By Wanderi wa Kamau

PEELING BACK THE MASK:WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR RAILA?

The much anticipated book,Peeling Back the Mask,by former premier's advisor,MIguna Miguna may have serious political implications on the PM ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections.

In the initial stage of public revelation of the book,it was said to be in the hands of renown American conspiracy theorist,Dr,Jerome Corsi.Going by the publications of the leftist author,his works on various political figures in the United States politics have had significant repercussions upon their political careers.The most renown one is Unfit for Command:Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Aganist John Kerry,whose sole aim was to negate the presidential bid of John Kerry,who sought to oust incumbent President George Bush in the 2004 presidential elections.It worked out,as the book became a bestseller and managed to change some diehard Democrat supporters following fallacious theories it had advanced aganist Kerry.

This leftism stance is what Miguna Miguna seemed to have taken.I wish to contradict with those already convinced that these explosive memoirs may not manage to taint Raila's political legacy.Currently,the PM is campaigning on a what ha calls a 'reformists' versus 'non-reformists' platform.

Going by the serialisation as well as the initial reviews of the book,one of its aims is 'to question the reformist credentials' of the PM.Miguna was the PM advisor on coalition government matters for close to three years,and he knows the inside account on what transpired in the PM's ofice during his tenure.I can bet that Miguna can not cook up his own theories,but he is trying to give the real picture of what characterises our political offices.

The anticipation of the book has elicited shockwaves,even to the ordinary voters,who also have great anxiety to know the contents of the book.Some FM radio stations,through their shows have gone to the extent of pinpointing to their audiences of Miguna's book contents.Some of these stations command great geo-political influence in their respective areas.

The timing of the launching of the book is also another important consideration.It is at the height of the electioneering campaigns and it may be used by anti-Raila crusaders to perpetuate negative propaganda about him.Therefore,the impacts of the book should not be overlooked.

However,Miguna's portrayal of great negativism aganist the PM in this book may work as an impediment to its credibility.The book is replete with portraying the murky side of his former boss,weakening it as a demonstration of emotional revenge,qualifying it as subjective.

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 JOEL GITIMU:WASIFU WA DIWANI MSHAIRI

 

Amewahi kuangaziwa na Taifa Leo mara mbili kama mmoja wa viongozi wachanga zaidi nchini Kenya.Ni kiongozi mshairi,mchanga na mwenye mwonolimwengu mpana.Anaelewa changamoto ambazo wananchi hupitia maanake amedhihirisha wazi kwamba vijana wana uwezo wa kuongoza pasi dhana ambazo huwa na jamii kwamba wao hawafai kutwikwa nyadhifa na wajibu wa uongozi.

Lakini Joel Gitimu,diwani wa wadi ya Lenginet,Nakuru, amedhihirisha kwamba vijana wana uwezo wa kuongoza,na kufikia malengo makubwa ambayo jamii inaweza ikafaidika nao.Tangu aliposhinda uchaguzi mdogo katika wadi hii mnamo 2008,wengi walikuwa na tashwishi kwamba kijana kama huyu angeweza kuwajibikia majukumu sufufu ambayo yalimngojea kama kiongozi aliyetegemewa na jamii kama mfano wa kuigwa.

Nikiwa mkaazi wa wadi hii,ni dhahiri kwamba mengi yamebadilika tangu 2008.Kwanza,eneo hili lina wakaazi wa jamii mbalimbali.Gitimu,chini wa uongozi wake mwenye maono,ameweza kuwaunganisha wakaazi wa hapa pasi kujali jamii wanamotoka.Kupitia kwa ughani wake wa mashairi ambao amekuwa akiufanya katika mikutano ya hadhara,diwani huyu amekuwa katika mstari wa mbele kuupiga vita ukabila na kuwaonya wananchi kwamba ni kikwazo cha ustawi wa kimaendeleo.

Mengi ya mashairi yake huonyesha maudhui ya uzalendo.Aghalabu yeye huwa hatoi hotuba kama wanasiasa wale wengine.

Amekuwa mfano wa kuigwa na vijana,wazee na kila mmoja katika jamii.Chini ya uongozi wake,eneo hili limestawi kimiundo msingi ambayo ilikuwa imedorora hapo kabla.Wanagenzi wa shule za upili wamekuwa wakinufaika kwa fedha za basari ambazo huwasaidia sana wazazi wao katika ulipaji wa karo yao.Mfumo wa utoaji wa fedha hizi aidha umekuwa na uwazi mkubwa,tangu awe diwani.

Badala ya kuita na kuandaa mikutano ya kisiasa,mingi ya mikutano yake huwa ni kumbi za kutoa nasaha kwa wanafunzi hawa kupitia mashairi,hadithi na hotuba zilizojaa na kusheheni nukuu za wanafalsafa mashuhuri.Diwani huyu ni mwandishi mtajika kwani ameandika diwani kadhaa za mashairi,ikiwemo 'Ota na Uwe' iliyozinduliwa miaka miwili iliyopita.Diwani hii imewasaidia wengi katika kuwapa motisha maishani.

Ni dhahiri basi kupitia kwa mfano wa diwani Gitimu,vijana wanao uwezo mkubwa wa uongozi ikiwa wanaweza kupewa nafasi katika jamii kudhihirisha hayo.