Let's not forget history!!

Four decades after John the Bull surrendered power to the people of Kenya, the Luo and Luoland have not seen the sun rising; four decades after the Kisumu massacre (Russia Hospital), 15 years after multi-party breakthrough, the death of Argwings Kodhek, John Robert Ouko, Odhiambo Mbai, Ochuka just to mention but a few, the geographical, socio-eco-landscape of our great land, shopping centers, towns and city remain the same. The question is: Will the sun ever rise again in the Land of Luanda Magere, Baba. Melkio Messia alias Ondetto, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Thomas Joseph Mboya etc?

In my lifetime as a member of the Luo community, I have learnt over the years not to weep about yesterday because what happened yesterday was meant to teach us how to avoid it today.

I really don't know how these important past happenings never taught us any lesson in how to confront the present day Kenya? These were serious thought provoking episodes that must have transformed us be strategic and move forward without ever forgetting our history?. Why do we forget history so easily? We have given all to the country as Teachers, Bureaucrats, Public Administrators, philosophers, engineers, Artists, Lawyers, Doctors, Debaters, Activists, Sociologists, Writers etc. What have we gained out of all these contributions??

To some extent we have managed to progress at an individual level but NOT Jo' K'Onyango, kata Jo K'Okello loka cha. When you jet home and ask about how the village is doing, your younger brother who is also a school teacher at a local school updates you about the village;
Wuod Okello maduong nyocha okalo klass 12 maber ndi, to fees otame mar dhi e univasti. Ooohh, eeehh, sani omadho mana chang'aa e gweng ka!!!
Ji be sani tho e dala ka marach ahinya (kabisa).
Donge ing'eyo chi Onyango maduong cha?
Eeehh, donge Onyango ma ne wasomo godo cha?
eeeehh, chiege iyiko kiny!!!etc.
We have surrendered early enough and treat all these as predestined. After a few days in the village , you bid bye to your people. When you reach I&M tower, Heathrow, Frankfurt etc you’ve already forgotten everything.

What we seem to forget is that, when poverty statistics are read-out, they don't say K'Otieno's poverty index is higher than K'Oduor's. They just write NYANZA (Luo Nyanza).

Today, we are reaping the consequences of not being steadfast enough in helping ourselves. But shall we sit back and watch our children and mond liete go through this pain? That is where I disagree. We have to stand and correct the wrongs of yesterday now, so that our children shall see the sun rise very bright tomorrow. It is through this that I use this fora to put pen on paper, expressing my personal view as William Oduor and only way forward for the LUO. I call on you, to join the debate and reason with me because it is not a fiction but a reality. Yesterday, I did watch Raila Odinga's application to become Kenya's president with great attention. Honestly, I see a man determined and committed to bringing change to the people of Kenya. For us to be compliant with this reality, we have to adjust ourselves and be relevant in this arrangement. We can do things better not by thinking of state jobs but by organizing ourselves to use good political atmosphere to reach out for real time investment. Let’s join together and stop surviving; we need ideas capable of transforming Luoland into a land of healthy and settled people. A land of healthy looking children, empowered women and wise men. A land where old men and women are active, and can be relied upon for strategic advice. Our city and towns paved with marble concrete and avenues lushes with spring greens and beautiful glowing flowers.

The mobilization and sensitization of Joluo especially those outside Kenya is real and a genuine process. The objective of this movement is to bring investment to Luoland, create jobs and raise the living standards of ourselves at the village level. We want to brand and market Luoland as a premier investment location in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Let us not allow this great idea to be a passing cloud. The existing opportunity must be seized at all costs. I therefore invite you to join us in Amsterdam-the Netherlands for the Diaspora meeting 7-8 July 2007. Those who are yet to sign up can do the same NOW.

William Oduor tel. 004528592787 (williamodr aT yaHoo DOt co dOt uk You can also ''skype me'' on skype, my skype name is william4493)

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"I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they'll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action."
- - MALCOM X