggering a discourse on the future of tyrannies on the continent and beyond. Globally, political and economic leaders converged in Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum meeting. Economic issues of importance were discussed.

What if the PM had written about any of these issues? How is the government addressing drought and probable famine that might be triggered? Every year, even with the economic progress the country has realized, it is expected that some people will starve, hundreds of agricultural assets, mostly inform of livestock, will be liquidated. Does he have a plan for this year?

How about events taking place in Tunisia and Egypt and spilling over to Yemen? What will be the implications of such political movements on American policy in the Middle East and Africa?  Of Kenya’s politicians, the PM commands some authority on matters touching on foreign policy, given his latest assignment by the AU to Ivory Coast. The PM should have used this space to challenge the AU which is convening in Addis Ababa for a general meeting to act on non-responsive regimes on the continent. He should have used this space to highlight the role of the government and to remind all that governments belong to the people. And that if a government failed on its core responsibilities, it is imperative that the people should take it back and institute another form of government more mindful of its duties to the commonwealth. That he wasted this chance and space, makes me wonder.

Annually, political and economic elites converge in Davos for World Economic Forum to brainstorm over key global issues with a bearing on the global economy. In 2009, the PM was a guest at such events. His contributions on political and economic standing of the continent and country are always well informed and instructive. Many Kenyans (excuse my generalization) do not understand the importance of such global meetings. This was then an opportune time for the PM to educate the populace. Not just that. It was a time for him to highlight some of the issues that featured at this year’s meeting and the impact of the deliberations that ensued on our local economy. That he elected not to, makes me wonder again.

In short, the PM stooped too low and made a mockery of his political stature by engaging in a trivial political debate, especially in writing, when had a wealth of constructive events taking place.