Kenya's Young MPs have failed to nurture a new political order

By Joseph Lister Nyaringo
New Jersey, USA
This is how Francis Imbuga, a Kenyan playwright captures the events that are unfolding in our Country in his Play Betrayal in the City, “ it was better while we waited, we have killed our past and are busy killing the future.”

After nearly 20 years of acrimonious debate for a new constitutional dispensation, Parliament passed the draft constitution that will be subjected to a national referendum by July 2010.

Contrary to this positive stride, a section of young MPs, who are supposed to be torchbearers to foster a new social, political and economic order led by the Minster for Higher education honourable William Ruto have decided to mobilize Kenyans to reject the draft constitution.

Ruto’s “no” line up includes: Eugene Wamalwa, Isaac Ruto, Cyrus Jirongo, Joshua Kutuny and Peter Munya to mention but a few. They all have a democratic right to accept or reject the constitution, but their timing is suspect and sinister.
This line up reflects that young people in political circles want our Country to remain in the old order by being ardent protectors of the status quo instead of being catalysts for change and transformative leadership. I’m convinced that majority of young leaders in our Country are more ethnically inclined, self centred and therefore worse than the older politicians.

Last week, a media Columnist, Mr. Barrack Muluka highlighted how Mr.Eugene Wamalwa, who is also MP for Saboti and one of the youngest MPs in Parliament, urging his community in a vernacular radio, to vote for him so he will get the opportunity to sleep in State House. The legislator is now in the league of President Moi’s political students, William Ruto, Cyrus Jirongo and Isaac Ruto of the YK92 fame. He has joined the duo who sneaked Moi back to power in 1992, not for the Cockerel but to mobilize Kenyans to reject the draft constitution. What a shame!

By Cyrus Jirongo and William Ruto joining their political mentor former President Moi, in the “ no” camp over the draft constitution, they are sending a message to Kenyans that Kanu’s old styles of running national affairs is blossoming back in full throttle through young leaders.

This is not the first time young leaders have led Kenyans down. In the last elections, Uhuru Kenyatta dethroned himself from leader of official opposition and decided to support Kibaki’s re- election. The Gatundu South MP left about 1.8 Million Kenyans who voted for him in 2002 in suspense and also subjected multiparty politics in dire straits. This was selfish, egocentric and a lack of principles in leadership.

We are tired of leaders who are lackadaisical on issues of national importance but ready to shout when their comfort zones are threatened. Some have become venomous while in their tribal backyards and what comes out of their mouth is incitement, hate and sowing seeds of discord which is a recipe for chaos in our ethnically diverse nation. They have forgotten the rough and tumble Kenyans went through in early 2008.

All politics is local but it’s irrelevant for those with national leadership ambitions to concentrate in their ethnic enclaves. If William Ruto wants to endear himself nationally, he must articulate the interest of all Kenyans, instead of behaving as if he loves his Kalenjin people more than God who created them. Dragging his differences with the Prime Minister to the entire Kalenjin community does not make sense either.

As a young person, I will be the last person to advocate for leadership change or support some one based on their age. One can be 100 years and still stand tall on issues beneficial for the Kenyan people. After all, except honourable John Michuki, majority of the older generation leaders are supporting the new draft constitution which sends a very strong message that they want to bequeath a good country to the young generation. On the other side of the ledger, I’m not trying to imply that all young legislators (MPs) in Kenya are sympathizers of the status quo. There are those who have done very well.

I urge our young legislators to learn from President Obama, whose administration has seized the opportunity to reform key institutions in the US like Heath Care which defeated many presidents before him. On global transformation, he recently unveiled a policy with a target to combat nuclear proliferation as well as a focus to change America’s foreign policy. By and large, he is focusing for greater achievements that reflect a new social, political, and economic order for America.

In Kenya, we have sung “change” for many decades and now we must ignore the young or the old who want to derail us from achieving this end. In fact, many of those now rejecting the new constitutional are doing so to settle political scores or for egocentric reasons.

We all contend that the draft constitution is not free from imperfections and will be amended as needed during the implementation stage. After all; our laws are not cast on stones. Jesus came and was accused of violating the laws of Moses, when he taught on the new Covenant. We have closed the Red Sea, and we are swiftly heading to the Promised Land. Let us not be detoured or derailed Kenyans, let us vote yes for our future and the future of our children.

Kenya desperately need selfless leaders

By Joseph Lister Nyaringo
The myriad problems that face our Country ranging from the economy, social and political spheres require leaders who are more concerned about the citizens than themselves.

Such leaders must pour their lives for effective public duty to enhance the lives of Kenyans than themselves. It requires more than mere rhetoric to tackle the high poverty rate, inflation, skyrocketing of prices for essential goods, insecurity and crime. It requires an inner passion driven by compassion, empathy, dedication and human love.

Political leaders hold the most important job roles in any Country. The policies they make affect even the most valuable professionals in the society like: Doctors, Surgeons, Dentists, Accountants, Engineers, and Pilots. This is an indicator that they are responsible for millions of people's lives including their own.

Leaders in our Country are not dedicated to their roles in the society. Even those elected from their regions do not point the priority areas that need to be addressed. We lack a contingency plan as a Country. That is why; we always address symptoms instead of the causes. We don’t get a remedial strategy from the leaders until people start starving to death especially during the onset of famine.

Sections of the media carried out footage about the famine in Turkana and Ukambani and for those who saw, it was a terrifying experience. I shed tears and wished I had the capacity to ease the pain I saw in the people. Ironically, one of the leaders from Turkana who is also a Cabinet Minister recently bought a Chopper worthy Millions of Shillings.

This was an absolute lack of wisdom, humanity and empathy. Such leader doesn’t deserve to be elected to Parliament, leave alone being given Ministerial duties in any government. How do you buy a luxury like a Helicopter when your people are starving to death; eating herbs like goats?

Even though the Minister has a right to own any luxury, human life is of cardinal importance compared to a Chopper. People look forward to him as rekindles of their hopes; expecting him to serve them with humility and mercy.

Kenyans are suffering in the middle of plenty on a few hands. Even in Ukambani, we have rich men and women in the current leadership who have not taken any initiative to address the scourge of famine in the region.

To significantly rejuvenate the standard of living for Kenyans,page content we must be absolutely sure that those we elect to office are capable of doing the right job. We must assess their wisdom and understanding of the current challenges that our people face.



footer (site informatiWe must make sure that they really do have the skills for the job and are capable of being great leaders; advocating for what is popular and good to the masses. The mistake we make is to elect leaders on the basis of what they own, like the Turkana politician; he will use the Chopper to fly around the constituency luring people to vote for him.



We face many challenges in this country because the people we maintain in national leadership do not have a passion to serve. They don’t care about what happens around them so long as it doesn’t affect their immediate family.

Last week, the USA government, faced with dwindling Stock Trading, went a head to vote in Congress in order to inject Millions of Dollars to resuscitate their financial Markets. This is the surest way for leaders to attack problems before it becomes chronic and end up affecting our national good.

Politics has been taken as an avenue for riches and fame. Public duty; the genesis of any leadership calling does not augur in the minds of current and aspiring leaders. Even those who are blessed with plenty and riches do not care about the poor in the society. I admire the United States system where aspiring leaders are often grilled over their contributions to charitable causes.

Quite often, leaders with generosity often advocate for policies that benefit the entire society. It must also be understood that political leaders who often put the interests of others above there own are often the best in the World.

It was a great sacrifice and a reflection of selflessness that Nelson Mandela, of South African suffered for 27 year to liberate his Country. In Kenya , the legendary, late Member of Parliament for Nyandarua North, JM Kariuki exhibited rare qualities in political leadership for his advocacy on matters that affected the poor. Do the leaders we have today exhibit JM’s love and gusto to fight for the people, regardless of who they are? Certainly not.

In the wisdom of Martin Luther King Junior, the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. We saw a laid back attitude from our key leaders when the Country was facing the highest challenges early this year. It took the wisdom of outsiders to get our Country back to the track.

True leaders must radiate a selfless image; working diligently to change the lives of others based on mercy a caring heart, and a willing spirit. They must be driven by the qualities of character and integrity; avoiding the temptation to misuse their authority in their public life.

Leadership is about Values pegged on humility, caring, compassion and human love to the ruled. Anything outside this is mere self gratification and egocentricity.

True leadership entails guidance, effective management, discernment of circumstances and problem solving with a heart and willingness to change a situation that distracts the lives of those he leads. Any leader who puts a dark curtain to the problems bedevilling the country lacks the legitimacy to be called a leader.

This is not the first time Church leaders have misled Kenyans

By Joseph Lister Nyaringo, New Jersey, USA
Church leaders have failed to show leadership especially on matters of national importance. In 2004, they trashed the Bomas draft, even when the Pop’s representative to Kenya had supported it. In 2005 referendum, they advised Kenyans to vote through their conscience, a deviation of the Church’s role as the “conscience” of nation.

Before President Kibaki who is a Catholic took over from Moi in 2003, the Catholic Church fought with Kenyans for good governance as exhibited by retired Archbishop Raphael Mwana Nzeki. He fought for multipartism as well as being fir firm at the height of tribal clashes in the Rift Valley in 1992.
Ndingi, was in the league with the late Bishops Alexander Muge of Eldoret and Henry Okullu of Maseno South Dioceses.
What real went wrong with Church leaders after Kibaki entered the House on the hill when they kept former President Moi on his toes?
The role of Rev. Timothy Njoya, the late Archbishop Manesses Kuria, Henry Okullu, Kipsang Muge, and David Gitari will never fade from Kenyan memories. They stood against injustice, corruption, tribalism and political cronyism during Moi’s regime.
It’s should be remembered that the worst from the clergy was in 2004 when Bishop Peter Njoka, once embroiled on cash for prayers at City hall and Bishop Moses Njue, went a head telling Kibaki to act tough on dissenters in the Narc government whom they said were taking the President for granted.
As if this was not enough, they proposed the introduction of “Kibaki Day” as a national holiday.
Although they apologized for taking a tribal path in2007 general elections and the subsequent violence, Kenyans can’t forget how the Church failed its cardinal responsibility to bring Kibaki and Raila Odinga to the negotiation table. If they preached harmony, tolerance, love, peace and tranquility, these would have de-escalated the post election violence.
On the draft constitution, Church leaders should know that it’s only in heaven that we have a perfect constitution. Threatening to mobilize Kenyans to reject the draft is hypocritical.
That said, we applause the head of the Anglican Church Dr. Eliud Wabukala and Rev. Timothy Njoya for advising Kenyans to vote “yes” for the new constitution. The two have emulated the wisdom of Moses and David, both religious and political leaders who gave their people direction during challenging times.
The Secretary General of the NCCK, Rev. Peter Karanja should scale down his hard-line position on the draft constitution, failure to which, Kenyans will conclude that he is a sympathizer to the current constitution which is the source of Kenya’s current problems.
No wonder, the reverend has advocated before for an early election under the current constitution that Kenyans want to get rids off to quell squabbles in the coalition government.
The two contentious clauses in the draft constitution: the Kadhi courts and abortion do not make Kenyans lesser Christians. On abortion, women can’t be left in suspense when abortion is needed to safe a mother’s life. Also, to expung Kadhi courts, which is intact in the current constitution will portray intolerance from the Christian majority and this will augur badly for religious harmony and ecumenical cooperation between Christians and Muslims. There is no religion superior than another since God created Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Agnostics and atheists with equal rights.
If religious leaders played their roles as the nation’s conscience, former United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan will come to Kenya mainly to watch the “big 5” in the Mara and enjoy the breeze in our Coastal Beeches.
Kenyans are tired with MOUs which keeps our nation at ransom when they are not honoured. An MOU with Christians on the draft constitution will drive a wedge between Muslims and Christians.
After all, the Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been a victim of MOUs, the first one in 2002 with Kibaki, second in 2007 with the National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), and in 2008 during the power sharing with Kibaki that cobbled the Coalition government.
In all MOUs, except the one with NAMLEF, Kenyans have been treated with theatrics of betrayals, enmity and disunity. Promising amendments after the constitutional referendum by the government will be a lie to the Church. In fact, President Kibaki has a history of dishonouring agreements. After all, the constitution will be in force when he is in retirement.
Let us vote “yes” to pass the new constitution. Any changes in the draft will be done as needed by tomorrow’s generation who may have more virtue and wisdom for a better document than what we want today.

MPs rejecting the draft are sympathizers of the status quo

Joseph Lister Nyaringo
New Jersey USA
It's cynical for a section of MPs to threaten mobilizing Kenyans to reject the draft constitution as if they were on vacation when the draft was passed in Parliament. Most of those making these threats have a history that does not endear them to speak for the Kenyan people.
They served a regime that brought our country into its knees and therefore Kenyans cannot trust them because they don’t care about their interests.
Both Cyrus Jirongo and Willliam Ruto of the YK 92 fame and former President Moi’s protégés want to protect their ill-gotten wealth by rejecting the constitutional draft whose provisions may compel them to disclose the sources of their wealth. These two legislatures don’t care about the country.
Therefore, the MPs who are following the two blindly must be cautious sinces they may end up denting their political resume forever. I challenge level headed MPs in the Ruto bandwagon like: Amason Kingi, Mutava Musyimi and Eugene Wamwalwa to move with caution since most of those threatening to mobilize Kenyans to reject the draft constitution have never stood for change in the Country.
If we strive to accommodate the interest of every group, we shall end up with an amorphous document which does not reflect the wishes of the Kenyan people. That said, legislatures who are against the draft constitution must be ignored completely.
I may have a soft spot for honourable Mutava Musyimi of Gachoka whose struggle for a new constitution is vividly in the memory of many Kenyans but when he stoops too low to be in league with political amateurs like Joshua Kutuny and Simeon Mbugua, it leaves a lot to be desired.
Those following honourables William Ruto and Cyrus Jirongo, to reject the draft constitution must remember that the two are Moi’s old political cronies whom he is using as proxies while in retirement to shape public opinion and protect his corrupt past.
Why is the eloquent Member of Parliament for Eldoret East always want to create controversy even on matters of common sense? Ruto is not showing leadership and will never be one. Those banking on him should think twice.
On the other hand, I wonder why John Michuki, a respected elder in Kenya’s politics is against the clause that allows a mother to procure an abortion on health grounds. If he truly respects human life, he would have questioned the rationale used by the police who killed youths suspected to be Mungiki adherents in central Province.
Finally, I urge our people to keep a watchful eye on politicians who want to take Kenyans back to Egypt. We have already closed the Jordan River and are swiftly heading to the Promised Land.
We must all contend that the draft constitution is not free from imperfections but the remedies must be worked out when it’s passed. Laws are not carved on stones. They can be amended, replicated, or augmented to suit prevailing circumstances. For now, the draft constitution at hand will serve our Country well than the present one.
It’s elusive to have a constitution that pleases every one. For now, we should all be united in one accord to vote for the draft during the referendum. This is the only yardstick that will shape the style of governance and positive destiny for our Country.

President Obama’s critics have gone too far

It’s all in America where you hate the government and still have the right to express yourself freely without coercion or intimidation. Only in America, you will find a popularly elected President called a dictator as if he is in league with the Iranian despot, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
Those who are calling President Obama a dictator merely because of a legislation passed into law, dont know the true meaning of a dictatorship. They need to learn about what goes on in Zimbabwe and Iran before calling President Obama’s administration a dictatorial regime. Regimes world over, are repressive and employs brutality to destroy dissent from opponents and regular citizens.
Having said that, the role of any political opposition is to play a watchdog role; putting the government in power on it toes fairly without malice, prejudice and personalization. This watchdog role must stick on policies and issues that benefit the people.
The stiff opposition on the Obama administration currently exhibited by the Republican Party in collaboration with the Tea Party movement has turned slanderous and mudslinging. This is a deviation from real issues that affect the American people like job creation and economic revival. That is why a big percentage of Americans see this animosity as a ploy whose agenda is to dent Obama’s Presidency.
Before President Obama took over, he acknowledged the fact that fixing America’s present problems, especially the economic downtrend and unemployment was not going to be done overnight. This was a positive gesture to prepare the citizens psychologically instead of giving them false hope.
The President’s critics should understand that leading a Country of more than 300 million people is a hard task and even if John McCain would have become President, it would have taken him time to turn things a round for the American people. After all, Obama has been in the White House for less than two years.
The attacks on the President over big government and its impact on the US economy by the Republican Party do not hold water because there is no prove on this. President Bush senior and a believer in small government was hounded out of office due to poor fiscal policies. He left a trickle down economic mess in the exchequer that President Clinton, a democrat resuscitated to a robust surplus.
Therefore, critics from the Republican Party attacking Obama’s fiscal policies should tell the American people what happened to the huge surplus Clinton left in the national coffers, as well as the state of the Country’s economy when President Obama took over from Bush junior before their totally unwarranted attacks.
I personally agree with real Estate mogul, Mr. Donald Trump who commented one time in CNN of how good the USA economy is when the democrats are in power.
The President’s avid efforts to see the passage of the Health Care bill that will help millions of uninsured Americans to access healthcare should not be politicised. His opponents should wait and see the impact of the bill after its implemented. After all, Obama will not support a legislation that will not benefit the American as it will ruin his political legacy.
Those members of the Republican Party and the Tea Party movement who are persistently discrediting the president seem to have a sinister motive. After all, where were they when George Bush invaded Iraq by falsely claiming there was weapons of mass destruction which has claimed many American lives as well as billions of USA dollars to rebuild the Arab Country?
The American people expressed their universal suffrage to elect Obama because his message resonated well with their predicaments. If he performs below expectations, they will exercise the same right to vote him out in 2012. It’s therefore imperative that the freedom that is enjoyed in America today should be exercised with civility, and respect.
His opponents should challenge him on policy matters fairly without mudslinging, propaganda and extremism. By saying they want their country and government back in rallies as if America is on the hands of some colonial power or an a despotic President is an insult not only to those who voted for President Obama but it robs the American people a lot of respect abroad. It reflects negatively on the Alaska Governor, the defacto leader of the Tea Party movement especially when supporters in her rallies are seen waving placards that read, “Obama go back to Kenya.”
The President was born and bred in America where he contested for the Presidency and won. He is trying to resuscitate the economy, create jobs mend bridges between America and her allies as well as fighting terror. He is not a dictator, fascist, anti-Christ or terrorist the way he has been painted in Tea party rallies. He is managing the affairs of government within the confines of the American constitution just like other previous presidents before him.
When leaders irrespective of their political affiliations stoops too low to dent the image of this respected Country just because they don’t like the man who sits in the Oval office, is not only racist but shameful. It’s so tragic that a sane American will spit on an elected representative calling him the “N” word just for a political opinion in the 21st Century. This sets a very grim image to a Country seen globally as a model for democracy, justice and freedom.
Joseph Lister Nyaringo
New Jersey USA

KENYA GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE FAIRNESS IN RESETTLING INTERNAL REFUGEES

By Joseph Lister Nyaringo

Many Kenyans are in suspense whether proper valuing was done on the Rongai land before it was purchased by the state to resettle internal refugees.

It is hard for the nation to be convinced that the DPM, Uhuru Kenyatta never influenced the purchase price for the 1171 acre farm since it’s a family asset besides him being in charge of our national exchequer.

Transactions of this nature must be carried out with a lot of transparency and accountability because if the land belongs to the Minister for Finance’s family, then there is a big conflict of interest whose sum total is likely to be a rip off to the Kenyan tax payers.

We don’t want to see a recurrence similar to the Grand Regency sell although the hotel was under- valued and sold to foreigners.

No nickel was spent to buy the huge tracts of land the former first family owns equivalent to the size of Nyanza but the land was acquired by the late president through the worst form of power abuse in post independence Africa .

There is nothing to celebrate about the former first family and in fact, if they were philanthropic, they will be the last people to sell 1171 acres to the state and later distribute it to Internal Refugees. It does not reflect any humanity on the plight of the IDPs but a yardstick to build political mileage for Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta who augurs Presidential ambitions.

This brings to the fore the question of how charitable many rich Kenyans are. Just recently, when the USA President Obama won the Nobel Peace price, he decided to have the prize money that comes with the coveted award all donated to Charity.

He didn’t keep silent to use the money for his re-election campaign slated in 2012 but to help his fellow Americans who are far much better economically that Kenyans. Our leaders should emulate this form of domestic philanthropy.

Back to the plight of our Internal Refugees, the operational etiquette of the grand coalition government is often very weird. The nation was recently told by the Minister for Lands Honourable James Orengo of an impending exposure of those who grabbed state owned land.

This was followed by the admission by the same Minister that the state lacks the legal mechanism to repossess some grabbed land.

We must understand that there is nothing hard for the government of the republic of Kenya if its mandate is to protect and advocate for what is beneficial to the Kenyan people.

When the Narc government repossessed KICC from KANU back in 2002, nobody raised eyebrows. That is why many Kenyans still belief that the government has the moral authority to execute the same moves to reposses grabbed land and put it on the hands of the state.

We are being treated by the theatrics of the old order. Kenyans expected honourable James Orengo who has carried the torch for reforms in Kenya for decades to advocate for the release of the Ndungu Land Report so that Kenyans will know the truth.

This is the opportune time for the Ugenya legislature to prove to Kenyans that he still stands for reforms that Kenyans have always known him for. The MP should be the last person to advocate the purchase of land by government from grabbers.

Both Orengo, Uhuru Dr. Naomi Shaban must tell Kenyans the aspects surrounding the land purchase deal since national assets do not belong to politicians but Kenyans.

It’s noble to ease the burden of the internal refugees but the exercise must be done with impartiality and as a nation, we want to see transparency and accountability in managing public affairs especially public expenditure.

We want to know the criteria used to select the victims who have been resettled in the1171 acre farm in Rongai, noting that it’s not only one community that suffered during the post election violence.

We want to see Kisiis just like Kikuyus displaced from Kisumu and parts of Rift Valley resettled as well as all Luyias and Luos displaced from Central and Rift Valley provinces resettled if our leaders are prepared to nurture reconciliation in our nation.

Focussing to alleviate suffering for one community while leaving others will not help to heal the nation but ignite more animosity amongst Kenyan communities.

The latest imbroglio on resettling Internal Refugees is likely to be a storm in a tea cup as the government prepares to evict illegal settlers from the Mau forest. The evictees are going to demand the same treatment which has been extended to the internal refugees in the 1171 acre farm in Rongai.

This is a serious challenge that the government needs to address in order to perpetuate uniformity especially on addressing the problems that bedevil the entire nation across the board.

Obama his a strong leader despite storms at home

As a believer in the Christian faith, when God is in the vessel, you will always smile at the storm. Despite the stiff opposition exhibited by the Republican Party on Obama’s presidency, the man has stayed put; beaming with confidence with his duties as US president. I do believe God’s strength is with him.

The USA president is going through what many will call a baptism with fire which is greater than when he was campaigning for office. Today, Obama seems to have lost the Caucasian constituency that voted for him to clinch his victory as the first President of colour and not a direct descendant of a slave.

This is not as a result of poor performance but a smear campaign from conservative right wing Republicans who have teamed up with John McCain’s former Presidential running mate who is also the defacto leader of the Tea Party Movement Sarah Palin.

Many are left wondering why we are seeing rancour, hate and bitterness on Barrack Obama’s leadership from citizens of a Country perceived to be a model of democracy in the globe.

He won on a landslide, inherited an impoverished economy and two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from George Bush, and he is doing his best against the odds to fix the Country.

President Barrack Obama has shown leadership by scaling down unemployment, signed a Universal Healthcare Bill that defeated many Caucasian Presidents in many generations, signed Nuclear reduction agreement with Russia, taken a reconciliatory tone in the Arab World as a yard stick to reduce hate for America and to bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

At home, President Obama is working out mechanisms to regulate the operations of banks; a great benefit to small scale businesses. This week, he promised that is administration will start Oil drilling in the Country instead of America’s overdependence on Middle East Oil.

Despite these milestones, what is happening in America today is not far from the events of the 1960s, during the civil rights movement. The only difference is that, the resistance is coming from the white majority mostly sympathetic with the Republican Party.

We have seen demonstrations of white folks chanting anti Obama slogans and wanting their country back. I was shocked seeing placards that read “Obama back to Kenya, Obama is a fascist, Obama is a terrorist.”

The US President is running the affairs of government within the confines of the American constitution while applying his ideology which any leader in the developing world always envisions.

His predecessor George Bush envisioned compassion conservatism while Obama is a liberal whose ideology is based on social democracy.

That is why he is a strong supporter for universal healthcare. He has also promised immigration reforms by his administration before mid term elections slated in November, this year.

Despite the epithets, insults, racial slurs on Obama, and lack of civility from the Republican leaders and supporters, he has maintained is cool, carrying out his duties unhindered. He does not respond directly to criticism even when it so demands. This is a rare quality in leadership.

In fact, the more Obama is attacked by his opponents, the more he approaches the media cameras with a smile as if nothing is happening. How many world leaders will do this?

As a Kenyan in this land, I’m proud of Obama for his energy, determination and focus on what is dear to the American people and the World.
Joseph Lister Nyaringo
New Jersey, USA