
Kenya: WSR Presidential Campaign – Launch of the Second Phase of ‘Bottom-Up’ Consultative Meetings (14.02.2022)



The mysteriously wealthy billionaire Jim Wanjigi might aspire to become the Presidential Flag-Bearer for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). However, that enterprise is a mission of a fool and there is no hope of redemption for that man.
Raila Odinga is the ODM and the ODM is Raila Odinga. Because of that fact… Wanjigi has no chance to pass or able to circumvent Odinga. It is a reason why Odinga was the candidate for the CORD coalition and NASA coalition in the last two elections. Not only was the ODM the strongest party and held the most political capital. But Odinga was the big-man and the one to follow within the co-principals. Even if Odinga had promised things differently in the coalition agreements and he jumped the cue.
Jim Wanjigi might have bankrolled the National Super Alliance (NASA) in the previous election. He own fancy bulletproof V8 and have a mansion with a bunker underneath. Still, his far from prestigious or a massive candidate from within to conquer Odinga. Well… that will only end in tears.
He might take away his funding of the party and the Azimo la Umoja, but that is to be expected by a billionaire like him. His there for selfish reasons and just like he broke way from the Jubilee ahead of the last election. The same could easily happen here.
Wanjigi has to prove to a National Delegations Convention of the party that his worthy and has more assets in a campaign than Odinga. That is a mission and enterprise bound to fail. Wanjigi might be rich, but he is clearly not that bright or street-smart. Because, even miles away you can see how this will only go wrong for him. There is no way he can win or aspire to win.
Odinga have been the party leader since it’s inception and held this role since then. He has been the Presidential Candidate and there never been any doubt about that. That’s why Wanjigi is trying to forge his way into a place, which Odinga has held for 17 years now.
To believe anyone else become the Presidential Candidate in the ODM is ridiculous and a waste of time. As Kenyatta has endorsed Odinga and a major parts of the governors. All things are aligned for Baba the 5th. There will be no reason to jeopardize that now and give way within the party. The party which he has been the MVP of for so long.
It is just like Jim wants to waste time and try to be more influential than he really is. He might have lists of the high ranking officials and politicians he has paid-off. However, these will not save his campaign or his ability to get ahead in the ODM party.
The results will be humiliating and only show that money cannot by everything. Some things are written in stone and the ODM is Baba’s party. It is maybe revealing that Wanjigi don’t want to live with that and prefers an illusion. The ODM will not shelter him this way and neither will it serve him kindly.
This is a game where Wanjigi cannot win. His money might make some people dance, but at this very moment. The ODM will not sing his songs and neither will they give him the throne. That is already reserved and the ones thinking otherwise haven’t learned a lesson from the past. There is no need for other candidates, as long as Odinga is residing. His the automatic Presidential candidate and that’s just the way things are. Peace.

“As they speak about Jubilee Party’s death, you can also see what the party has been doing. We have been able to achieve much but there are some projects which are not complete, and hence as Jubilee (Party) we are now coming out of the office getting into real politics. And because some were politicking while work was ongoing, we have said we want a coalition unit of like-minded parties and together we join Azimio. We have the candidate, we have the resources and the youth are together with us” – President Uhuru Kenyatta (11.02.2022)
To no surprise… Azimio La Umoja Raila Odinga was endorsed and got a vouch of approval from the incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta. Nobody who has followed Kenyan politics should be shocked this. Ever since the Handshake and the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) these two gentlemen has been intertwined under the political framework and will of power.
Odinga and Kenyatta have worked together in this term and it’s been evident that they have grown close. As these to have made it easy and respectfully ensured no real opposition to the government. While they have created a vacuum for the allies of the Deputy President William Ruto, which has made government’s own suddenly became “opposition” instead. Therefore, anyone who follows should have seen this day coming a mile away.
There is no shocker an awe in the statement of the President. No, it’s just another day of the week and life will go on. Kenyatta just proving what people been saying as Ruto will leave for his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the remaining ones of Jubilee will go to the Azimio La Umoja. That’s just the way things go, unless a few brave renegades goes to Democratic Action Party – Kenya (DAP-Kenya).
What we are seeing is just the slow tide of strength and the whole machinery of support for Odinga. After how the previous elections has gone. This is totally different… and now other people will be tear-gassed and have issues. Now, things will run smooth and only be a few dramatic ventures, as the state, the most of the governors and everyone else of prominence is running behind Odinga.
Expect the papers, the broadcasters and everyone else to be smoothly and softly speaking about the records of Odinga. They will only mention things in passing and if Ruto’s men bring it up. Nevertheless, they rather go after his ill deeds and mock his attempt for the Presidency. Since, everyone is supposed to be behind Odinga.
That is how things are looking and it’s revealing as the President says Azimio is the thing to go behind. This is the evidence of the whole system working for one cause. It was speculated, but now it’s proven and spoken about from the Head of State. The President is in his right to pick a successor and that has been done before.
However, they have also failed, but Odinga has done this plenty of times before and knows how to spark popularity. Still, he has to show his worth yet again. That he got it and can govern. Since, he has offered and supported Jubilee as a silent company man. Now he will stand up on his own. His big promises and pledges might become impossible with the vast rate of growing debt in the Republic. It is not like his coming in the golden age and with a new net domestic revenue to pay off the debt, which has been accumulated during this presidency.
Odinga still has a campaign and months to the polls. Things might change, but most likely. His the guy and it’s been in the cards for so long now. Time will only tell now…
But this is Baba’s for the taking and Ruto to shock the world, if he suddenly has a street-sweeper to clear the deck in his favour. Peace.

FAO senior officials visit affected areas in the rush to save lives and livelihoods.
NAIROBI, Kenya, February 11, 2022 – An extended, multi-season drought is driving acute food insecurity in the Horn of Africa, with 12 to 14 million people now at risk as crops continue to wither and animals weaken, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partners warned today.
Resource-based conflicts are escalating as competition for water and pasturelands increases, and malnutrition rates are rising in affected areas of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, highlighting the need to sustain the rural livelihoods that underpin peace and food security across the Horn.
At a briefing to international donors in Nairobi, FAO and its partners reported that the food security outlook in the region will be highly dependent on the performance of the upcoming rainy season, with forecasts currently uncertain.
In a worst-case scenario in which the rains completely fail and agricultural-dependent communities do not receive adequate support, the number of highly food insecure people could climb to 15-20 million – with some worst-affected households facing “catastrophic” hunger conditions.
“Drought cycles are intensifying and occurring with greater frequency. Immediate humanitarian action to support farmers and herders is needed now,” said Bechdol, after visiting Kenyan communities where goats and cows are dying from lack of water and pasture. “The international community has a narrow window to prevent a major humanitarian catastrophe here,” she said.
“Alarm bells have already been rung – scaled-up action is needed now,” said Phiri. “FAO carried out anticipatory actions during the latter half of 2021 in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia to mitigate the impacts of drought on over one million rural people and so far a crisis has been mitigated. But much more is needed as the situation deteriorates and as crisis looms,” he said.
A plan to help rural families cope
Under FAO’s new Horn of Africa Drought Response Plan, $130 million is urgently needed to provide time-critical assistance to highly vulnerable communities in drought-hit regions of the three countries. The plan supports the production of up to 90 million litres of milk and up to 40 000 tonnes of staple food crops in the first part of 2022, putting over one million highly-food insecure people on a safe footing.
For pastoralist families, FAO aims to deliver animal feed and nutritional supplements, provide mobile veterinary health clinics, transport 10 000 litre collapsible water reservoirs to remote areas, and upgrade existing wells to run on solar power.
For farming families, FAO aims to distribute drought-tolerant early-maturing varieties of sorghum, maize, cowpea and other beans and vegetables.
FAO is also carrying out cash transfers and cash-for-work programmes to ensure the most vulnerable can access food.
Additional new analysis published on Thursday from the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) for Somalia, hosted by FAO, shows that in Somalia alone, the number of acutely food insecure people (IPC Phase 3 and 4) is expected to increase from 3.5 to 4.1 million between January and March 2022, if humanitarian assistance is not received on time.
FAO’s Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol; Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, David Phiri; and Director of Emergencies and Resilience, Rein Paulsen have just completed a visit to Kenya to raise awareness on the drought and see FAO’s vital response in action, including in Isiolo and Marsabit counties in the north.







