Don’t have KSH 1M? Use your vote!

I sincerely fail to see how an obvious campaign to raise money can be so offensive. Why do poor people think the world owes them an apology? This lunch is not for everybody with ksh 1,000,000. It’s for those with the money and the will to support Kibaki. That you mention there will be mostly Kikuyus is not about anything else but the mere fact that tribalistic views dominate politics, if Kibaki were dhaluo, the majority attendees would be luo. Does it indicate that the president is tribalist? No. It indicates that majority voters are.

Running a campaign is a business. Which means positive cash flow is a must. What are you all so offended by? Seriously, what? We can’t all be rich. can’t all spend $1000000 on a “lunch”. But common sense is free. We know that no lunch is worth that amount of money so it’s an obvious invitation to the rich to support a campaign. Now that we aint rich enough to be included, how about we let the rich abuse THEIR money and we go on with our daily activities?! Expecting no apologies from them mind you, it’s their hard earned money to spend as they want!

I agree completely with Mimmz, a 1 million lunch for Kibaki’s kitty has nothing to do with greed, gluttony or tribalism.

Wasn’t Raila and ODM presidential aspirants crisscrossing the US and Europe holding $100.00 dinners for their campaign kitty?

Is that to say that Raila’s dinner was worth the $100 or $200 ?? And because it was organized and mainly attended by Luo’s does that make Raila a tribalist??

I don’t believe so and anyone who sees campaign fund raising as anything else other than what it is; is sadly misinformed.

I am a little baffled by mimmz’ question, “Why do poor people think the world owes them an apology?” In part, because it shares the same tragic logic applied to any group that seeks redress and recognition. See reverse racism on this.

My one thought on reading this was to think of our constant need to borrow money from elsewhere. And, really, the waste of this money. What could this amount of money do to build and reinforce institutions? Endow university chairs, perhaps (my profession, so I think of it). Provide opportunities for other Kenyans. How might this money be used to build the nation (perhaps one obligation of citizenship) rather than consolidate ethnic and class positions?

The 1m lunch is an issue of willing buyer willing seller. The fact that there is someone poor near you doesn’t mean that you stop spending what you feel like spending.

No one, no matter how affluent, is under obligation to share what they have with anyone. If you have been invited and accepted the conditions plus the invitation, why should anyone complain? It is your own money.

Such kind of expensive lunches happen all over the world, which shows less than sincerity in those complaining of Kibaki’s lunch.

Again its not that every rich person stole his wealth. How many people started from scratch and are now many others’ role models. All of us want to be rich though evil means are not acceptable.

There are so many places where expensive dishes are sold and they are free to sell as such coz someone is willing to buy. The same case with these lunches by these politicians.

Even Ksh100 lunch is not affordable to many in Kenya/Africa which means that if any of the lunches gives a show of arrogance then all of them do.

Keguro sees what the Sh1m could do for universities, chairs etc Why should my 1m help the Govt or any institution? Its me to put it where I want coz its mine. Keguro, what ‘extra’ do you do for institutions etc with your money, however much/less it is? I would be afraid if you can only see the work of a million in someone’s pocket and not that of a 100 in your pocket.

Well said Mentalacrobatics. I like your differentitation between lunch cost and image. But do you know where the attack is bound to come from? From people who wish not to go beyond politics of affluence vs lack either because they are blinded by emotions and/or they have allowed demagogues to think for them.

Such manner of fundraising should be encouraged especially in Africa where presidents even print more money prior to elections so as to get as much to splash.

My only worry is that few, you and me included, would agree to put our foot/mouth where our money is not. It could be that those attending the 1m lunch are investing waiting to reap after Kibaki is re-elected.

Unfortunately many are not arguing it along that path but rather along the naive line of wanton display of wealth.

Exactly! Kibaki has many romantisizers but few strategists.

I read the rest of the comments and I do see I need to clarify a few things. When I mention hard earned money, it does not mean the people without ksh 1M to spend on lunch aren’t hard workers. We can’t all be at the top of the pyramid. But that does not give us the right to be mad at those who are. Frankly for some of us, it’s about money not meaning as much. Again, there is no direct proportional relationship between money/wealth and hard work. Some people make it the hard way while others are born with the silver spoon in their mouths.

I agree with Waks. This lunch will hurt Kibaki’s campaign only in the eyes of those who already had beef with him. I think the rest of us, and many others, would be able to separate this as just what it is, fund raising. A presidential hopeful cannot outrightly call a fundraiser, image is everything. Resulting to this kind of a lunch is perfectly ok and prudent. As I mentioned before, nobody anywhere in their right mind thinks they are missing a lunch worth ksh 1M. Everyone knows there isn’t any such lunch anywhere.

You ask if it is wise to have this lunch. I say definitely. One has to raise funds. And this shows a plan. As for these people spending their monies elsewhere, we can’t demand that of them. It’s theirs to use as they please. If electioneering is their choice splurge, so be it. And these arguments are late anyway, I’ve lost my mojo for them because I am now aware that the lunch has been cancelled per something I read in the Standard,I believe.

However, Jeevanjee, bring it on. It is constitutionally acceptable for people to have differing opinions on these lunches.

Supposed I do have a million Kshs and want to have lunch with Kibs - where’s the benefit for me?

In other words: what kind of business groups are attracted to such an offer?

JKE gets, I think, to the heart of what bothers me most about this lunch: the problem of access. We would be naive to assume that those willing to contribute to Kibaki’s campaign do not expect some kind of reciprocation at some point. While future favors need not be tied to “corruption” (a very imprecise term, to my mind, to designate the intricate ways capital interacts with politics), they still belong to a system based on who one knows.

Such a system, to my mind, is fundamentally inimical to the kind of nation we should be building. I consider comparisons with the U.S. to be wrong-headed: we are NOT the same place. Indeed, it has been the utopian vision of many of the activists I respect to assert a different political ideal. (Here, it might be worth comparing the expensive meal with complaints against lobbyists in the States, only a slight stretch.) I would point to Ngugi’s Wizard of the Crow as part of the ongoing critique of this kind of politics.

I can’t help thinking I’d like to see Kibaki eat a meal at a hall in Kangemi or a small canteen in Kibera. I would like to see the same access granted to the moneyed granted to the less-so. To me, this whole affair stinks of the votes-for-money problem we’ve struggled with for many elections.

Mental, compliments on a truly fine post.

What everyone else said about Mimmz question. Also that to ask the question (sincerely) is to exhibit a stunning ignorance of basic facts in re: human nature.

THOSE THAT HAVE KES. 1MM TO SPEND ON SUCH A LUNCH SHOULD BE LET TO DO SO AFTER ALL IT IS THEIR MONEY, AND EVEN IF THEY DID NOT ATTEND THE LUNCH, THEY WOULD STILL SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN WITH PROBABLY MUCH MORE AMOUNT OF MONEY!!!