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The Legacy of Fear: How the Shadow of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Shaped Kenya's Political Landscape In the annals of Kenya's political history, the events of 1969 stand out as a defining moment marked by fear, coercion, and manipulation. The political tension surrounding Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's candidature led to a series of oath-taking ceremonies in Gatundu that forever altered the fabric of Kenyan society. Understanding this historical context is crucial, especially when contemporary politicians attempt to invoke these dark chapters for political gain. The Fear of Jaramogi and the Birth of the Gatundu Oath The roots of the infamous Gatundu oath can be traced back to the fear and propaganda surrounding Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the former vice-president and then-leader of the opposition. By 1969, the political landscape in Kenya was charged with tension. The assassination of Cabinet Minister Tom Mboya on 5th July 1969 had already set a volatile backdrop. Within this context, Pr...

A most undiplomatic act


A strange spectacle unfolded last week involving US ambassador Michael Ranneberger and Labour minister Newton Kulundu. Mr Kulundu launched what appeared to be an unwarranted attack on the US and other Western countries, which he described as the worst violators of human rights in the world. He qualified his remarks by saying they were purely personal.

The ambassadors’s reaction was strangely intolerant. He declined to shake Mr Kulundu’s hand twice, a serious insult to an African, and was very hostile. He described the ministers’ remarks as “ludicrous” and “nonsense”.

The incident left Kenyans wondering. Doesn’t the US pride itself in being the land of the free, where the freedom of the expression of unpopular (or even nonsensical views) is respected?

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