Luoland-Stop blame games, Learn from your mistakes

Loise

I could not resist responding to your call. We need strong women like you and we need people who can tell the luo the naked truth. Though I may disagree with a few things you wrote you are right on the money when it comes to the gist of the story. The argument you put forward which I believe is not new to any luo with intellectual capacity is that luo nyanza is poor and is a failing district because the luos that God has blessed with anything do not care about their brothers they left behind. All they care about is the politics of the luo land which infact has not become any politics but a verbal fight. I have not seen any politics which is successful without some kind of action.

Get me right, the action I am talking about here is not at all associated with militant action but power developed through economics. There is no power like that of unity and money in this current world we live in. However, the luo people still think that there is power in making noise and antagonism. Luos everywhere in the planet drag the politics into every development oriented idea. The following are the things that has hurt our progress:

1. The politics of regionalisation of luoland itself. The luo land is currently divided in our minds in terms of clans and non known boundary regions. There is the Siaya, the South Nyanza, the Kisumu issues. Every thing a luo starts is clanolized to the core. Even in the diaspora the luos have disintegrated themselves to the level of clans like Nyakach, Kano, Alego, Gwasi. Just think about it. How many Nyakach people can you bring together to do anything for luoland in the diaspora. This is an impediment to our own development because as soon as something is started these groups shoot up their ugly face. I am yet to see such small scale organizations from the kikuyus from the diaspora. For a kikuyu, if the idea is good and the infrastructure is organised they move on and take advantage of it. No public antagonism.

God I hate to talk about the kikuyus when I am analysing this because they are not at all the yardstick we should use for our own development. We should be beyond this and better than this. However, I am doing this because unconsciously we have thought that they did better because they have been unfairly supported by the government. We may have to use Israel as our example. Why cant we just come together as a people and stop blaming other people for some things that we should blame ourselves for.

It is amazing, the same way we talk of a luo nation is basically how we talk about our isolation of our clan or division localities or groupings

2. The politics of whether you are pro or anti Odinga. Yes I know people are going to say that I pull Odinga's family into everything. However, I believe he is also tired of this phenomenon where everyone wants to know what he is thinking about an organization before they do anything. Whether you like it or not the truth is that Macharia is not alone in the company he runs. No one person can do all that he does. There are the powerful and mighty behind what Macharia is doing. They did not say that "Macharia you have a good idea and we would like to support this idea and develop your people but let me ask Kibaki what he thinks first".

What I am saying is that lets divorce nyanza politics from development activities. Lets treat a business as a business and politics as politics. Otherwise everything we could be owning as luos is up for grabs because very few luos have the money to revive Miwani sugar factory. If anyone of you does please stop politicking and do it. I wont care where you belong in politics I will support you with all my strength.

3. Being selfish. The luo believe in self determination and we have been successful in that. But trust me very few people become stinking rich by standing alone. Even rich people must bring in others to support them in one way or another. Osca Delahoya, Hopkins, Mosley, Berera are big names in American boxing. They are millionaires in their own right. But these people formed a company called golden boy promotions. Why do they need to come together yet they are already rich. Because there is more power in more money and unity such that the opportunitists like Don King do not take advantage of them. Imagine if one rich luo says that here a down payment on an account for $5000,000, let us come together and start a company. Bring anything you have to start a business or company that would build industries in luo land. Until the luo know that there is strength in economic unity, the luo land will become poorer and poorer and we will continue to blame the government

An example ladies and gentlemen. There is a man called Calvin Burges in Oklahoma, USA. I have never met him but he has a good idea for Nyanza. His idea is lets make Nyanza self sufficient in food. Lets reclaim all the wet lands and plant rice, sugar and maize in them. We will provide food, employment, education and health to Nyanza people because we can sell the food to other regions. At first I thought this guy was an opportunist that wanted to use luoland and leave it high and dry. But when he extended an arm to the people from Nyanza in the diaspora and used his own money to organize a conference so that the luos who do not know each other in the diaspora can come together and raise money to develop luoland, I said this it. This is what we have to hang on. This is what we have been waiting for. At least a start. Just something that can bring the few selfless luos to the table. You would think that the luos in the diaspora will embrace this. But no. No! no! no! no! no! hell no. The same politics. Questions start shooting up form everywhere. How much is Calvin getting from Yala swamp? How much did he buy the land for? Who has Calvin chosen to lead this luo forum? Which part of Nyanza is he from? Is odinga in it? This how stupid it gets ladies and gentlemen. At the end very few people attend and we just bit the hand that is trying to feed us. This is how we make ourselves poorer and poorer. The guy has called people for dialogue. He probably doesn’t need us anyway but just want to help. And besides he is providing us with a forum to organize. Why not capitalize on it. Think about it if Calvin invited the Kikuyus. As a matter of fact the kikuyus have invited themselves for a diaspora investment agenda and they are moving on. Who bewitched us? Please note that this is just an example. Everyone is entitled to what they think.

As for me if I find out there is the luo development component in it then I will support it wholesomely. Besides how come we have not raised these questions with the Indians and the rest who are raping our land, running away with farmers money and perpetuating corruption. I did not mean to get this far but the luo issue hurts. Imagine how many luo professors and MDs are in the diaspora. Ladies and gentlemen I have been to over ten cities in the united states. In every city I have met prominent luos. Their earnings are well above an average American earning. Let me tell you that there are countable luos in America that have an average income of over $150,000 ( about Ksh 100, 000, 000) a year but ask them to spend $200 to join other luos in development or contribute the same for a development project? The answer will be met with questions like whose pocket is this money going into. Yes if someone is dead they will give that $200 gladly or if a famous politician needs a contribution they will give even more without asking where the money will go to. Infact they will buy you a drink or food worth that money.

How about this ladies and gentlemen, let the luos come together, start an insurance company that just takes care of transporting dead people back home. Instead of contributing $200 when someone is dead let contribute $20 into it per month. This is not just a business endeavor that could eventually project into something big but will solve some of our problems. On that note I must tell you that this is exactly what KENYA DEVELOPMENT FUND CORPORATION (KDFC) IS INTENDING TO DO.

Come to Oklahoma and listen to KDFC plan. It might be just the plan that will develop luo land. We have an infrastructure we can hide in for the time being. Lets do it. Stop unnecessary politics.

Lois Nyar Ahero. Mos adhi mabor lakini iparo na mang'eny. Ti a tia matek nyasaye biro konyowa. Dhi adhia mbele gi wacho machando chunyi. Yawuoyigi samoro dipo kowinjo wachni. Behind every successful man there is an aggressive woman.

Barack Abonyo