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October 4, 2007 at 6:50 am
Myth: “an idea or story that many people believe, but which is not true”
Fact: “a piece of information that is known to be true”
MYTH: An ODM government will result to Kenyans’ living standards being worse. ie “the same as those of residents of Kibera Slums in Langata constituency”.
FACT: Of the approximately 33 million strong Kenyan population, only 43% (ie. 14.1 million persons) have access to adequate sanitation and only 61% (20 million persons) have access to clean water. Do the rest live in Kibera?
MYTH: By voting in an ODM government it would set a dangerous precedent and create an insecure/unstable living environment in Kenya!
FACT: Presently, Kenya has the highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) for a country not at war. 1.5% of the Kenyan population are IDPs. That is; nearly half a million people living as refugees in their own country. If truth be told, hundreds of thousands have died, thousands more lost their property and were scarred for life due to politically instigated violence. This social injustice continues to present time.
MYTH: The Kibaki regime has brought economic growth and Kenyans are generally happier than 5 years ago.
FACT: With a per capita income of about US$400, that is a little more than a dollar per day, Kenya is one of the poorest countries in Africa with widespread endemic poverty as well as gross inequalities. In actual fact, only less than 10% of the population (3.3 million persons) control national assets, while the remaining majority 90% (30 million persons) have been fighting double digit inflation for the last five years and are at a great disadvantage in terms of access to wealth, health, education and justice.
MYTH: The Kibaki regime has improved Kenyans’ general life styles and the population is healthier than it was previously.
FACT: Life expectancy for Kenyans has fallen from 58 years in 1986 to 48 years in 2006, and the cost of living has skyrocketed with Nairobi now ranking 107th costliest city globally in 2006, up from position 117th in 2005.
MYTH: That the Kibaki regime has improved infrastructure and infrastructure is generally efficient and well maintained.
FACT: Nearly 80% of Kenyans, comprising small scale farmers, traders and manufacturing enterprises rate road and rail services as ‘poor’, ‘very poor’ or ‘not available at all’. Dilapidated, congested or inadequate infrastructure (ie, roads, rail, telecoms, etc) affects the poverty stricken citizens most. That is; those who cannot fly or afford other means of communications. Poor Kenyans, (those living on less than a dollar per day) are 18 million persons, at last count.
MYTH: The current government has satisfactorily managed land distribution and there is absolutely no need to implement the Ndungu Land Commission Report recommendations as it will result to civil strife.
FACT: In Kenya, some 3600 large scale holdings control a staggering 780 million hectares of arable land (ie. each having an average 217,000 hectares) against a meagre average size of one hectare of land for each 3.5 million small holding peasant farmer. The rest of the population makes do with unfertile, arid and semi arid land.
MYTH: That the ODM is unpopular, cannot form government next term and it is does not offer a worthwhile alternative to the current government.
FACT: Recent opinion polls (Sept 2007) puts the ODM candidate ahead by nearly 10% of registered voters. That is nearly 1.4million votes. The same opinion polls rate ODM the most preferred party with more than half of registered voters supporting it.
MYTH: That the current regime has satisfactorily tackled corruption in public offices.
FACT: According to TI, Kenyans still rate ‘corruption’ as the number one problem in their country, followed by ‘poverty’ and ‘unemployment’. Corruption remains a national problem and that which is directly responsible for promoting poverty and inequality, which is in turn breeding discontent and instability. Corruption is a real threat to democracy and uniform economic and social development.
Thanks
Phil
KENYA ENVIRONMENTAL & POLITICAL NEWS WEB LOG
(Based in Nairobi KENYA)
http://kenvironews.wordpress.com
October 4, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Bravo to ODM,
ODM is an idea whose time has come. Much as many people appreciate the idea, winessed through mass support and general opinion polls, it would be wise for all ODM members and officials to tread carefully in the period to the general elections. Many Kenyans would liket o see ODM in power, but opinion polls and mass support does not amount to that yet, the elections will actually do it. So before the polls, ODM should not go to sleep and feel contented of the popular support, work must continue and the tempo must be raised. The resulst after elections are the only signals that the job is over. Aluta continua
Thanks
Abok.
October 9, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Leave them alone with their myths. At first it was that Raila is unelectable, now that they’ve seen that he’s the face of real change that Kenyans need they start talking of the 1982 coup! How can a civilian mastermind a coup? Where were the military intelligence and NSIS fellow? Why was he not convicted yet he was taken to court?
They evicted people from their land and even incited some communities to fight each other and then now they come and tell us “land is a sensitive issue and Ndungu report is an irrelevant document which should be confined to the dustbin of history ” yet Kenyans are landless!
They tell us “ODM ni nini? ODM ni chama cha kikabila” yet they divide Kenya into small tribal parties then come to form amorphous union called PNU where tribal chiefs call the shot!
They come out and call people names like hasidi, mnafik, pumbavu, dangerous, and so on yet they tell us to respect the institution of presidency!
Fellow Kenyans, let us refuse to believe these zombies, we have to prove to them that we are not gullible and they have to say goodbye to power!
October 11, 2007 at 4:19 pm
ODM AS MY PERSONAL PROJECT,I OPADO CAN LIKE THAT THE PARTY CHANGES THE METHOD BY GIVING JOHO KISUMU MP AND NYONGO KISAUNI.
RAILA ELDORET FOR EXAMPLES AND RUTO LANGATA KALONZO BONDO DR OBURU MWINGI
BALA MUHORO AND MIGUNA MVITA NGILU CHANGAMWE ORENGO MALINDI
KOECH NYARIBARI ETC. ODM AS A PARTY SHOULD STAND MILLIONS OF IDEARS.LIKE BRAVE VOICE OR DIP VOICE TO KENYANS PROBLEM .OR LET
THE PENTAGON BE NATIONAL LEADER NOT VILAGE ELDERS LIKE THAT TRIBALIST SHALL BE AGAME OF THE MASTERS NOT TOTHE SERVANTS PENTAGONS
I BELEIVE LIKE JARAMOGI AJUMA ODINGA THAT POLITIK REAL IS THE SCIENCE OF LIFE.IF ITS NOT GOOD FOR KENYANS THEN WHY DID RAILA
ASKED UHURU TO GO FOR DAGORETI?IT WAS A SOUNNDING ADVICE BUT
THE MUNGIKI REGIME HAS ALOT TO TELL UHURU AT NIGHT.
PENTAGON SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC MINISTER PARTY PRESIDENT
BEST MINISTRIES LIKE FOREIGN HEALTH FINANCE EDUCATION
ROAD AGRICULTURE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO WEMEN.THE SON OF MOSES
CAN HAVE DAGORETI AND LIMUMBA PLO???MIGUNA?????HOME MINISTER.