VOTING ISSUES IN LUO LAND.

Tribal and Gonya politics will not solve Luo problems! The writer is not a voter in   Kenyan politics but follows and supports the rebirth of Kenya’s multi-party political systems and Luo politics. My feeling on this is that for the first time Kenyan voters should   elect politicians and civic leaders based on economic empowerment issues. Don’t base your votes and support on tribal lines. Before you cast your vote in the election, seek out and support politicians for the national office based on the issues they stand for, regardless of tribal or party affiliations. For Luos, you may not be able to form the next government without getting non-Luo support through out the country. If Luos are not willing to support non-Luos in this coming election then how do you expect those same groups to consider voting Luos for national office? To gain non-Luo votes and support Luo leaders and their supporters must be tolerant to others who may not support their candidates not only in predominantly Luo areas but also elsewhere in the country. The price of multi-party politics requires tolerance of differing opinions and dissent among friends. Luo leaders holding or running for national and civic offices must set an example to their followers by not labeling their opponents from other tribes or parties as enemies. Party  politics and a multi-party system means that you have no permanent friends and enemies. To this, end Luos as well other tribes and parties must learn to agree on the common issues and agree to disagree on other issues without creating long-term animosity.

In  the Luo areas there are many problems that political leaders should address in this coming election: the high fatalities of HIV, poverty, the lack of reliable roadways, health and effective education services are all of the top issues that  must be addressed. Solving these problems may require help from the central government but the key to developing long lasting economic and political infrastructure in the Luo areas requires the teamwork of  politicians and their people throughout many parts of the country.

The things that Luo people can do on their own like changing their cultural life style (polygamy or re-marrying of widows on the men’s side) does not need and should not wait for legislation to be passed by the government. Devoting more time and resources in pursuing small-scale business enterprises, a sector that the Luos as a group have neglected throughout Kenyan business history, and reforming education specifically at the secondary level to teach trade skills in local education system are a must. These are the issues Luo politicians must address in due time but can also be handled by individuals in the mean time.

For economic empowerment projects, the Luos are blessed with both Lake Victoria water and good farming areas in the mainland. Both mainland and Island Luos around Lake Victoria have greater opportunities to undertake aqua culture (fish farming) and horticulture projects as a way to grow food for both consumption and commercial use.  Over-fishing and numerous draughts have caused a massive food shortage in the Luo areas. These are practical issues that politicians both holding and running for office from Luo areas must address. The practice of horticulture and aqua culture is not something that should be new or foreign to Luo people. These types of projects are widely practiced in other parts of Kenya and could be undertaken by Luos. Again, for these types of projects to move forward Luo politicians must bring these issues to the central government and the recipients of these projects at the grass roots/village level must get involved.

I know that 24/7 opposition politics are widely practiced  by many Luo and their  politicians, but does it solve the aforementioned problems in Luo areas? Luo leaders and  followers must embark on a village/community approach with small economic projects such as clean water, horticulture, aquaculture, road construction, health clinics and green energy projects. Traditionally Luo politicians and communities have done a tremendous job in raising funds to build schools. In this coming election and from now moving forward, politicians and supporters ought to be raising money to develop an economic infrastructure in the districts and their villages.


For the Luo youths and the general public voters, please don’t let yourself be used by local politicians, civic and religious leaders in exchange for your vote. It is widely known that the  price to get support from votes is predicated on gonya.  Remember ones you  have been gonya’d by politicians, you are not owed anything after that moment by that same politician after he is elected. For this reason Luo voters will be better off to  forgo these gonya tactics so that the  politicians can  be held  accountable for the issues they were elected on.

When Luo politicians are elected based on the gonya philosophy then the Luos voters should not blame their politicians for neglecting development in Luo lands. When  gonya  politicians get to Parliament they must spend their time making money to replace gonya money used to bribe the electorate to put them into office.

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Dan Orao
CEO
Great Lakes Card Service
& Financial Management
(P) 616-456-5701
(F) 616-456-5704