Raila Odinga Set To Tour Western Kenya

RailaKalonzo Image

Emerging reports indicate that former Prime Minister, Hon Raila Odinga is expected today to tour Busia County. 

Railas' Visit follows recent spurts of insecurity in the area. 

The reports further reveal that Raila is greatly concerned by reports of violence in the Bungoma, Kakamega & Busia and seeks to encourageSecurity Agencies in the area to ensure peace and stability. 

Raila is equally scheduled to attend the funeral of former Cabinet Ministet;  The Late Arthur Ochwada.

Raila Hits Out At Chief Justice Willy Mutunga

CORD leader Raila Odinga today hit out at Chief Justice Willy Mutunga for the first time since the Supreme Court upheld the election of Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya’s fourth President. Speaking at JKIA after arriving from London this morning, Raila said that Mutunga should not complain that he has been offended by the reaction of some  Kenyans to the Supreme Court’s ruling; “When the Chief Justice says he is offended, he should know that there are Kenyans out there who are more offended than him,” said Raila.

The former Prime Minister also said that his legal team had presented enough evidence before the Supreme Court to warrant a fresh election; “Remember that 800 pages of our evidence was struck out with a stroke of the pen. Then the same court goes ahead to say that there was no evidence, is this justice or injustice,” he posed.

Raila also reiterated his previous attack on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) saying the commission has lost its credibility and cannot be relied on to deliver a free and fair election; “We had a lot of evidence showing the misconduct of IEBC, even the court said that IEBC should be investigated. This IEBC must be reformed, Kenyans cannot afford to go into another election with this IEBC,” he said. 

Raila was received at JKIA by Johnston Muthama, Mpuri Aburi, Elizabeth Ongoro, Francis Nyenze and other CORD officials.

Why IEBC Can't Be Trusted With The Next Polls - Raila Asserts

CORD leader Hon. Raila Odinga has reiterated that the IEBC as is currently constituted can not be entrusted with overseeing the next general elections. He stated that some individuals within IEBC had lost credibility in the eyes of Kenyans.

Addressing CORD supporters at the London Russel Hotel this morning, Raila also stated that there is need for a truly independent Judiciary composed of men and women of integrity if the Judiciary is to regain the confidence of Kenyans as an institution of last resort in handling election disputes.

Raila Odinga

He said CORD "accepted the Supreme Court Ruling because its verdict is final,but did not agree with it.Hon. He further observed that there is need for full implementation of the devolved system of Government as a panacea to the imperial Presidency that Kenya has witnessed in the past.

Raila,who was flanked by his former Campaign Manager, Mr. Eliud Owalo stated that both the CORD constituent parties and the Coalition will be strengthened in readiness for the next elections.He also thanked the CORD UK Chapter for their support during the last elections.

The CORD UK team which was led by Chairman Ben Wanyonyi and officials Joakim Nyantika,John Baraza,Amina Shariff,George Morara,Dennis Onyango,Anne Sitati and Councillor Mary Anne Marion congratulated Hon.Raila Odinga on his role in widening the democratisation space in Kenya.They stated that it was extremely difficult for CORD supporters to cope with the Supreme Court verdict and the outcome of the last elections.

Raila Odinga In UK

Raila Amolo Odinga

Raila Amolo Odinga departed for the United Kingdom (UK). While in UK, Raila is expected to address the Times CEO Africa Summit with the hope of attracting investors to Kenya. He reiterated that He had confidence in demonstrating the potential that lies in the Kenyan people to the International World and convince them that Kenya is where they ought to invest. 
  
Hon. Odinga is expected to deliver a keynote address at the Savoy Hotel at 1945 hours to the participants, including H.E. President John Mahama of the Republic of Ghana, among other distinguished personalities, amongst which will be prominent political figures, Chairmen of Companies with current or potential interests in Africa and key investors.

The focus of the Summit will be the prospects for African trade, investment and growth. This will be the third annual Africa Summit, with last year’s speakers having been Tony Blair, Founder of the Africa Governance Initiative, former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Morgan Tsvangirai,Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Hon. Odinga,who is being accompanied on the trip by an Aide,Mr. Eliud Owalo,is due back in the Country on Friday 3rd May 2013.

 Decision Times Wishes him all the best in such noble endeavor and Safe Journey mercies. 

Should Raila Odinga be in Parliament?

By Salim Lone.

 

Many of you responded to my brief post on social media regarding Raila Odinga and Devolution yesterday by asking me to encourage him not to return to Parliament. I cannot ask him this - he has already told me he does not wish to do that, and he has said so publicly in any case. But what prompted these friends’ requests to me is the continuing clamor for Raila Odinga to return to Parliament.

At one level this reaffirmation of people’s support for Mr Odinga is wonderful to behold, and must also give him good solace at a time when he is personally grappling with a second loss of a presidency in very questionable circumstances. But this extended debate on his return to Parliament is distracting attention from so many other issues that Kenyans need to focus on at this time.

I too feel he would do much better if he is freed of the challenges of managing day-to-day politics and focuses instead on building his party as well as a national movement for change involving civil society, professionals, trade unionists and others. Njeri Osaak in her extended response yesterday also spelled out many good reasons why Parliament is not the right place for Raila anymore. Do read her posting.

Part of this clamour for Raila Odinga's return to Parliament reflects a misunderstanding of our political system. One does not have to be in Parliament to influence this country’s direction and evolution. Raila’s own father Jaramogi spent long periods out of Parliament but continued to be a powerful political force. A number of other Kenyans who fought against overwhelming odds under Kanu rule to give us the freedoms we now enjoy did so in their non-parliamentary lives.

There is no objective way to determine whether Raila can do more for us from within or outside Parliament. So that decision is entirely his, If this current campaign to convince him to change his position on this issue succeeds, I will not complain. But this discussion should end soon.

Did You Vote For Raila Odinga?

“I would like to thank every Kenyan that supported our movement, CORD, and voted for me and my brother, Kalonzo Musyoka in the just concluded elections. I would also like to thank all those that voted for our electoral opponents, you played your rightful part in growing our democracy.
I thank all of the Old Guard who stood by us and advised us. I especially wish to thank all of the young people who volunteered sacrificing their time, resources and energy in campaigning for CORD. I try to read as many of your messages as possible on Facebook and Twitter. You are all truly appreciated.
You all believed in me and I believe in you. Together, we can make Kenya a prosperous nation that is the envy of all the world. Keep working, keep trying...For Kenya! I will also do the same!”

Raila Promises To Be Involved in The Government

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said he will work with Cord's 24 governors to implement the coalition’s manifesto. Mr Odinga said Cord has majority governors elected during General Election and will use them fulfil promises they made during the campaigns.

Speaking at Mombasa County Hall on Thursday when he met governor Hassan Joho and ODM's 30 ward representatives, Mr Odinga said he will work with donors who are willing to fund Cord to fulfill its promises.

“We have to continue seeking more donors to help the 24 governors propel their agendas and that of Cord as they serve their people at their respective counties,” said Mr Odinga. He added: “We shall explore all the avenues to prove to Kenyans that Cord meant to transform their lives and we shall do so through supporting counties headed by our party governors.”

Mr Odinga also urged the members of national assembly to address issues of debts inherited by County governments from previous local authorities. He proposed the writing off of such debts to help the devolved governments run their systems effectively.

He also asked the national government to iron out issues on sharing of revenue from national parastatals such as port of Mombasa so that people in the counties can also benefit from them. “The Transition Authority has stated clearly in its recent advertisement that harbours and ferries belong to county government. But the national government has not stated how the county will get its share,” said Mr Odinga.

During the meeting, Mr Joho said the his office has inherited Sh2.8 billion from the Mombasa Municipal Council and urged the national government to release devolution funds to kick start county operations. “It is frustrating that national government was supposed to release some funds to assist in the recruitment and other County operations but until today we have not received anything from the treasury. We are asking those involved to check on the matter to ensure County operations do not stall,” he said. Mr Joho also warned former council workers to shape up and embrace change so as to achieve the county’s set mission.

Ruto Orders Audit of Audit of Raila's and Kalonzo's Former Offices.

William Ruto

 In what is shaping up to be an interesting chapter in the Kenyan History, The Assistant Vice President; Hon. William Ruto has ordered for a full Audit of the Offices of his former boss turned foe; Raila Amolo Odinga. 

Raila odinga

And to stretch the rod further, He has equally ordered for full audit of the Office of the Former Vice President, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. 


The motive of the Audit is not yet known, however wheather it is stock taking or serious Audit, time will tell.

Part Of Evidence CORD is set to table before Supreme Court

In what promises to be a Titatic battle at the supreme court, CORD has officially announced that it is officially filling its petition against IEBC presidential figures released . and as part of their evidence, here is a sneak preview of their inside argument.

' IEBC cannot do simple addition! The standard newspaper today on pg 5 published the total presidential votes from the 47 counties. The total given for Raila is 5,407,889 against Uhuru's 6,173,433. The total voter turnout was given as 12,338,667. If you are a mathematician you will find  that IEBC concealed 67,343 of Raila's votes. This figure would have pushed the voter turn ... to 12,406,010. 50% of this gives you 6,203,005. This figure is higher than Uhuru's 6,173,433 which apparently gave Uhuru  50.07%! The actual score should have been 49.76%!'

Meanwhile, CORD received a boost when Leaders drawn from Kisii and Nyamira Counties have vowed to support the petition filed by CORD to have the election of President Elect Uhuru Kenyatta nullified.

Do CORD Really Have A strong Case Against IEBC?

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has said Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD)  leaders are relying on rumours in lodging their election petition at the Supreme Court.

Speaking through a phone interview, commission Chairman said Isaack Hassan said CORD officials are now desperate looking for evidence, since they have realised they don’t have a watertight case against the IEBC.

Hassan claimed that his commission conducted the just concluded elections with professionalism and said he and his commissioners are ready to face CORD leaders at the court of law if they have a case to file.

He urged them not to shout on cameras but instead file a case at the Supreme Court to prove how their won.

Hassan, who is a lawyer by professional, said conducting elections in Kenya is a challenging job which needs support from across the political divide but not condemnation.

CORD Coalition has been challenging the outcome of the just concluded General Election, where Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the

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