Raila: 2012 elections key for Kenya

Prime Minister Raila Odinga sees the 2012 elections as a potential turning point for Kenya, saying that the poll will determine whether the country takes off and catches up with others that overtook it, or remains perpetually relegated in the league of nations.

The PM said he was concerned by the fact that Kenyans have over the years lost the confidence they once had in the ability of their country to take on and overcome difficult challenges. He said the attitude is working against the country.

Addressing thousands of Kenyans at a town hall meeting in the city of Minneapolis in the US State of Minnesota, Mr Odinga appealed to Kenyans in the Diaspora to register in large numbers when the issuance of identity cards to citizens abroad kicks off.

He asked Kenyans abroad to prepare to take advantage of the law on dual citizenship which they had long fought for and which became a reality in the new Constitution.

The PM said issuance of identity cards to Kenyans abroad has began on an experimental basis in London, and will be rolled out in other parts of the world through the country's embassies.

The PM pledged to help strengthen the Diaspora Desk in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a view to turning it into a strong and well staffed department with capacity to adequately address the concerns of Kenyans abroad.

Too large

He said it is currently not possible to establish a Ministry for Diaspora Affairs as the government is already too large while the Constitution has also put a limit on the maximum number of ministries the country can have.

Mr Odinga, however, appealed to Kenyans abroad to take keener interest in the affairs of the nation and to be prepared to vote in 2012.

The PM paid tribute to the Grand Coalition Government, saying it has delivered in key areas despite a difficult start as a result of bringing of two different parties into one government and the hard economic times globally.

He singled out the passage of the Constitution and investment in infrastructure as some of the areas in which the coalition had delivered.

The investments, he said, would need to be sustained in the years ahead if the country is to take off economically, the PM said.

Mr Odinga is in the US to attend a meeting on the Horn of Africa Crisis convened by the UN on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

He was accompanied in Minnesota by assistant Minister Mr Richard Onyonka, Kenya's ambassador to US Elkanah Odembo and MPs Martin Ogindo of Rangwe and Hussein Ali of Mandera East.