Wapenda Kenya Wenzangu,
In an article entitled “Are we Getting Ready for a Genocide” that can be accessed at http://publiceyesite.org/pipermail/jambo_publiceyesite.org/2007-September/007046.html , Mr. Rodgers Akombe pointed out some facts about Raila Odinga vis-a- vis Musalia Mudavadi on the Goldenberg scandal. In his trademark manner, Mr. Akombe did not mince words and had the immutable records at his fingertips as he laid the points on the table. I fully and totally identify with Mr. Akombe in his quest at fact checking our Kenyan politicians; especially Hon. Raila Odinga who is billed as the most qualified of the current crop of presidential candidates to tackle the corruption menace in our beloved motherland of Kenya. I have no reservations as I echo Mr. Akombe in this respect.
It is now the year of our Lord AD 2007. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga is running for president of Kenya on the ODM ticket. His presumed running mate is one Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi, the last Vice President under H.E. Daniel Toroitich arap Moi. If Raila’s quest turns into reality, a historical feat of sorts will have been achieved: MOI’S LAST VP WILL BE RAILA’S FIRST VP!! That will be a second one after Uhuru Kenyatta's recent feat of being Leader of Opposition supporting the Government.
If Raila is elected President of the Republic of Kenya , one of his most urgent tasks will be to nip in the bud economic crimes against the people of Kenya . Top of the list of these crimes will be Goldenberg. A close second will be Anglo-Leasing. To that end, Kenyans will expect that those involved in these scandals of global proportions will be brought to book and that justice will be served once and for all.
In the Robert Ouko murder case/corruption scandal, Raila Odinga ended up the beneficiary with the purchase of the Kisumu molasses plant!! Nothing bad in the purchase, but Kenyans are still dying to know if the purchase was done under the table or above the table. Just a simple thing, isn't it?
My purpose here, as an interested Kenyan, is to check out Hon. Odinga’s credentials, CV or resume as an anti-corruption crusader. To that end, the story from December 2002 that Mr. Akombe reminded us of made for an interesting read. In the story, Hon. Raila Odinga, has some very unsavory and unsettling words to say about the then VP, Mr. Musalia Mudavadi. The complete story is at http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/17112002/News/mainNews18.html. Here are some relevant excerpts:
· The opposition yesterday reopened the Goldenberg can of worms, with a challenge to … Vice-President Musalia Mudavadi to explain how the country lost billions of shillings in questionable export payouts.
· Former Energy minister Raila Odinga claimed that the two knew how the country lost the money, and dismissed as "a lie" Mr Mudavadi's explanation in which he distanced himself from the scandal.
· …Mr Odinga said: "Musalia and (President) Moi know the whole truth about Goldenberg and they should come out clean.
· "Mudavadi was the Finance minister in 1993. He first paid out the Sh5.8 billion in export compensation and then the Sh13.5 billion. I know what I am talking about. I stand for the truth and the VP and the President should come out and prove me wrong."
· Mr Odinga said he was ready to prove that it was Mr Mudavadi who authorised the Goldenberg payments.
Five years down from the day Raila made the statements, the exact and very same Wyclife Musalia Mudavadi is Raila Odinga's presumed running mate in ODM. The term that has been bandied around is Raila's Chief General. If Kenyans are to hand over the keys to Raila so that he can lead the battle on corruption, the following questions, among others, require urgent answers:
- How does one surround himself with the thieves he has been 'fighting' against so that he can fight theft? (Ruto, Ntimama et al come to mind.)
- Has Mudavadi been proved innocent in a court of competent jurisdiction?
- Did Mr Odinga present his damning evidence that would prove that Mudavadi authorized the payments?
- If the answers to the above questions are NO, then further questions are due:
- Did Mr Odinga really know what he was talking about in 2002?
- Was Mr Odinga standing for the truth?
- Is Mr. Odinga standing for truth now?
- What is does Mr. Odinga think of Mr Mudavadi now?
- Has Mr. Odinga absolved Mr. Mudavadi from involvement in Goldenberg?
- Has Mr. Odinga apologized publicly to Mr. Mudavadi?
Another factor to note while still on this issue of corruption and Goldenberg is what Raila has said about former president Daniel arap Moi. Please refer to this story from just over ten short months ago at http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143961640 The East African Standard of November 26, 2006 carried a story entitled "Raila says he helped Moi meet Kibaki in Eldoret." In the story, the following words are attributed to Hon. Eng. Raila Amollo Odinga. "I came to Moi’s aid when the Government wanted to take away his houses and sue him over Goldenberg during my days as the Minister for Roads," Raila said. Please note that the government that Raila is talking about here is the Kibaki government. And Raila is running against Kibaki!! Fellow Kenyans, who then is standing in the way of justice? Is it Kibaki who is not meting out justice or is it Raila who is obstructing justice?
So we are left wondering, when Raila speaks one thing from one side of the mouth one day and then speaks something else from the other side of the mouth the next day, which Raila should Kenyans trust? Is it yesterday’s Raila Odinga or today’s Raila Odinga? Is Raila Odinga the man for the job?
Thanks.
Michoma Moenga
