MPs to hold prayers in honour of Obama

Kenyan MPs plan to hold a thanksgiving prayer meeting in honour of US President-elect Barack Obama.

Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ and several MPs on Friday announced that they will hold prayers next week at Uhuru Park. However, no specific day has been decided on.

Mr Kajwang whose role in the campaigns of Senator Obama was seen in the expulsion of American author, Jerome Corsi when he tried to launch his book, Obama Nation, here in the country.

The deportation order drew mixed reactions from Kenyans and around the world, but the Immigration ministry stood its ground.

Cordial relations

According to the Minister, the expelled the author had come to launch the book with negative contents aimed at tarnishing the then Democratic presidential candidate.

He said the victory will enhance cordial relations between Kenya and the United States of America.

Mr Kajwang who was flanked by MPs Martin Ogindo (Rangwe), Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany), David Koech (Mosop), Omondi Anyanga (Nyatike), Mithika Linturi (Igembe South) and Millie Odhiambo (Nominated) said the country did not expect monetary gains but an expanded bilateral influence in areas of trade, infrastructure, security and education among others.

“The victory of Obama has demonstrated that the process of political change is unstoppable and those thriving in ethnic bigotry should know that their time is over,” Mr Kajwang said.

He said the Uhuru Park meeting would be a thanksgiving prayer session and to also put the Kenyan leadership in solidarity with the world.

The MPs said the fact that Mr Obama has his roots in Kenya has put the country above the others in the continent.
Power politics

The legislators urged investors especially in the hotel industry to improve the quality of their buildings and service because the times have now changed for all who want to cope with expected standards.

They said tribal and racial discrimination in power politics are the greatest lessons learnt from the senator’s victory. They said developed countries are now looking at the Kenya as near equal partners and therefore sound economic strategies must be put in place.

Speaking on the issue for the first time since Mr Corsi was deported, Mr Kajwang said all visitors must declare their intentions when they want to visit the country and not engage in businesses they did not declare.

Entry documents

“We did not expel anybody. All we did was set the record straight since no visitor in any country can be allowed to do what they did not specify in entry documents,” Mr Kajwang’ said.

The expulsion was received with mixed feelings as others hailed the move while others termed it as intolerance. Mr Kajwang explained that the Obama victory had brought in a new epoch.

At the same time, the MPs congratulated the Republican candidate Mr John McCain for his humble acceptance of defeat, saying many candidates would have tried to find excuses to delay democracy and justice.

“It is a clear that democracy was made in America with the victory of Obama and the early acceptance of defeat by Mr McCain,” the MPs said.

The legislators were hopeful that the good relations with the US President-elect will attract a collective positive encounter with all nationalities who live and work in Kenya.