British Magazine Blasts Raila for Withdrawing from Election, UK Trip
An influential British magazine has blasted NASA leader Raila Odinga for his recent decision to withdraw from the October 26th repeat election, as well as on his current trip to the United Kingdom.
The Economist says it was pretty evident that the NASA coalition did not plan to contest the election given that it has been running a bare-bones campaign since the Supreme Court annulled the August 8th general election and ordered a repeat election.
“It had already been clear for several weeks that Mr Odinga did not plan to contest the election. His coalition of parties, the National Super Alliance (NASA), had been running a bare-bones campaign,” says The Economist.
The magazine says the former Prime Minister's trip to the UK and possibly the US at such a crucial time with only two weeks left to the repeat election is most likely meant to drum up support from the international community for his withdrawal. “The candidate himself had made plans to travel to Britain and possibly America two weeks before the vote—prime campaigning time—presumably to drum up international support for his withdrawal,” the article reads in part.
The Economist further notes that Raila “seems to be gambling on his ability to threaten chaos to push Mr Kenyatta to negotiate. But the trouble with that strategy is that Mr Odinga is running out of money. And although opposition protests occasionally gum up the centre of Nairobi, even his most fervent supporters will not stay on the streets indefinitely.”
In the article, the magazine warns that should the repeat election be held without Raila participating in it, his [Raila’s] supporters will feel left out of the political system and may not view Uhuru Kenyatta as a legitimately elected president.
Comments (34)
Just look at that face. Just demonic
How do you know that is a demonic looking face?
have seen the devil?
Yes I have. Right here on this page. Just scroll up.
If you have seen Raila's face you have actually seen the devil's.
...and his supporters talk of UK's eyes? Who can't tell RAO's are eyes fed on canabis...bangi tupu!
Did you have to tell it as it is?????
its not all about money,raila is pushing kenyans to the wall.we love peace let him go and rest,hatoshi hata saucer eishhhhh
The country needs to and has to move on, one sore loser should not be allowed to hold the country hostage just because his tribal base looks upto him as their one and only god.what a hopeless lot.
Even though the story is entirely true, woiye si you caption it with a better picture of baba! This one he is too mad or angry. We still love him even as he annoys us daily. Mungu alisema tupende ma adui wetu vile tunavyo jipenda.
Those eyes are yellow which could be a sign of many things
The Economist forgot to inform the magazine readers that Ojinga is an inciter and a political conman who wants Kenya to burn because that is what he is good at.
That is not true.
Problems in Kenya have no connection to only one person, for example Raila Odinga.
Some problems in Kenya stem directly from the government like embezzlement of public funds.Some other problem from the Kenyan people themselves like tribalism.
You are right about Kenya's problems. But it is noteworthy that Raila has been involved in embezzlement (like most politicians) but he has taken tribal politics to a whole new level!
That is one hell of a scowl!
When SIX reasons where published on this forum as to why RAO withdrew from running, I gave a SEVEN th and crucial reason,and that was Raila had not campaigned.The Ecomonist appears to agree with me. I wonder why this was not mentioned as a reason...may be it was obvious...
Gutter press newspapers will report what they want .Ati blast Raila there will be no elections not even the USA or the UK can force NASA believers against their will.Now ati Raila went to beg for campaign funds what foolishness.
If USA or the UK are insignificant why is he visiting them at such a time?
Economist shud ask chatham house why they invited lier ,losser after withdrawing from repeat prezo elections giving simple excuses.person without school certificate credetials and old person who tell women to strip naked in names of prostesting is not right person for audience about democracy...
You know nothing of Raila, he can never and will never tell women to stripe naked when demonstrating. The good thing here is that you did not invite him,the Chatham House invited him,you should have invited uhuru so that he can explain for all the things that happened before the general election and why he was sworn in at night. Or come to Kenya and have a first hand information, media lies much or listen to his speech at the Chatham House. Kenyans are for democracy not dictatorship that why we are fighting for it. We are so grateful for him representing us in the UK.
My dear friend study the History of Kenya right from Independence.
Don't just accuse former prime minister Raila for things you do not know. He would have let people to die to get his rightful place in 2007-2008 election because people were willing to do that but he talked people from doing that.That is why even though he is in UK, still demonstration are on despite our CS yesterday giving unreasonable restrictions. We listen to his good advises, we do not worship him as some lunatics around the world are saying.Get your facts before commenting. Election is a process......
He was the cause of all the mayhem in 2007. He has time to travel to uk cause he is not even try to get votes his plan as always is to cause chaos and ask for power sharering. He is as evil as he looks in the picture.
You know nothing of Raila, he can never and will never tell women to stripe naked when demonstrating. The good thing here is that you did not invite him,the Chatham House invited him,you should have invited uhuru so that he can explain for all the things that happened before the general election and why he was sworn in at night. Or come to Kenya and have a first hand information, media lies much or listen to his speech at the Chatham House. Kenyans are for democracy not dictatorship that why we are fighting for it. We are so grateful for him representing us in the UK.
My dear friend study the History of Kenya right from Independence.
Don't just accuse former prime minister Raila for things you do not know. He would have let people to die to get his rightful place in 2007-2008 election because people were willing to do that but he talked people from doing that.That is why even though he is in UK, still demonstration are on despite our CS yesterday giving unreasonable restrictions. We listen to his good advises, we do not worship him as some lunatics around the world are saying.Get your facts before commenting. Election is a process......
Get your head out of your behind and get the real facts instead of the alternative facts you are selling here.
I am glad this communist withdrew from the election. He has nothing to offer Kenyans. His intention is to return Kenya back to the fishing age. As a hardcore communist he careless about the non-fishing Kenyan businesses. Have you heard them destroy a boat, a fishing net or even a business that sells boats or fish hocks?. They are a lot of them in Kisumu and Mombasa. His thugs are only destroying businesses that are not related to fishing industry. Why?. His people monopolizes Fishing industry and leaving it intact would help propel his people to the top if he take over the government that has been completely destroyed through property destruction.
The myopic lot, they are. They forget that after eating and selling the fish (i.e. if China does not out-sell their fish), they will need other products and services... which those businesses they are destroying provide...they need to bring-in other food from other counties coz they don't farm...a balanced diet, I guess....but who cares, they are just jangoris.... give them fis and a radio, a human god to worship....they don't care where they defecate or whether they have BO, life is good.... a sofa-seat and TV is a bonus
I suggest they lock him up in UK and make his next destination as Hague. He is a killer; 37 Kenyans already. Or is it kenyans? The whole world will be against him. When you see US deny him visa, then you know.....
By Abraham Lincoln, "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." For decades Rao perfected the art of fooling; but it has run its courses.
The Economist needs to improve on their Journalism skills.
Research is essential when doing reports on other countries.Otherwise you will end up looking clueless, as demonstrated by this article above.
@Zainabu, you sound 'clueless'. Which planet do you come from, if I may ask?
The Economist also forgot to mention that Communist Raila want to take over all white owned farms in Kenya and give them to slum dwellers of Kibera and Mathare. He also plan to make fishing the cash cow of Kenyan economy and subdivide three quarters of National parks and Game reserves land to NASA supports.
His look is very SCARY!!!! I had to move to a different page quickly to avoid looking at him.
It's funny how this features in this newspaper, yet despite the "history" made by the overhaul of the election, this does not feature on the main British media! Raila arrived two days ago and he has posted a small invite to Kenyans to join him at some cheap hotel to talk about elections and dress code should be kenyan flag colours! I think he just wants to unruffle Jubilee by creating a smokescreen and illusion that he a most sought after by the West. He arrived accompanied by Winnie ODINGA and met by a cab driver. Thought all the NASA's supporters would be out in drowls. Nasty man.
Jubilee supporters be sure to give RAO a huge welcome in London. He is such a "contributor and a friend to the Kenyan economy". Come together to give him a heroic welcome. One for the ages he will live to remember. He is such a "selfless" LUNATIC. Sorry leader.
Economist used to be pro-Raila and it looks like they finally figured out how devious he is in his quiest for power and puts himself above the will and welfare of the people he seeks to lead...
Raila want to burn kenya, Hakuna nusu Mkate Government. The only way he can become a president is through votes.