Raila keeps off politics

By Chris Wamalwa in New YorkKenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga steered clear of ICC politics in an address to Kenyans living in the US. In an apparent departure from the norm.
To the surprise of many in the audience in New York City on Sunday afternoon, a jovial
Raila chose to outline to the Diaspora what the Coalition government had achieved rather than engage them in the current Kenyan divisive politics.
Many had turned up expecting the PM to take head-on his accusers in equal measure.
The Raila they are used to is one who shoots from the hip and one who never turns his back on a good political fight. In the entire address that lasted close to half an hour, Raila never responded to accusations by some of the Ocampo Six who recently appeared before the ICC Judges that he was partly responsible for their Hague tribulations.
Not once did he mention or make reference to ICC or those who recently appeared before it to respond to
Summonses concerning the violence that followed the disputed 2007/8 presidential elections.
Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret Member of Parliament, William Ruto have accused the PM of allegedly being behind efforts to have them tried at The Hague by ICC.
Raila’s coolness amid an orchestrated onslaught on his persona from his political competitors in the PNU grouping reinforces the current view that he has decided to change tact and strategy in handling the current explosive politics that are threatening the very existence of the country.
His close friends and allies in the US who spoke to The Standard indicated that the PM is very concerned with the high political temperatures in the country and that he has resorted to putting the country first.
One such person from Jersey City, New Jersey Dr. George Omburo said, "The PM believes he has the duty and responsibility of safeguarding the unity of the country and engaging in war of words with other fellow Kenyans was definitely not one of the ways to achieve such an objective. He has therefore chosen to concentrate his efforts on things that add value to the development and unity of the country than responding to wild, unfounded and untrue accusations".
Speaking to a large number of Kenyan residents of New York/ New Jersey areas, Raila said that despite the many challenges that the country currently faces, the coalition government was committed to putting in place measures that would improve the lives of Kenyans. "I’m sure you are aware of the challenges that we currently face but I assure you the government is resolved on enacting laws
identified in the new constitution as being key to guaranteeing peace and prosperity in our country", he said.
Thanking the Kenyan Diaspora for the role they played in ensuring that the draft constitution was passed despite opposition from forces who wanted to
maintain the status quo, Raila said the government was committed to making sure that the laws are implemented before the next general elections. He said key bills around the reformation of the electoral process, judiciary and the police were underway.
" We experienced clashes in 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2008 because of the forces that were diametrically opposed to each other- those for and those
against change. The new constitution guarantees peace and stability of the country", he said
He added that the government was moving away from relying on donor funds to investment and that was the reason he was in the US to outline to American investors opportunities that exist in investing in the country as outlined in the Vision 2030 government blueprint. "There is no dignity in begging.
Kenyans are a proud people who want to use their talents to prosper", he said adding the government had embarked on an elaborate, comprehensive program in improving key sectors of development such as infrastructure, rural electrification and communication all aimed at bringing about faster
development.
He said the country road network has become the envy of many countries in the region. He caused laughter when he said. " I took president
Kabila there (Thika Dual carriage) recently when he came to look for his gold and he was very surprised, the fate of his gold notwithstanding!"
Using football analogy, Mr. Odinga said because of bad politics, Kenya has been forced to play in the junior league with countries that are considered failed states like Somalia and Sudan instead of playing in Division One league with countries like South Korea, India and Brazil.
"Without meaning to undermine any country, what I’m saying is that we can do better", he said.
Speaking at the same function, Trade Minister Amos Kimunya told the Diaspora that the government was committed to making sure that the Diaspora has the necessary information required to invest in the country.
"That is why four years, we led a large congregation of different groups among them banks from Kenya to offer information to the diaspora", he said adding that for the Diaspora to claim full stakes in the country and for them to enjoy full rights such as rights to vote, they must be ready to pay taxes.
Mr. Odinga is also scheduled to hold talks with US Vice President, Joe Biden on Tuesday in Washington, DC. The Standard could not immediately establish the agenda for the meeting but it’s expected that Kenya’s reform agenda and ICC imbroglio will
feature prominently during these talks.
The PM is expected to be the guest of honour at several activities organized over the weekend of April 15-17 in Boston, Massachusetts aimed at honoring and celebrating Kenya’s streak of wins at the Boston Marathon.