CORD Statement On Its Role in Building The New Kenya
The official launch of CORD has coincided with two momentous events that will shape Kenya’s politics for decades to come. The first is that a historic 14.3 million Kenyans registered to vote, many of them travelling very long distances to do so. We know that the thirst for democracy in our country is unquenchable. At the same time, we are conscious that there are a few million others who were unable to register. That will never happen again.
The other event is the approval by Parliament of the first-ever Inspector General of Police, David Kimaiyo, who had been nominated by the President and the Prime Minister. These two events have eased many anxieties that Kenyans felt ahead of the election.
As all of us know, the upcoming election is the most definitive one of this generation. This is borne out by a level of politicking that is unprecedented in its intensity in our history. The stakes are very high but the choices are also equally clear. There are two political currents that are in contention, with diametrically opposed visions for the future of our country. One is CORD’s, which stands for fundamental change emphasizing national unity, justice for all, and equitable distribution of our nation’s resources. The other side represents the status quo so deeply that it is mired in internal strife, unable to agree on anything except their distaste for those committed to reform.
Indeed, many leaders who were previously with the other side have already left after discovering there was no room for their diverse views, and that in fact there was little public support for the group’s ideology even among the people they claim to represent.
It is clear now from the figures just released by the IEBC that CORD will romp to the largest presidential victory of our multi-party era. We expect, given the level of support for our various parties, to win the presidential election with more than eight million votes, at least 160 parliamentary seats, and 29 seats each for governorships and the Senate. CORD will also win more than 30 women seats and gain the majority in more than 31 county assemblies.
But we urge our supporters to come out in large numbers since even this margin of victory will not ensure that we can push the legislative changes that Kenyans are demanding for a better life.
Ours is a completely open tent which has the capacity and desire to accommodate all Kenyans committed to justice, inclusion, growth and equity. We CORD partners ask you to join us tomorrow to celebrate the beginning of a national unity and prosperity anchored for full equality for all Kenyans and their counties.
Anyang’ Nyong’o, Mutula Kilonzo, David Eseli
Secretaries-General ODM, WDM, FORD-Kenya
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Thanks ,
However the melancholy and tepid responses to national problems have to be tempered.We do have to be civil instead of arrogant.Some have the temperament ,some seem to think they own it .It my moral request that those tasked with governance bear true to the values that the constitution stands for.The document might not be perfect ,but it is a basis for a new beginning.
This is not only in respect of CORD ,but to all who aspire to be selfless servants of those who send them to the house to deliberate on matters that affect me and the nation.
Ean Wuod Luo
Let us have a debate on Christmas,
When a cavalry makes a decision to mount a charge ,then the lieutenants must have taken a calculated bet that some men will fall.This was the thinking during the days of the cavalry.Well we have in some ,come at great speed placed ,to our stricture at the fore front of , framing psuedo-democratic developments.The nature ,the speed at which various hybrid forms of constitutional frameworks are being peddled to citizenry without much civil education ,that has the mechanisms to enable the citizen to absorb and understand the implications of their ballot,is simply a huge fraud.It is by compliance or acts of omission by the major players being driven by a design that has long lost its currency.We deserve better in my homeland The Luo nation which is part of a greater whole ,the Luo,which unfortunately straddles inept and unthinking regimes-Thank you have Merry Christmas which we do not realy understand ,but is in our calender .Once my legal mentor Marvin Morgan exclaimed and was in awe why african “nations” have so many public holidays when yet they are too poor to not work .God Bless you all .
Ean Wuod Luo
Huyu Mzee Msema.kweli .Ngatia tell them>
Land Grabbing in Kenya & Africa>
http://www.inkota.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Themen_Kampagnen/Ernaehrung_und_Landwirtschaft/Land_Grabbing/Land_grabbing_in_Kenya_and_Mozambique_FIAN_EN.pdf
Kenya would have died a long time ago: Here’s the secret why it survivesBy CHARLES ONYANGO-OBBO | Thursday, December 27 2012 at 10:56
On Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to violence in Nigeria. He lamented what he called “savage acts of terrorism” on churches. He also prayed for an end to violence in Kenya, and other tormented African countries.
The Pope’s prayer highlighted an unhappy similarity between Nigeria and Kenya. Both countries are troubled by communal violence. Even more troubling is that Kenya and Nigeria have the most violent attacks on churches — and mosques — in Africa today. In third place is another East African country, Tanzania!
In 2012, there were nine reported attacks on churches across Tanzania by what the media described as “Islamist militants”. However, while there were injuries, there were no reports of deaths.
In Kenya, there were four attacks on Christian churches across the country in which 20 people were killed, and 65 wounded. There were three attacks on mosques, in which one person was killed.
All in all, the attacks on churches, mosques, and terrorist bombs at nightclubs in various parts of Kenya killed 50 people this year.
In addition, humanitarian agencies say there are still 300,000 Kenyans displaced by the 2007/2008-election violence (and earlier ones in 1997) in camps for internally displaced persons.
Last month, a United Nations report said 412 people had been killed in Kenya in communal clashes, 258 injured, and another 112,000 displaced (that was before the latest killings in the Tana River delta).
This is not just a story of violence, lawlessness, and a State stretched to its limits. Something more fundamental is happening. Countries like Rwanda had the 1994 genocide in which nearly one million people were killed, and Uganda had years of rebel wars in which up to 500,000 were killed.
But times have changed. In 2012, there was not a single person killed in Rwanda or Uganda in attacks on churches or mosques, because there were no such incidents. Meanwhile 100 times more Kenyans have been killed in ethnic clashes and terrorism than Tanzanians, Ugandans, Rwandans, and even Burundians.
Once Kenya, rightly so, prided itself as an “island of stability” in East Africa. Even discounting the post-election violence, right now it is the least stable country and the most violent country in the EAC, by far.
But of course, that is overly simplistic. Kenya also remains the most generous host of refugees in East Africa. Even after many South Sudanese have gone back home and Somalis started trickling back, the UN officially estimates that there are still about 600,000 refugees in Kenya. Unofficially, that number is close to 900,000, more than all the other EAC countries combined.
Secession of the successful
How do you explain this contradiction of a violent country, with its own population of 300,000 IDPs, yet it is also safe enough for nearly 900,000 refugees?
In addition, Kenya is East Africa’s most innovative country, and has its most successful companies, the only ones that have managed to transform into regional multinationals (Equity Bank, KCB, Bidco, Nation Media Group, brewer EABL, Serena Hotel, Nakumatt and Uchumi supermarkets, to name a few), or become African and international players (Kenya Airways, Craft Silicon, Ushahidi, Kenyan marathoners).
Robert Reich, an American political economist, professor, author and Secretary of Labour under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997, is a man who likes to think about these kinds of phenomena.
He called it the “secession of the successful”. Interpreting his concept broadly, this takes many forms. High-minded civil society, tired of inefficient governments, usually take action and help with education, the poor, and even try and resettle IDPs.
Rich people and successful firms, fed up with political corruption, red tape, and poor investment in infrastructure like roads and airports as well as low investment in technology, usually take advantage of globalisation and increasingly more open regional and world markets, to do business where things work better.
The total effect is that within troubled nations, you find islands of excellence, prosperity, and global-mindedness very different from the parochial, mindset fuelling ethnic cleansing in the bushes and valleys.
Kenya is no longer an island of stability, and like other societies, has its rich, poor, corrupt, warlords, and tribal chieftains. What are keeping the Kenyan dream alive are its “successful secessionist” and the role model and confidence they offer to the rest.
accord should move quickly to consolidate support bases in rift valley,nyanza,eastern,north eastern,nairobi,western and coast provinces before reaching out to kiambu,nyeri,nyandarua,kirinyaga,meru.raila in company of musyoka and their small team of advisers should have strategy and sessions with elders,community leaders,youth groups,women leaders ,religious leaders,pastors,imams and aspirants from this areas and ask for support.this initially should not be rallies.rallies to follow only after nominations.
they should not be accompanied by usual politicians.they should go out as presidential nominees and running mates and consult and seek direct and plead for support.this should be done by oginga and musyoka urgently.it should be fully listening and seeking support from all and sundry… they should be no complacecy in this campaigns otherwise the jubilee alliance controlled by evil forces would have afield day.
they must personally take charge.they should also ensure nominations are credible and take steps to minise possible fall out after nominations .they should calm whatever storm is generated because ultimately victory of cord is what will save kenya.please pass this humble message to ODM and wiper campaign teams.
the registered voters list is out.civil society,ambassadors,Kenyans,political parties,scholars,media must keep iebc on its toes.they should weekly,monthly give updates of the preparations,steps,activities,measures, that they are effectively putting in place,implementing to ensure credible elections.they should be checked all the way up to when new president is sworn.mere assurances without evidence should not be accepted.that’s how kivuitu ruined the last election.they took advantage of people gullible and believing their own words without independent evident and of politicians busy campaigning not monitoring them to mess people up.this should not happen again.people must probe and keep iebc on their toes.
already they disenfranchise about a million voters by refusing to extend voter registration by one week to allow university students to register and by falling to publish and registration centers in advance,and mobilizing citizens through sensitization before commencing registration
Whats wrong with these thugs what are they saying and where is the President /Uhuruto and Protect them ? where is a trace of a Policeman?>
James, you are so right and hope that Cord leaders will heed to your call. It is crucial that they campaign as leaders and appeal to Kenyans, contary to the usual ICC suspects who merely want leadership to protect themselves from The Hague.
I think we should listen to Jirongo and in deed pay attention. This man is speaking something. Eugene Wamalwa is a Jubilee project, with the aim of diverting votes away from ODM so that ODM never edge out Jubilee in Western. Musalia still remains a Statehouse project, with the same mandate; keep the Luhya votes away from Raila, we will take care of you after elections. Because the two non-starters are aware that their tickets are to nowhere, and can not make any sense at the balot box on 4th March 2013, but they are noisily walking on.