thanks
written by donworry , May 07, 2007

A nice piece. Raila exudes confidence from beginning to end.

And an important message: "if you enter into a contest believing that you are going to lose, you have no business being in that contest.."

Another way is possible

smooth operator
written by a guest , May 07, 2007

Great facade! The real question is whether the MP for Lang'ata has changed at all.

SALUTE
written by KEDVA , May 07, 2007

PEOPLLE HATE U ONLY IF THEY KNOW U ARE BETTER THAN THEM AND IF THEY KNOW U MATTER A LOT. HAVE U EVER SEEN PEOPLE HATE ON A POOR MAN OR JUST AN COMMON MAN? NOPE, NOT REALLY THAT IS Y THEY HATE THIS MAN COZ HE IS GREAT IN EVERYTHING.

Nice interview Raila did well
written by Jotero , May 07, 2007

David Frost didn't ask any tough questions but instead served up some easy balls for Raila. Nevertheless a nice mature interview devoid of Raila's usual wild claims but then it ended early before the crazy ideas begun percolating to the top of Raila's brain.

I think Raila supporters should calm down. Kenyans don't like Raila not because he is better than them but because he is duplicitous, corrupt, and a tribalist given to megalomania. All those traits are not what Kenyans want in a President.

re: SALUTE
written by aeichener , May 07, 2007

HAVE U EVER SEEN PEOPLE HATE ON A POOR MAN OR JUST AN COMMON MAN?

Indeed so. Emmo has repeatedly - and sadly - described this as being part of the Kenyan national character.

Alexander

Absolutely Pampered
written by That Kenyan Loser , May 07, 2007

David Frost didn't ask any tough questions but instead served up some easy balls for Raila.

That usually happens when journalists interview politicians from a country they know nothing about. Frost basically conducted a tell-me-how-great-you-are interview.

And did you see him stumble when asked how he is going to end corruption?

re: SALUTE
written by That Kenyan Loser , May 07, 2007

PEOPLLE HATE U ONLY IF THEY KNOW U ARE BETTER THAN THEM AND IF THEY KNOW U MATTER A LOT. HAVE U EVER SEEN PEOPLE HATE ON A POOR MAN OR JUST AN COMMON MAN? NOPE, NOT REALLY THAT IS Y THEY HATE THIS MAN COZ HE IS GREAT IN EVERYTHING.

Raila would say, "If you enter politics believing that everyone is going to love you, you have no business being there."

You mean Kenyan\'s hate Kibaki
written by Rabet Maatari , May 07, 2007

because he is duplicitous, corrupt, and a tribalist given to abusive language. All those traits are not what Kenyans want in a President.

I think that statement perfectly fits as a description of Kibaki the President!

Nothing new
written by pndiangui , May 08, 2007

I haventseen Raila present anything new from what might have been purpotedlydone by the Narc regime. I havent seen him present a bill that is aimed as strengthening the KACC by making the appointment and firing of its directors more independent of the presidency. Neither have I seen Raila propose an independent way of appointing judges from how it is done today. Infact in his 'vision' for the countryhe still proposes to be the chief appointing authority of these insitutional heads including the Prime Minister. Nothing different from what the Wako draft had proposed.

re: You mean Kenyan\'s hate Ki
written by Jotero , May 08, 2007

because he is duplicitous, corrupt, and a tribalist given to abusive language. All those traits are not what Kenyans want in a President.

I think that statement perfectly fits as a description of Kibaki the President!

Mateeri
Your cute attempt at misappropriating my words fails a simple logic test. Kenyans elected Kibaki. Then applying logic either they like those qualities (duplicity, tribalism, corruption and abusive language) in a President or they don't believe those are Kibaki qualities. Clearly the answer is they don't believe those are Kibaki qualities hence the failure in your logic. Kenyans have repeatedly shown that they support and trust Kibaki more than any other politician in Kenya.

Stenchman!
written by Rabet Maatari , May 12, 2007

because he is duplicitous, corrupt, and a tribalist given to abusive language. All those traits are not what Kenyans want in a President.

I think that statement perfectly fits as a description of Kibaki the President!

Mateeri
Your cute attempt at misappropriating my words fails a simple logic test. Kenyans elected Kibaki. Then applying logic either they like those qualities (duplicity, tribalism, corruption and abusive language) in a President or they don't believe those are Kibaki qualities. Clearly the answer is they don't believe those are Kibaki qualities hence the failure in your logic. Kenyans have repeatedly shown that they support and trust Kibaki more than any other politician in Kenya.

If you are gauging Kibaki's popularity by the 2002 elections, then surely yours is a case of an Ostrich burying its' head in the sand. If according to you Kibaki is popular because of the Stenchman's opinion polls then you are in deeper trouble than i thought. The closest Kibaki came to a plebiscite since 2002 as far as i can recall was in 2005 and we all know what the peoples' verdict was!

What are we about...
written by Marangu , May 14, 2007

So Raila has come out and given an interview, as usual, we did not like what we saw and heard from the man. This is typical though, isn't it. Is it his fault that he was not asked 'hard' questions? Was this a Nation Newspapers interview or a BBC interview? I think the interviewer followed a script suited to his audience, a question on Anglo Leasing or Mollasses plant would have been irrelevant for that audience... unless you want us to believe Al Jazeera is tuned in on local MW/SW Radios in Kenyan villages - NOT!
And why the hypocrisy, why arent we happy to listen to what Raila has to say, how nice would it be to see Emilio follow suit even if his interviewer were Dr Alfred Mutua.
So let whoever is willing to talk do it, there is always a side of our politicians we don't know, we are happy to listen even if it's from Al Jazeera.

Thats good publicity..
written by echwaluedward , June 13, 2007

On Al gezeera..that is a beaty..thats a good public stan enough to say Raila..