My view on Mombasa heckling

[mogiyusuf]

UNTIL the heckling and catcalls that denied him a chance to address a sell out crowd in Mombasa on Sunday, Kalonzo Musyoka held the notion that he and Raila Odinga played in the same league in the high stakes of ODM politics and the race to State House.

But the embarrassing moment at the seaside resort city must have provided the Mwingi North MP with a true picture of the reality on the ground and the fact that his comparatively feeble political muscle is no match for the schemes, intrigues, popularity and mobilization skills mustered by his Lang’ata counterpart. Equally, Kalonzo must have realized that like his former party Kanu, ODM might be having its owners. For the umpteenth time, it must be said that ODM without Raila is a shell. He is the one calling the shots and will ultimately determine the fate of the party. One other inescapable fact for Kalonzo from the Mombasa experience is that the battle for the ODM nominations and the fight to State House will be gruelling and tortuous. It is unlikely that there will be another declaration as happened in 2002 and only the most popular and deserving will have their names in the presidential ballot come December. Could it be that he and Musalia Mudavadi vexed Raila and pricked Agwambo’s ego when they sat pretty as the new kids on the block with some faction and attempted to elbow him out of ODM with claims of unelectability?

And as was evident at the Coast, Kalonzo and his ilk must now be ready to face Raila -the grand master of political scheming- and see how far they can go with their consensus agenda. It was clear during the Mombasa rally and at Kamukunji grounds a week earlier that Raila was not about to willingly hand over the ticket for the presidency to somebody else---not to any of the latter day converts who had hitherto condemned and vilified his career in opposition politics as he clamoured for change and full democracy. Kalonzo and those who read from the same political script must go on the over drive and convince the ODM family on the necessity and urgency of consensus. This, they must do with the full knowledge that the two massive rallies that the party has so far staged in the last two weeks have largely appeared more excited by the delegates system. Indeed, when Raila was described as unelectable, he declared that he was with the people and the two rallies may have vindicated this hypothesis. Clearly the onus now rests with his opponents to change that view by having the ODM presidential candidate decided in a boardroom.

When Kalonzo declared his wish to vie for the presidency, Minister Kivutha Kibwana and assistant minister Kalembe Ndile spelt out the challenges he faced and why it may be difficult for him to finish the race. They cited lack of a solid support base, egocentrism and a relatively weak political past. In retrospect, those apprehensions could clearly be haunting Kalonzo five months to the polls. With Raila now setting the pace and his partisan crowds in tow, how will Kalonzo who believes he is the best in the ODM crowd campaign for consensus in Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kakamega or even Nyeri for that matter? And why, pray, should people who believe they are popular hope to ascend to the highest office in the land without full endorsement from the electorate. This must be a re-defining moment for the Mwingi North legislator who should now go back to the drawing board together with his strategists and scheme for the house on the hill with hopes clearly de-linked from the ODM.

Indeed, as the fighting goes on in ODM, its must dawn on Kalonzo that he is likely to be subjected to serious public scrutiny. Of course the same goes for Raila, Mudavadi and the rest of the brigade must be live to this reality and avoid engaging supporters in other shenanigans and sideshows. Kalonzo and those in the consensus creed must know that no other person will ever likely get the presidency on a silver platter like Daniel arap Moi. As a matter of fact, Kalonzo has in the past said that he is the only one capable of ousting President Kibaki.

He now has an opportunity to go out there and bond with the masses as proof that he has the political muscle.

Whining about being booed does not reflect well. And taking on Raila as he did in a print media interview last Sunday ahead of the Mombasa rally can not be a measure of courage.

[mogiyusuf]

Originally Posted by mogiyusuf

UNTIL the heckling and catcalls that denied him a chance to address a sell out crowd in Mombasa on Sunday, Kalonzo Musyoka held the notion that he and Raila Odinga played in the same league in the high stakes of ODM politics and the race to State House.

But the embarrassing moment at the seaside resort city must have provided the Mwingi North MP with a true picture of the reality on the ground and the fact that his comparatively feeble political muscle is no match for the schemes, intrigues, popularity and mobilization skills mustered by his Lang’ata counterpart. Equally, Kalonzo must have realized that like his former party Kanu, ODM might be having its owners. For the umpteenth time, it must be said that ODM without Raila is a shell. He is the one calling the shots and will ultimately determine the fate of the party. One other inescapable fact for Kalonzo from the Mombasa experience is that the battle for the ODM nominations and the fight to State House will be gruelling and tortuous. It is unlikely that there will be another declaration as happened in 2002 and only the most popular and deserving will have their names in the presidential ballot come December. Could it be that he and Musalia Mudavadi vexed Raila and pricked Agwambo’s ego when they sat pretty as the new kids on the block with some faction and attempted to elbow him out of ODM with claims of unelectability?

And as was evident at the Coast, Kalonzo and his ilk must now be ready to face Raila -the grand master of political scheming- and see how far they can go with their consensus agenda. It was clear during the Mombasa rally and at Kamukunji grounds a week earlier that Raila was not about to willingly hand over the ticket for the presidency to somebody else---not to any of the latter day converts who had hitherto condemned and vilified his career in opposition politics as he clamoured for change and full democracy. Kalonzo and those who read from the same political script must go on the over drive and convince the ODM family on the necessity and urgency of consensus. This, they must do with the full knowledge that the two massive rallies that the party has so far staged in the last two weeks have largely appeared more excited by the delegates system. Indeed, when Raila was described as unelectable, he declared that he was with the people and the two rallies may have vindicated this hypothesis. Clearly the onus now rests with his opponents to change that view by having the ODM presidential candidate decided in a boardroom.

When Kalonzo declared his wish to vie for the presidency, Minister Kivutha Kibwana and assistant minister Kalembe Ndile spelt out the challenges he faced and why it may be difficult for him to finish the race. They cited lack of a solid support base, egocentrism and a relatively weak political past. In retrospect, those apprehensions could clearly be haunting Kalonzo five months to the polls. With Raila now setting the pace and his partisan crowds in tow, how will Kalonzo who believes he is the best in the ODM crowd campaign for consensus in Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kakamega or even Nyeri for that matter? And why, pray, should people who believe they are popular hope to ascend to the highest office in the land without full endorsement from the electorate. This must be a re-defining moment for the Mwingi North legislator who should now go back to the drawing board together with his strategists and scheme for the house on the hill with hopes clearly de-linked from the ODM.

Indeed, as the fighting goes on in ODM, its must dawn on Kalonzo that he is likely to be subjected to serious public scrutiny. Of course the same goes for Raila, Mudavadi and the rest of the brigade must be live to this reality and avoid engaging supporters in other shenanigans and sideshows. Kalonzo and those in the consensus creed must know that no other person will ever likely get the presidency on a silver platter like Daniel arap Moi. As a matter of fact, Kalonzo has in the past said that he is the only one capable of ousting President Kibaki.

He now has an opportunity to go out there and bond with the masses as proof that he has the political muscle.

Whining about being booed does not reflect well. And taking on Raila as he did in a print media interview last Sunday ahead of the Mombasa rally can not be a measure of courage.