Speaking during his homecoming
bash at Uhuru Park on Saturday,
former Prime Minister Raila Odinga
revealed that he had prepared a
speech in English, but had decided
to speak off the cuff.
Well, we’ve managed to get a hold
of his prepared speech.
Saturday May 31st 2014
By Rt. Hon. Raila A. Odinga
"Dear Kenyans, I am glad to
be back after a three month
sabbatical during which I
had an extensive tour in the
United States of America. I
gave speeches in universities
and colleges and to
communities across America.
I bring greetings from the
country of Barack Obama
Junior to the land of Barack
Obama Senior. I thank the
people of Kenya for turning
out in such multitudes to
welcome me and Ida back
home. I will never forget this
day. I thank Stephen Kalonzo
Musyoka and Moses Masika
Wetangula, Anyang’ Nyong’o
and the entire CORD
fraternity for their support
and for leading our team so
ably and ensuring that we
remain united and intact. In
the three months that I have
been away, Kenyans daily
communicated their
frustrations to me via email,
SMS and phone calls.
A baby was shot in Mombasa
and his mother killed, part of
the growing victims of
insecurity that has claimed
young and old, babies and
mothers. The cost of living
soared. While we were away,
billions of Kenya shillings
were digitally and
electronically transferred to
agents of impunity before
Kenyans could wink. And
when we winked there were
yet more claims of billions
from us. Tourists left Kenya
in droves. Hundreds of our
people lost jobs thanks to
growing insecurity and
hopelessness. Devolution
came under heavy attack.
Governors live one day at a
time and money is not
flowing to the counties as
required by law. While we
were away, the State Law
Office or the Attorney
General’s
Chambers ceased to host
lawyers. It became the place
for surgeons and morticians.
To all Kenyans who spared
their hard earned money to
call, text or email me on the
State of our Nation, I heard
you.
I thank you and I wish to
respond to your petitions.
We must take our country
back from those who are
ruining it for ALL Kenyans.
On 27th August 2010 the
Constitution of Kenya was
promulgated. On that day we
declared that all sovereign
power belongs to the people
and no temporal power or
authority will ever again
tower over or above the
might of the people. The
Constitution was never
enacted as an instrument for
the convenience and
comforts of the state officers
or elected representatives. It
is you, the people, who have
the power to determine the
form of governance in this
country.
So today, on the eve of
Madaraka Day, on this
momentous day, we must
rededicate and commit
ourselves to the promises
and ideals of our
Constitution. To bring
political reforms in Kenya was
never easy. And to bring
positive and decisive political
transformation will be even
harder. What is happening
in Kenya today is not a true
reflection of the ideals and
promises of our
Constitution.
Unless we exercise our
sovereign power as a people
under the Constitution and
take charge of the affairs of
our nation today, hold our
destiny in our hands and,
take control of the duty to
defend our Constitution, our
miseries and tribulations will
soar to unbearable
proportions.
So I repeat: we must take
charge of the affairs of our
nation today, hold our
destiny in our hands and,
together, take control of the
duty to defend our
Constitution. CORD believes
in one Kenya, indivisible,
proud and free, where each
and all of us are
our brother’s keepers.
Nobody should feel excluded
or suffer from the
excruciating pains of
negative ethnicity or any
form of discrimination.
We believe in the wealth of
our diversity and the
richness of our languages
and cultures. You find CORD
in every region and corner of
the territorial length and
breadth of Kenya and in all
its territorial waters. CORD is
everywhere and is truly
national. We in CORD know
the value of nationhood, we
have not learnt and will
never learn the game of
ethnic or racial exclusion or
how to surrender to religious
bigotry or to endeavour to
create a kleptocracy.
We believe that our fortitude
will depend on how we take
care of the weak, the
minorities and the
marginalised. Kenya detests
and has no room for
tribalism in all its adverse
manifestations. Security has
become the biggest problem
in the country. Besides
terrorism, which we condemn
and abhor, the lives and
property of all Kenyans are in
danger. No spot is safe.
The intelligence capability of
the security sector has
failed. The assets and
equipment of the disciplined
forces do not have sufficient
upgrade. The causes of the
security lapses would have
been known if an objective
analysis and lessons could
have been drawn from the
TJRC report. But it was
discarded and demonized.
The government declined to
establish a judicial
commission of inquiry into
the circumstances
surrounding and leading to
the Westgate terror attack.
And so, instead of
undertaking the hard and
disciplined fight against
terrorists, our government
has singled out an entire
community to scapegoat and
persecute.
This MUST stop immediately
Under the Grand Coalition
Government work started on
a comprehensive blueprint to
be approved and adopted as
a national security policy
with clear aims and
objectives and a clear
operational framework and
structure. This too has
beendiscarded. All we see is
a cavalier incompetent and
ad hoc challenge to terrorism
and general insecurity. The
security sector needs a
complete overhaul.
We stood with the nation
when the Westgate Mall was
hit and we shall continue to
do so as CORD. But we
believe our safety will never
be guaranteed if the security
sector is led by individuals
who are more interested in
their personal welfare and
keeping their jobs, rather
than in defending the
country. The security of the
country must be in the
hands of the best men and
women for the job.
Unemployment is rising.
More than 10,000 jobs have
been lost in the tourist
industry alone. Everywhere
‘things are falling apart’.
There are still no laptops.
Many projects have stalled
since the Grand Coalition
Government’s tenure ended.
Government has become one
huge experiment without a
cogent scientific formula or
coherent policy. The economy
is shrinking in real terms and
the future is therefore bleak.
The networks of corruption
have become extremely
active. We hear warning to
the corrupt, but we see none
sacked or arraigned in court.
And as leaders milk this
country dry to fatten their
own bank accounts, prices
soar out of the reach of
ordinary Kenyans since
money is being siphoned
away from service delivery.
We must stop this downward
spiral not tomorrow but now!
Otherwise there will be not
future for ANYONE in Kenya.
The Jubilee administration
does not believe in
Devolution. All the Governors
say as much.
The county governments are
not getting an equitable
share of national revenue.
This year the County
Governments have been
short-changed by about
Sh200 Billion in overall
equitable share of revenue.
Little effort has been made
to ensure that the resources
necessary for the
performance of functions
within the competence of
county governments are
provided or transferred.
CORD will fight tooth and
nail to protect the counties
and county governments.
I never really want to talk
about the IEBC. If ever there
was a doubt about the
electoral fraud in the
conduct of the last
presidential elections, the
facts are now out there for
everyone to see and
evaluate. There is no way
there can be free and fair
election conducted by the
IEBC as currently constituted
which can meet the
constitutional test- impartial,
neutral, efficient, accurate
and accountable. This IEBC
is busy fighting for its life in
criminal courts; election
courts and is under probe by
both state organs and non-
state actors. It must be
retired. Kenya has become
one of the most dangerous
places to live in Africa.
Change we must have. To
paraphrase President Obama,
“Change is coming to Kenya.”
CORD bears no arms. We
have no army. We will recruit
no army to bring change to
Kenya. We believe in Article
3(2) of the Constitution,
which states “any attempt to
establish a government
otherwise than in compliance
with the Constitution is
unlawful”. I cite these
provisions not that CORD
needs to know, but it is the
IEBC and Supreme Court
which need to comprehend
this fundamental
constitutional tenet.
Lest we forget, there was
once a Constitution, which
provided that there shall be
only one political party in
Kenya known as KANU. That
the Constitution created an
imperial presidency, which
could dissolve Parliament at
will and hire and fire judges
of the High Court and the
Attorney General. Without a
bullet but with a ballot we
repealed that bad
Constitution. Who can be
mightier than a people
united in truth and justice?
Who can be against us when
the Almighty, Allah, is on
our side? How can we fail
when we are on the right
side of history?
Let’s not be faint hearted.
Kenyans, arise and defend
the motherland in pursuit of
freedom and happiness. The
time for change is today. The
time is now. The train for
change is leaving the station
from here, in Uhuru Park
where many campaigns have
started, ended and
succeeded.
And therefore after extensive
consultations with my
brothers, Stephen Kalonzo
Musyoka and Moses Masika
Wetangula and the entire
CORD fraternity, we have
arrived at the first steps
towards bringing healing and
justice to our land, which I
wish to propose to you for
your approval.
Kenya must hold a national
dialogue at a convention
consisting of all the major
political coalitions
represented in Parliament
with the participation of
representatives of civil
society, religious
denominations and workers
organizations within the next
sixty days from today.
Preparatory talks should take
place between the Jubilee
Coalition and the CORD
coalition to agree on the
agenda and timetable for the
national dialogue. The
preparatory talks will also
have the responsibility for
dealing with the most
immediate and compelling
problems facing the country
including high cost of living
and insecurity.
CORD will demand that the
following be part of the
overall agenda of the
national agenda.
1. Cost of basic necessities.
2. Peace and security for the
land and the review and
reform of security organs.
3. Implementing and
empowering devolution and
those county governments
get their equitable share of
national revenue.
4.The electoral system and
process and the overhaul of
IEBC.
5. Eradication of corruption.
Thank you."
bash at Uhuru Park on Saturday,
former Prime Minister Raila Odinga
revealed that he had prepared a
speech in English, but had decided
to speak off the cuff.
Well, we’ve managed to get a hold
of his prepared speech.
Saturday May 31st 2014
By Rt. Hon. Raila A. Odinga
"Dear Kenyans, I am glad to
be back after a three month
sabbatical during which I
had an extensive tour in the
United States of America. I
gave speeches in universities
and colleges and to
communities across America.
I bring greetings from the
country of Barack Obama
Junior to the land of Barack
Obama Senior. I thank the
people of Kenya for turning
out in such multitudes to
welcome me and Ida back
home. I will never forget this
day. I thank Stephen Kalonzo
Musyoka and Moses Masika
Wetangula, Anyang’ Nyong’o
and the entire CORD
fraternity for their support
and for leading our team so
ably and ensuring that we
remain united and intact. In
the three months that I have
been away, Kenyans daily
communicated their
frustrations to me via email,
SMS and phone calls.
A baby was shot in Mombasa
and his mother killed, part of
the growing victims of
insecurity that has claimed
young and old, babies and
mothers. The cost of living
soared. While we were away,
billions of Kenya shillings
were digitally and
electronically transferred to
agents of impunity before
Kenyans could wink. And
when we winked there were
yet more claims of billions
from us. Tourists left Kenya
in droves. Hundreds of our
people lost jobs thanks to
growing insecurity and
hopelessness. Devolution
came under heavy attack.
Governors live one day at a
time and money is not
flowing to the counties as
required by law. While we
were away, the State Law
Office or the Attorney
General’s
Chambers ceased to host
lawyers. It became the place
for surgeons and morticians.
To all Kenyans who spared
their hard earned money to
call, text or email me on the
State of our Nation, I heard
you.
I thank you and I wish to
respond to your petitions.
We must take our country
back from those who are
ruining it for ALL Kenyans.
On 27th August 2010 the
Constitution of Kenya was
promulgated. On that day we
declared that all sovereign
power belongs to the people
and no temporal power or
authority will ever again
tower over or above the
might of the people. The
Constitution was never
enacted as an instrument for
the convenience and
comforts of the state officers
or elected representatives. It
is you, the people, who have
the power to determine the
form of governance in this
country.
So today, on the eve of
Madaraka Day, on this
momentous day, we must
rededicate and commit
ourselves to the promises
and ideals of our
Constitution. To bring
political reforms in Kenya was
never easy. And to bring
positive and decisive political
transformation will be even
harder. What is happening
in Kenya today is not a true
reflection of the ideals and
promises of our
Constitution.
Unless we exercise our
sovereign power as a people
under the Constitution and
take charge of the affairs of
our nation today, hold our
destiny in our hands and,
take control of the duty to
defend our Constitution, our
miseries and tribulations will
soar to unbearable
proportions.
So I repeat: we must take
charge of the affairs of our
nation today, hold our
destiny in our hands and,
together, take control of the
duty to defend our
Constitution. CORD believes
in one Kenya, indivisible,
proud and free, where each
and all of us are
our brother’s keepers.
Nobody should feel excluded
or suffer from the
excruciating pains of
negative ethnicity or any
form of discrimination.
We believe in the wealth of
our diversity and the
richness of our languages
and cultures. You find CORD
in every region and corner of
the territorial length and
breadth of Kenya and in all
its territorial waters. CORD is
everywhere and is truly
national. We in CORD know
the value of nationhood, we
have not learnt and will
never learn the game of
ethnic or racial exclusion or
how to surrender to religious
bigotry or to endeavour to
create a kleptocracy.
We believe that our fortitude
will depend on how we take
care of the weak, the
minorities and the
marginalised. Kenya detests
and has no room for
tribalism in all its adverse
manifestations. Security has
become the biggest problem
in the country. Besides
terrorism, which we condemn
and abhor, the lives and
property of all Kenyans are in
danger. No spot is safe.
The intelligence capability of
the security sector has
failed. The assets and
equipment of the disciplined
forces do not have sufficient
upgrade. The causes of the
security lapses would have
been known if an objective
analysis and lessons could
have been drawn from the
TJRC report. But it was
discarded and demonized.
The government declined to
establish a judicial
commission of inquiry into
the circumstances
surrounding and leading to
the Westgate terror attack.
And so, instead of
undertaking the hard and
disciplined fight against
terrorists, our government
has singled out an entire
community to scapegoat and
persecute.
This MUST stop immediately
Under the Grand Coalition
Government work started on
a comprehensive blueprint to
be approved and adopted as
a national security policy
with clear aims and
objectives and a clear
operational framework and
structure. This too has
beendiscarded. All we see is
a cavalier incompetent and
ad hoc challenge to terrorism
and general insecurity. The
security sector needs a
complete overhaul.
We stood with the nation
when the Westgate Mall was
hit and we shall continue to
do so as CORD. But we
believe our safety will never
be guaranteed if the security
sector is led by individuals
who are more interested in
their personal welfare and
keeping their jobs, rather
than in defending the
country. The security of the
country must be in the
hands of the best men and
women for the job.
Unemployment is rising.
More than 10,000 jobs have
been lost in the tourist
industry alone. Everywhere
‘things are falling apart’.
There are still no laptops.
Many projects have stalled
since the Grand Coalition
Government’s tenure ended.
Government has become one
huge experiment without a
cogent scientific formula or
coherent policy. The economy
is shrinking in real terms and
the future is therefore bleak.
The networks of corruption
have become extremely
active. We hear warning to
the corrupt, but we see none
sacked or arraigned in court.
And as leaders milk this
country dry to fatten their
own bank accounts, prices
soar out of the reach of
ordinary Kenyans since
money is being siphoned
away from service delivery.
We must stop this downward
spiral not tomorrow but now!
Otherwise there will be not
future for ANYONE in Kenya.
The Jubilee administration
does not believe in
Devolution. All the Governors
say as much.
The county governments are
not getting an equitable
share of national revenue.
This year the County
Governments have been
short-changed by about
Sh200 Billion in overall
equitable share of revenue.
Little effort has been made
to ensure that the resources
necessary for the
performance of functions
within the competence of
county governments are
provided or transferred.
CORD will fight tooth and
nail to protect the counties
and county governments.
I never really want to talk
about the IEBC. If ever there
was a doubt about the
electoral fraud in the
conduct of the last
presidential elections, the
facts are now out there for
everyone to see and
evaluate. There is no way
there can be free and fair
election conducted by the
IEBC as currently constituted
which can meet the
constitutional test- impartial,
neutral, efficient, accurate
and accountable. This IEBC
is busy fighting for its life in
criminal courts; election
courts and is under probe by
both state organs and non-
state actors. It must be
retired. Kenya has become
one of the most dangerous
places to live in Africa.
Change we must have. To
paraphrase President Obama,
“Change is coming to Kenya.”
CORD bears no arms. We
have no army. We will recruit
no army to bring change to
Kenya. We believe in Article
3(2) of the Constitution,
which states “any attempt to
establish a government
otherwise than in compliance
with the Constitution is
unlawful”. I cite these
provisions not that CORD
needs to know, but it is the
IEBC and Supreme Court
which need to comprehend
this fundamental
constitutional tenet.
Lest we forget, there was
once a Constitution, which
provided that there shall be
only one political party in
Kenya known as KANU. That
the Constitution created an
imperial presidency, which
could dissolve Parliament at
will and hire and fire judges
of the High Court and the
Attorney General. Without a
bullet but with a ballot we
repealed that bad
Constitution. Who can be
mightier than a people
united in truth and justice?
Who can be against us when
the Almighty, Allah, is on
our side? How can we fail
when we are on the right
side of history?
Let’s not be faint hearted.
Kenyans, arise and defend
the motherland in pursuit of
freedom and happiness. The
time for change is today. The
time is now. The train for
change is leaving the station
from here, in Uhuru Park
where many campaigns have
started, ended and
succeeded.
And therefore after extensive
consultations with my
brothers, Stephen Kalonzo
Musyoka and Moses Masika
Wetangula and the entire
CORD fraternity, we have
arrived at the first steps
towards bringing healing and
justice to our land, which I
wish to propose to you for
your approval.
Kenya must hold a national
dialogue at a convention
consisting of all the major
political coalitions
represented in Parliament
with the participation of
representatives of civil
society, religious
denominations and workers
organizations within the next
sixty days from today.
Preparatory talks should take
place between the Jubilee
Coalition and the CORD
coalition to agree on the
agenda and timetable for the
national dialogue. The
preparatory talks will also
have the responsibility for
dealing with the most
immediate and compelling
problems facing the country
including high cost of living
and insecurity.
CORD will demand that the
following be part of the
overall agenda of the
national agenda.
1. Cost of basic necessities.
2. Peace and security for the
land and the review and
reform of security organs.
3. Implementing and
empowering devolution and
those county governments
get their equitable share of
national revenue.
4.The electoral system and
process and the overhaul of
IEBC.
5. Eradication of corruption.
Thank you."
0 comments:
Post a Comment