Re: Re: Fighting for the luo cause

Okumu,

Your analysis of the past and present entreneurial enterprises in Luo Nyanza, debunks the current myth in the minds of kenyans that Luos cannot do meaningful and profitable business(whtever that means). With due respect to Barack's assertion; he might have been carried away or just did not take time to do his homework well, before putting his ideas to print.

Indeed,the examples you have given take us down memory lane to the days of Luo thrift & Trading company, a brain child of one Jaramogi. In, NOT YET UHURU, Oginga Odinga narrates an attempt at economic emancipation of the Luos. He argues in his autobiography that politics was originally far from his mind when he began this epic journey.

In an anecdote of when he first met Jomo, he narrates the episode when Achieng took the former to meet him. When they reach Kisumu or Maseno,'Hayati' stayed behind in the car. Apparently, he did not see how a businessman could be convinced to abandon his trade for politics. This chance scenario marks a dodgy relationship that would decide the destiny of a 'nation'.

So, it is a fact that Luoland, if you like, lacks no human resources of any kind, just as it abounds with natural resources. We are, self-sufficient, as has been suggested by commentators in this column.

The question is whether secession is the best option to take. Kenya's political history is replete with attempts to malign the Luos, to play down their contribution to our common good. Paradoxically, certain cultural practices, which other tribes use to promote their suitability for the country's leadership have never been used for, say, recruitment to various vacancies where skills and/ experience are required. Indeed, if competence and success in various sectors of our society are taken into account, one would see a community that offers the best in terms of leadership skills.

With this in mind one cannot help feeling insulted and betrayed as a Kenyan. However,I urge caution, and feel that there is need to hold our horses, and give unitary leadership a last go.

If the odds turn against us, then we could put in place a diplomatic case for secession citing violation of rights of citizenship, abuse and betrayal. If this fails, we could have a just cause for a much more pro-active option.

Daniel Onyango