News
Obama’s big day: Why Raila will stay away
Posted Saturday, August 23 2008 at 21:51
In Summary
- The PM was among prominent leaders that Mr Obama, who has his roots in Kenya, had invited to the event.
- PM's spokesman says Raila's plans to attend the convention were scheduled to coincide with an official visit to Canada, which has been cancelled.
- Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta, Water minister Charity Ngilu and former MP Oloo Aringo had also been invited for the coronation.
Mr Lone has since dismissed the allegations, stating that Mr Odinga would not want to be dragged into controversies beyond the borders.
“You would think that the PM’s four months in office, and the role he played in restoring peace to Kenya and reconciling our people would have finally shamed into silence all of Mr Odinga’s demonisers,” Mr Lone said.
Similar allegations touching on Mr Odinga and Mr Obama originated a few months ago in a chain e-mail from Celeste Davis, an American Christian missionary who, along with her husband Loren Davis, claimed to have worked in Kenya for 12 years.
The couple alleged that Senator Obama donated nearly $1 million to the Orange Democratic Movement’s campaign last year. Mr Lone dismissed the allegations as bizarre and discredited.
Senator Obama was in Kenya in August 2006 to visit his father’s home in Nyangoma-Kogelo village in Siaya District.
When Obama addressed the people: Jothurwa Jokogelo amosou? (the people from by father’s home I salute you) in smattering Dhuluo, the crowd broke into deafening cheers and screams.
Ms Kathy Gest, an official of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which is hosting up to 500 world leaders at the convention said there were a few invited guests who were by Thursday yet to confirm attendance.
“We are still compiling the final list of guests since some have said they will not attend while other new ones have been added,” she said. Ms Gest said there were Kenyan officials expected to attend.
“The International Leaders Forum gives political leaders from around the world a unique opportunity to observe American democracy first-hand while hearing from a wide range of experts from the US and abroad,” said former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, chairman of NDI.
The Obama campaign team on Friday called on supporters to come together to watch his acceptance speech and “celebrate how far we’ve come”.
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Submitted by Dom MshindiPosted August 24, 2008 09:00 PM
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Submitted by solomon07
Should the Premier really attend this convention? I don't see any sense in that. The Premier needs to work out the modalities of building Kenya not just to attend meetings for acceptances! So Raila is Obama's cousin? I don't want to believe that Obama became Raila's cousin after it was imminent that the former is likely to make it as the President of the US!
Posted August 24, 2008 08:58 PM -
Submitted by SJ502
“Travelling to the US to attend the convention only was too much. He cancelled because he could not just fly to the US for one event.”..... That’s a lame excuse. What is he taking Kenyans for? The truth is a 3rd World PM sitting in the galleries in Denver, Colorado will attract the attention of hawk-eyed conservatives and scandal savvy GOP Right Wing Media. Flags will go up and soon conspiracy theorists talk shows will be spinning mud into Cousin Obama’s yard. The PM will definitely attend the inauguration 2009...as a State Guest. Give us some respect, Lone!
Posted August 24, 2008 02:02 AM
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Government officials from foreign countries don't attend party conventions in the US. That is why Raila Odinga as Prime Minister of Kenya, his deputies, the president, or any other Kenyan government official would not make the diplomatic mistake of going to a public gathering to support a particular party(leader). That is called 'conventional wisdom'. The only solution would be to attend both conventions- of the Democratic party as well the Republican Party Convention. Any other exlanation as to why the Prime minister will not go to the convention is a lie!