Senegalese do a "Kibaki tosha" and usher in a young president: The inside story
"Kibaki Tosha." In 2002 Raila Odinga uttered those now famous words at Uhuru Park, Nairobi that handed Mwai Kibaki a landslide win in the presidential elections later that year.
Recently, something very similar happened in Senegal, which brought to light many other strange connections between the current political situation in Kenya and what happened recently in Senegal.
Well known opposition leader in this West African country named Ousmane Sonko has also been through a lot to fight for the people for a long time. In the same way, Raila Odinga is a very similar person right here in Kenya.
The West has worked hard to keep Sonko from becoming president, so he was disqualified from the most recent race. But he backed Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was the secretary general of his own political group. That was enough for Faye to become president. In the same way, a nod from Raila to Edwin Sifuna would be enough for him to win the presidency if elections were held today.
But this amazing Senegalese Cinderella political story has more to it than meets the eye.
Faye was arrested on April 14, 2023, and spent 11 months in jail. He wasn't freed until March 14, 2024, which was only 10 days before the polls he won. In other words, he went from being in jail to being President in 10 days.
It seems too good to be true. A story that is so amazing that it might be hard to believe and at a casual glance one may quickly dismiss it as only a fairy tale. But in fact, that's what happened.
Now the question is what happened behind the scenes that made the 44-year-old former tax inspector president and Sonko and Faye the power duo (since his first official act was to make Sonko, his political ally and guide, Prime Minister)?
In fact, some very interesting and game-changing things are happening on the continent. I think that the opposition's shocking win in Senegal has something to do with the situation getting worse very quickly in the west. And we are talking about the problem of illegal immigrants.
A lot of them risk the high seas on unsafe boats to get to the coast of places like Spain. For example, last year there were a lot more people leaving Senegal on shaky wooden boats. Walking Borders, a Spanish group that works to protect migrants, says that almost 1,000 people died trying to get to Spain by sea in the first half of 2023.
But the big western countries that are most affected by the large numbers of illegal immigrants coming into their countries are also the main ones who are making the situation worse. Why? The reason for this is that these are the same countries that make deals with corrupt African states that make the people who live in those countries poor.
These same countries help Western cities clean dirty money from corrupt African politicians. In the end, people in those African countries can't stand living there any longer, which leads to illegal immigration to the same Western countries that are helping to keep crooked governments in power.
Some people in the West are slowly realizing that the problem of illegal immigrants will quickly get out of hand if nothing is done to change the current situation. The idea that it is good for the West to have more peaceful and wealthy African countries is becoming clearer to more Western leaders. There is an urgent need to stop the growing number of people trying to sneak into Europe, if not for any other reason.
It looks like these things played a part in the surprise turn of events that got Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye out of jail and into power in a flash.
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Unveiling the Surge of Fake News in Kenya
In recent times, Kenya has witnessed a dramatic surge in the spread of fake news, a concerning trend that has unveiled the desperation of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. The proliferation of misleading information and false narratives has created a perplexing environment, leaving citizens puzzled about the motives behind such deceptive tactics and making it that much more difficult to read the politics correctly in Kenya today.
Most people do not realize that the prevalence of fake news in Kenya has had a profound impact on society, leading to increased polarization and confusion among the populace. With future elections looming on the horizon, the spread of misinformation poses a significant threat to the integrity of the democratic process and the overall stability of the nation.
Unraveling the Desperation of UDA
The sharp rise in fake news can be attributed to the desperation of the UDA party to sway public opinion in their favor as they rapidly lose any little support they still had remaining. By resorting to deceptive tactics and spreading false information, UDA aims to manipulate the narrative and gain a competitive edge in the political arena. However, such tactics not only undermine the credibility of the party but also further erode the trust of the Kenyan people.
The Role of Media Literacy in Combating Fake News
In light of the escalating spread of fake news, it is imperative for Kenyan citizens to enhance their media literacy skills and critically evaluate the information they encounter. By empowering individuals to discern fact from fiction, the impact of fake news can be mitigated, fostering a more informed and resilient society.
As the wave of fake news continues to surge, it is also crucial for Kenyans to remain vigilant and skeptical of the information they consume. By questioning sources, verifying facts, and engaging in critical thinking, individuals can fortify themselves against the onslaught of misinformation and safeguard the integrity of public discourse.
This should be a stark reminder of the lengths to which some parties will go to manipulate public opinion. By unraveling the desperation behind such deceptive tactics and bolstering media literacy skills, the Kenyan society can combat Itumbi boys and the spread of misinformation and uphold the principles of truth and transparency.
Video above refers to Tom Mboya politics
TJ We Remember: A Photo Tribute To Tom Mboya From Kumekucha
Tom Mboya was one of the most prominent personalities in Kenyan history. He was born Thomas Joseph Mboya on 15th August 1930 and was assassinated at the tender age of 39 on 5th July 1969. It is widely believed that his profile and illustrious career as a brilliant and charismatic leader, which was seen as a challenge to the then political establishment, led to his assassination.
Tom Mboya arriving at Uhuru Park for what was to be his last Madaraka day June 1st 1969. He's with his wife Pamela and two children. At this point things were tough politically, but would he have guessed that he would be dead in about a month's time?
More on Tom Mboya.
