Raila Odinga's Stolen Presidency:
Consequences and the Future of Kenya
Report from the book launch

Find a report of the book presentation by the author on his blog.

Monday 9 March 2009
Raila Odinga's Stolen Presidency:
Consequences and the Future of Kenya
Book launch

by Okoth Osewe

17.00 hrs
the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation,
Övre Slottsgatan 2, Uppsala

Kenya’s elections in late December 2007 immediately plunged the country into a crisis of unforeseen dimensions. The unexpected degree of spontaneous as well as planned violence that erupted resulted in the gruesome killing of an estimated 1,500 people, large-scale destruction of property and the displacement of some 350,000 people. It became evident that what had hitherto been widely perceived as relative stability in Kenya was not the true social reality.

On the invitation of the government, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions undertook a fact-finding mission during February 2009. His preliminary report presented damning evidence that organised killings by members of the Kenyan police forces were endemic to the country’s coercive climate.

Kenya’s protracted search for a political compromise, resulting in a government of national unity, could well be a prelude to new kinds of ‘soft’ coup attempts by ousted or illegitimate leaders, who instead of vacating office refuse to abandon power and negotiate continued rule. The book presents a clear view: according to its author, the elections were rigged in favour of President Mwai Kibaki. His hastily arranged swearing-in for a new term was tantamount to theft of office from the contender Raila Odinga.

The author will present his case for further debate on Monday, 9th March 2009, from 17.00 to 19.00 hrs, at the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation. Beyond a critical analysis of events since late 2007, the presentation and discussion will explore the effects of these and prospects for future political change in Kenya. Copies of the book will be available.

Brief biography of the author

Mr. Okoth Osewe is a 43-year-old Kenyan author who fled to exile in Sweden in 1992 following political persecution and torture under the former dictatorship of President Daniel arap Moi. He is trained in veterinary sciences, has studied information technology at various Swedish institutions and worked as a journalist both in Kenya and Sweden. As a political reporter he sat on the editorial board of a Swedish political weekly. At the time of writing this book, Mr. Osewe was pursuing political science studies at Stockholm University.

Mr. Osewe is a political activist. He executed core functions in various Kenyan political and human rights organisations in Sweden. He has also been active in several Swedish groups involved in the struggle against racism and for refugee and immigrant rights.

Mr. Osewe has been the founder and editor-in-chief of three Kenyan publications and one African newsletter in Sweden: Harakati, KUWA Bulletin, Mapambano newsletter and African Viewpoint published by the Africa Research and Information Bureau In Sweden (ARIBIS). He is also a webmaster and maintains several websites including www.mapambano.com and www.kenyastockholm.com, his official blog.  

Poster