An axis of evil. Obama's corrupt pal, Raila Odinga of Kenya, is winging over to Iran while members of his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) are meeting with leaders in Southern Sudan. This bears watching. He is aligning with the most malevolent forces of power in the world. Does Obama cozy up to any good people?
Back in December 2007 and January 2008 I exposed the disturbing alliance of Obama and Kenyan agitator, inciter and Islamist Raila Odinga. It was a seditious alliance, as Odinga was brutally attempting to overthrow the duly elected Kibuki government - democratically elected and allied with America. Odinga has taken every opportunity to exploit his relationship with Obama (here), going so far as to call them cousins.
During the election that Odinga lost, Obama's bias for his fellow Luo was so blatant that a Kenya government spokesman denounced Obama during his visit as Odinga's "stooge." During the election Raila was behind horrible massacres. The victims of the violence had mostly been members of President Kibaki's tribe, the Kikuyu. Those who went berserk were supporters of Mr. Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement, which is dominated by the rival Luo tribe.
As the riots and bloodshed continued, Raila Odinga poured tribal and religious gasoline on Kenya's fire. He urged using rape as a weapon and encouraged maiming and dismemberment. And Odinga was behind the Kenyan ethnic chaos that would provoke an al qaeda comeback.
I documented the close Obama Odinga relationship here. (scroll)
May 30, 2009 (NAIROBI) — The trip by Prime Minister Raila Odinga to Iran, which has raised questions because his delegation included only ODM stalwarts, overshadows the significance of a tour of Southern Sudan by the Luo Council of Elders. While Mr Odinga was flying to Tehran, the elders led by Mzee Riaga Ogalo were visiting the grave of former SPLM leader Dr John Garang de Mabior where they shed many tears.
 Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga shares a light moment with Iran's Vice Minister for Economic Affairs in the ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohsen Talaei on his arrival for a two day official visit recently. Photo/PMPS |
South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit was their host. The two trips can be seen as part of a sustained effort by Mr Odinga to build international clout and create new allies as he moves to solidify his position ahead of the 2012 presidential election.
Public Accounts Committee chairman Bonny Khalwale has asked Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula to explain why Mr Odinga was accompanied by only ODM figures to the United States and Iran. Cabinet ministers James Orengo, Sally Kosgey, Charity Ngilu, Anyang’ Nyong’o and Mohammed Elmi accompanied the Prime Minister.
In his campaign to woo critical allies, Mr Odinga has cast his net wide. Recently he was in the United States where he addressed leaders of commerce, Kenyans in the diaspora and a university graduation ceremony.
Addressed meetings
Since becoming Prime Minister Mr Odinga has visited and addressed meetings in South Africa, Nigeria, China and Tanzania, among other destinations, and met with world leaders like British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his predecessor Tony Blair.
Though the Luo elders packaged the motive of their trip as purely cultural, it had significant political overtones. It can be advanced that the elders were both cultural and political emissaries. The Juba trip came just weeks after they annointed Mr Kiir, the larger Sudan Vice-President, a Luo elder at a secluded beach resort on Lake Victoria in a ceremony hosted by Mr Odinga.
During the ceremony, Mzee Ogalo told Mr Kiir they considered him one of their own – their son, their brother. “We are bestowing you honours because you are one of our most respected sons. You are a Luo like us; it is only that you remained in Sudan as we trekked south to Kenya,” Mr Ogalo said.
The veteran SPLA soldier was given a traditional three-legged stool, a goatskin bag and a beaded skullcap once worn by the godfather of Luo politics, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Today, the PM, a close friend of Mr Kiir, is the most decorated Luo politician.
The Sudanese leader accepted the honour in the warmth of his people. “I am full of joy because I am standing amidst my people. The Luos and Southern Sudanese are one people,” he said in acceptance of the honour. He donated $100,000 (Sh8 million) to the Great Lakes University for construction of a hall to be named after Dr Garang. The institution awarded Mr Kiir an honorary doctorate.
On the face of it, the sojourn to Juba was geared to cement ties between the Luo of Kenya and their brothers in South Sudan, but it also may have been a move to exploit a cultural bond that aims to seduce and entertain an invaluable comrade in Mr Odinga’s power matrix.
[....]
Hussein Obama, the father of US President Barack Obama, hailed from Luo Nyanza. Mr Wamwere, who links the South Sudan connection with Mr Odinga’s presidential ambitions, perceives it as an “ethnic alliance which may be beneficial or counter-productive”.
“Mr Odinga is amassing troops and seducing elders and powerful people to his side. Mr Kiir commands a lot of resources which may come in handy for Mr Odinga should the need arise,” the former MP argued. And then there is the Museveni factor. With his relationship with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni quite frosty, Mr Odinga is likely to find a strategic regional ally in Mr Kiir.
[...]
There is a strong bond between the Luo and the people of South Sudan. The Luo of Kenya trace their origin to Southern Sudan. More than eight centuries ago, the Luo occupied the area that now lies in eastern Bahr el Ghazal in present day southern Sudan.
They are part of the many Luo sub-groups comprising the Padhola, Lang’o, Kumam, Acholi and Karamojong of Uganda, the Alur of Congo, and the Anuak, Nuer, Dinka and Shilluk of the Sudan. Mr Kiir is a Dinka, the biggest tribe in Southern Sudan.
According to veteran journalist Philip Ochieng’, the Sudanese and northern Ugandan Luo “are more genuinely Luo” than Kenyan Luos “because they are less removed from the original home of dispersal and, therefore, less influenced by non-Nilotic elements”.
