03/31/2007
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Re: [Jambo] Kenyan Delegation Visit Mr. Calvin Burgess in Oklahoma
The Kenyan delegation that paid homage to the Dominion Farms proprietor Calvin
Burgess is yet another example of Africans who fail to see opportunities
under their noses and instead run to seek services of the white man to exploit
the same. It shocked me that the delegation was composed of two PhD holders
-Dr. Omburo and Dr. Ojwang’- among other brilliant minds that include Odak,
Suzie Nyandoto and Erastus Ogilla.
In total we there were 30 very bright Kenyans who are doing relatively well
both economically and in their careers. Among the points they raised with
Mr. Burgess are:
- The only resources that Nyanza has are water and land. (What about our skilled manpower?)
-
Stake holders in development projects are not natives of Nyanza. (Did you
just forget that Burgess is not a native of
- Lack of adequate housing facilities was to blame for poor academics in the region
I think Mr. Burgess looked at them and wondered what planet they had just
landed from. But these are men and women educated and living in this great
capitalist country we call the
USA
Ridiculous were their grievances this to businessman but their requests were
even more preposterous. The delegation wants:
- Dominion farms to help set up and fund a Teachers Housing Scheme for Luo Nyanza teachers.
- Dominion to help local farmers secure farms and funding for machines
- Dominion to expand cotton farming in Nyanza
There resolution was that they (as Kenyans in the Diaspora):
- Will set up a legal framework to help farmers in Nyanza
- will ensure competitive prices for produce from farms
It is absurd to expect Mr. Burgess -a business man- to help you become better
businessmen and end up competing for the same market. Asking him to help
other farmers access to capital and machinery to help them improve their
yield is like asking him to sharpen a spear and give it to his enemy. It
has never worked in the past and it will never work.
Dominion is not a charitable organization. Their core business goal is not
to provide teachers with housing but to agricultural production. Burgess
may spend a few dollars for a PR project but he will not pump his billions
into providing housing for teachers. Lack of housing for teachers is an opportunity
for the 30 Kenyans to make money. If teachers don’t have houses, build them
and rent them out. After all, teachers earn a salary and teachers elsewhere
live in rental houses. If there is a buck to be made, make it! That is the
kind of sharpness that has built this great country we call the
USA
Our 30 Kenyan brothers and sister should not have requested Dominion to expand
cotton farming. Instead, they should set up their own firm and exploit the
fertile lands of Nyanza. Why the inferiority complex when we have PhDs, MBAs
etc? Why should we kneel down before Burgess as if we don’t have brains to
exploit the opportunities that are available? Any Kenyan living in the
USA USA Kenya
I see this more as a PR gimmick set up by Burgess’s PR aide Rev. Okoth Otura
of Canada
These leaders helped Dominion secure over 2,300 acres of land
for 25 years by paying only sh. 3.7 million (about $46,000)
to the local council. $46,000 sounds like peanuts to me. Some of my brothers
were (and are still) blinded by their support for Raila as our people are
exploited. When we stand up, we are told to be anti-development. When Dominion
makes money, it doesn’t share it with my old mother. All the money goes to
Burguss and a few crumbs are thrown to people like Otura and Nyagudi.
People like Raila will sell our people without flinching. Raila was behind
the South African company named Redicon that wanted to take over
Lake Victoria . It took a lot of noise and support from the government
for Raila to drop the idea. Later he claimed to have no knowledge of the
company.
The Odingas have exploited us for a long time and there comes a time when
say no more. They impose their cronies and relatives as MPs and block any
dissenting voices. They have buried our young men into poverty buy buying
them achwaka then misusing them for political expedience. I can’t believe
that people like Elisha Obongo and Lilian Obura are part of the homeguard
team that is being used to further Burguess’s interests in Yala Swamps. Time
will vindicate those of us warning about the exploitation without proportionate
compensation by Dominion.
Jackton Omuga
Joluo.com
Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com
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