E-Mail 'Raila: Kibaki Administration Perpetuating Insecurity' To A Friend

1. “In response to this reporter’s assertion that KCM needs to be apolitical and invite several candidates, Maangi assured Kenyans that Presidential candidate, Kalonzo Musyoka has requested a visit to Minnesota, however, no date has been established for his visit.” Herebelow find my comments on a quote from your article on the ODM-K event in Minneapolis that captures an important phenomenon in Kenya’s political culture: “the exclusionary character of competitive politics” The issue of political diversity and the need for political tolerance as foundations for a viable democracy are basic essentials for nurturing nationhood. This is especially in a country struggling to exorcise its colonial political history which entrenched ethnic consciousness into Kenyans’ political thinking. De-emphasizing ethnocentric thinking is a critical national political necessity. Those of us living in a country with a democratic record such as the US should not be seen to perpetuate the myopia that underlies exclusivist politics (supporting one political group means denigrating any other). A good example that Kenyans in the diaspora can set is to demonstrate openness, objectivity and impartiality that democratization calls for. This necessarily means that there has to be a stated and obvious commitment to give attention to all shades of political opinion (hopefully, these will not turn out to be congruent with chauvinistic ethnicity). Essentially, this means that Kenya Community in XYZ state in the US have to be seen to accomodote political initiatives and engagement from all quarters. An example is to be found in the way Hollywood distributes celebrity dollars among aspirants for the US presidency: without discrimination on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, religious or political affiliation. Based on the foregoing, I found your input on this matter (at the end of your ODM-K article) quite insightful and timely.

2. Could you make a correction of my phone on this article. The right number is 651 261 2625

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