The Republic of Winam

01/20/2007
GRANTS ARCHIVES AGAJA KUYO BARUPE WECHE DONGRUOK MBAKA NONRO JEXJALUO NGECHE LUO GI GWENG' THUM TEDO LUO KITGI GI TIMBEGI SIGENDNI LUO THUOND WECHE ;	The Republic of Winam In the early 1990's Prof. Mazrui introduced a very intriguing oxy-moron idea he called "benevolent colonialism", in regards to Somalia. He argued that it should be re-colonized so as to deal with the chaos. As anyone can imagine that was the rage in academia, it was discussed, condemned, praised and so on. It made for thrilling discussions in conferences, but at the end of the day - it was just that, great academic topic. The discussion about Luo secession strikes me precisely in the same vein. It makes for great theoretical discussions, especially for those of us in the Diaspora and "kapango" - but at the end of the day there are still bread and shelter issues villagers have to face. Many of my questions have been raised in the other postings. Still, the idea of secession is not new in Kenya - Somalis tried it in the 1960s shifta war and were crushed by the Kenya army with the help of outside interests. What makes us think that the Kenyan government will stand by idly? And when the forces are sent who pays the price? Not us in the diaspora or Nairobi, it is the villagers. This idea is stillborn - dead on arrival. It may add to political discussion but not to ideas that would lead to development - it is regressive. ..and yes I do favor a majimbo system as laid out in the Boma's draft, with redrawn boundaries that do not necessarily follow the colonial ethnic provincial lines. Other than Kikuyus, no other ethnic group fought as hard at all levels for the independence of Kenya as Luos, so when the going gets tough it is not time to bail out. As to whether we have suffered the most in Kenya as group, I think it is splitting hair about suffering. Has anyone of the secessionist ideologues ever visited Turkana? Or Samburu? or the Digo? Or Okiek and seen the poverty? At some point we will have to get over our xenophobia and see the whole picture; there are 3 tribes in Kenya the filthy rich [thieves], the rich [mostly related to the thieves], and the poor [exploited by the rich]. Let us reconfigure our minds and thinking. The voices we might be hearing could be in our heads, and not others out to get us. Ochieng', Jaseme Kadipir K'Opudo ===================================================== Joluo.com Ka in gi mari moro ma di wandik ka to orni Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com Daher winjo dwondi in bende, iwinjo?	IDWARO TICH? INJILI GOSPEL GALAMORO : Riwruok mar JOLUO e Piny Ngima, orwaku uduto mondo ubed e kanyakla mar burani. Ornwa nyingi gi nondi kaka obedo. Riwruok e teko joka Nyanam. WENDO MIWA PARO OD PAKRUOK

The Republic of Winam

In the early 1990's Prof. Mazrui introduced a very intriguing oxy-moron idea he called "benevolent colonialism", in regards to Somalia. He argued that it should be re-colonized so as to deal with the chaos. As anyone can imagine that was the rage in academia, it was discussed, condemned, praised and so on. It made for thrilling discussions in conferences, but at the end of the day - it was just that, great academic topic.

The discussion about Luo secession strikes me precisely in the same vein. It makes for great theoretical discussions, especially for those of us in the Diaspora and "kapango" - but at the end of the day there are still bread and shelter issues villagers have to face. Many of my questions have been raised in the other postings. Still, the idea of secession is not new in Kenya - Somalis tried it in the 1960s shifta war and were crushed by the Kenya army with the help of outside interests. What makes us think that the Kenyan government will stand by idly?

And when the forces are sent who pays the price? Not us in the diaspora or Nairobi, it is the villagers. This idea is stillborn - dead on arrival. It may add to political discussion but not to ideas that would lead to development - it is regressive.

..and yes I do favor a majimbo system as laid out in the Boma's draft, with redrawn boundaries that do not necessarily follow the colonial ethnic provincial lines. Other than Kikuyus, no other ethnic group fought as hard at all levels for the independence of Kenya as Luos, so when the going gets tough it is not time to bail out.

As to whether we have suffered the most in Kenya as group, I think it is splitting hair about suffering. Has anyone of the secessionist ideologues ever visited Turkana? Or Samburu? or the Digo? Or Okiek and seen the poverty? At some point we will have to get over our xenophobia and see the whole picture; there are 3 tribes in Kenya the filthy rich [thieves], the rich [mostly related to the thieves], and the poor [exploited by the rich].

Let us reconfigure our minds and thinking. The voices we might be hearing could be in our heads, and not others out to get us.

Ochieng', Jaseme Kadipir K'Opudo