That Raila has taken a lesson from last year's farce, where he saw fit to describe the Nairobi Stock Exchange as a money-laundering and drug operation scheme is welcome. It shows that the ODM-K presidential contender is getting better advice on how to challenge President Kibaki. Rather than making a joke of himself with non-issue economic development commentaries like he made in Canada and prior to that in Australia last year Raila betrayed this time a better grasp of economics and the intricacies of managing a modern economy.

Even his most ardent critics would commend the Lang'ata MP for this change, which will in no small way serve to quell some of the fears that Kenya's business community and better informed citizens have had of him. I especially thought his comment on going beyond mere remittance and creating instead  a focus on channelling such funds into infrastructure-development financial instruments was a thoughtful and actionable idea for Kenyans abroad. Raila was quoted as saying that the Kenyans in the diaspora must go beyond remittances and devise "specific financial instruments and institutions that would support investments in the major infrastructure and other projects for which large financial resources are needed."

"Various business and investment opportunities exist in tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. Investors are also encouraged to consider using Kenya as a base to access and penetrate the larger combined Eastern Africa and Central African market." 

Rather than look at this as another example of  Raila's flip-flopping we should see it as a positive development and instead appreciate that such thoughts along with those presented in William Ruto's vision might gain some mainstream thinking within ODM decision-making circles. It also demonstrates a maturing opposition and DP/Narc-K should borrow such a leaf as they prepare to joining the opposition benches.

In fact as demonstrated in other countries, political opponents need to offer alternative economic development strategies, rather than just bashing the incumbent's policies.  The sound from Minneapolis is one of Raila throwing down the gauntlet and if it is the first step in a path that sees him follow these words with accountable promises and concrete plans, then even the skeptics in us may begin to see him through a wholly different lens.