MIGUNA STORM

By Moses Njagih Prime Minister Raila Odinga has responded to hard-hitting allegations by his former advisor Mr Miguna Miguna claiming it was a desperate attempt to undercut his popularity. Accused by Miguna, in his new book, Peeling Back the Mask; A Quest for Justice in Kenya, of accepting funding by suspected graft barons, dictatorship and betrayal of friends, as well as insinuations he may have taken part in Kenya’s post-election violence, Raila appeared he could no longer ignore his former aide’s claims. The PM hit back before flying off to China for a weeklong official tour as his other aide, Mr Caroli Omondi who is also adversely mentioned by Miguna, started the process of suing their former common friend. It was also the day that the storm set off by Miguna rocked harder with the Director of Public Prosecutions Mr Keriako Tobiko ordering the Police Commissioner to take a statement from the former aide on what he claims to know about post-election violence. But Miguna quickly hit back arguing that if the DPP and Police Commissioner Mr Mathew Iteere were acting in good faith, they would have chosen to protect him as a potential ICC witness. “His allegations do not deserve a response, and should be treated with contempt. If there was any evidence to back up the campaign against Mr Odinga — his opponents — many of them powerful figures, unlike Mr Miguna — would have long ago produced such proof to scuttle his presidential campaign,” said a statement from Raila. The ODM leader said Mr Miguna’s withholding of such vital information from the authorities on a subject of such grave concern for Kenyans was a disservice to the nation and a further boost to entrenching impunity. Friends Of Raila said the book by the former close aide to Raila, was “just an exaggerated and distorted dossier aimed at settling old scores.” The group’s deputy patron Gitobu Imanyara said: “Miguna does not play in the same league as the Prime Minister. It is for this reason we have asked the Prime Minister to ignore the book and concentrate on his campaigns.” Later Omondi, who is the Chief of Staff at the PM’s office, said he was initiating a legal battle with Miguna over alleged defamation. Omondi instructed his lawyer, Mr George Oraro to file a case against Miguna, the Daily Nation and the publisher. The move came just a few days after Miguna dared “anybody I have mentioned in the book” to challenge the contents in court, saying, “bring it on baby”. While addressing journalists during the launch of the book, Miguna said the contents of the book “were just a tip of the iceberg.” “I am daring the people who are accusing me of libel to come forward and present their case. I will not hire a lawyer. I will represent myself,” he said. Rejected When Miguna was sacked as the PM’s advisor, he went to court seeking to overturn his suspension but Justice Mohamed Warsame rejected this attempt. “He is a man who exhibits mental and emotional fits in his defence of issues and principles which adhere to him. At the time when he was in good books with the Prime Minister, he came across as the son and heart of the PM,” Judge Warsame observed in his ruling. Warsame added: “He is a man who is likely to ask sharp, probing, confrontational and sometimes sardonic questions.” In his response to challenges raised against him on Monday, Miguna described FORA and Raila’s group as “idiotic and clueless”. “So now they are trembling and worried about those privy to criminal wrongdoing in Raila’s court and would prefer to see witnesses or potential witnesses persecuted rather than boldly admit the festering rot and apprehend the merchants of impunity around him?” he asked. Miguna went on: “If we were to prosecute and persecute witnesses or those privy to criminal wrongdoing or unethical conduct, who would testify against the crook.” He charged that from organising “hungry and dirty goons” from Kibera to picket his book launch to “sending pathetic and unethical hounds” like Otieno Kajwang and Jackoyo Midiwo to threaten him was “clear proof that Raila is a dangerous and desperate Kanu orphan, not a reformer”. “I’m not scared or moved. I’m fortified and remain solid granite. As I have said before, let them bring it on,” said Miguna. On Omondi’s court threat, Miguna said if he had indeed sued then it means he knows no law. He argued that before one can sue for libel, he must provide formal notice containing a set of demands. Miguna said service must be done on the person to be sued personally, which Omondi had not done. “I have been told about the law suit but I cannot commend on the so called lawsuit which I have not seen. That is all I can say for now. Let them tremble,” said Miguna. He accused Tobiko of allegedly playing politics to the gallery and said he was working at the behest of Raila. “Sideshows, cheap threats and buffoonery will never shake me. As for Caroli, let him twirl in the wind. Bring it on baby,” Miguna quipped. The picture that Miguna paints of Raila as a non-reformer, and under whose watch his office has been turned into a den of corruption, sharply contrasts the image of the man he so defended when he joined the ODM strategy team to support Raila’s election bid in the disgraceful 2007 elections and his subsequent job after his appointment as the PM’s adviser on coalition matters. Weekly commentaries that Miguna carried in one of the dailies, where he often criticised the PNU side of the Grand Coalition, while strongly defending his ODM side, indicates his inconsistencies, which have attracted the current condemnation by Raila’s supporters. Judge Warsame summed it up when he said in his ruling: “He is a man who anticipated every question against the Prime Minister and responded instantly in complete grammatical articles salted down with analogies but sometimes lacked wicked wit”.