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What is this madness that we cannot be led by a Luo, when the community has excelled in all spheres of life, nationally and internationally? Second thread on what we miss in a Luo Presidency. LONH THREAD, FREE TO DISCARD
A Luo Presidency will release a lot of professional pride and also arrogance and principles. These are all positive values that we need to develop. Our country is poor because of being so pedestrian and having leadership that cannot inspire people to dream and achieve big.
The Luo do this because of pride and vast talents. How often do Kenyans wish our leaders have values? Yet, Jaramogi set precedent by resigning from VP position and telling Kenyatta: “I have a strong conscience which pinches me when am earning public money without a job to do.”
How often do Kenyans cry about corruption and decry the greed of leaders? When Kibaki formed his government in 2002, we got a first from Luo minister called @RaphaelTuju. He openly declared his company will never tender or do any job with his ministry. Only a Luo
That is what pride does – it uplifts the standards and liberates people from mediocrity. Suppose we have just 10 ministers like Tuju, who can stand up and say I am here to serve my country – not to steal and indulge in primitive accumulation
Look at the international comportment of the Luo. As early as 1960s, Tom Mboya had an international friendship with the Kennedys in US. He was a pioneer trade unionist and would arrange airlifts for many Kenyans to study abroad. How would a nation benefit many such leaders?
It was not a surprise that Kenya’s most famous attempt at international conquest came through association with US Presidency from Luo Lineage. Incidentally product of the Mboya airlifts and outcome of Luo extravaganza!
In this same regard, it is not by accident that one of the best academic institutions established around, like ICIPE http://www.icipe.org/and AFRICAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES would be founded by a great Luo scholar - Thomas Odhiambo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_R._Odhiambo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_R._Odhiambo
Besides ICIPE there was AFRICAN CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY STUDIES, also founded by another great Luo scholar, called Coulestus Juma who would later scale heights of academia in the US in the field of biotechnology
Still on international conquest. A Luo diplomat called Jalang’o Okumu convinced Zulu leader, Buthelezi to stop the quest for Zulu nation secession and take part in South Africa’s democratic elections in 1994. Other international mediators had failed – BUT DO WE SAY!
Everywhere you look in our country, there is a first associated with the Luo. Grace Ogot the first female Member of Parliament in post-independence Kenya and was the first Anglophone female Kenyan writer to be published. Hubby Bethuel Ogot: great historian n world-renowned author
Every profession has a Luo giant. Journalism I guess among the best in Kenya today remains Philip Ochieng and more recently Joseph Odindo, who was the founding editor of NMG owned The EastAfrican
Talk of writers and media, see Kenyan faces from the Luo gracing international stage. The first Kenyan and Mexican actress to win an Academy Award is called @Lupita_Nyongo, also 2014 “most beautiful woman nominee by People. Author of a number-one New York Times Best-Seller
And now we another smart Luo boy called @LarryMadowo now North America Correspondent for the BBC who was at the heart of world news recently updating on Trump succession from the heart of US. And now I hear there is a Fiona Akoth - First Kenyan female pilot in US air force
The international streak is not just inspired by the need to go out. But also in standards and aspirations. The need to excel to international standards. Only the Luo who would call their main town UK – United Kisumu. Signifying their ambition to model the beautiful city after UK
With all these vast credentials whats this madness that we cant be led by the Luo? I have many friends this: When did you ever turn down a medical appointment bcos the medic was Luo. When did you withdraw a kid from school because the teacher was a Luo?
Talking of school, a friend recently recounted their Luo HM in Kanunga High school, Mr Ogada. Many years into retirement, he still remembers the 3 names of each student plus their admission numbers. Obviously demonstrates the emotions and intellect he had invested in his work
This pride of work and service is quite legendary among the Luo at whatever work they handle including manual work. Panel beating, carpentry, this is a community of excellence and pride in work. Let women tell us their experience with Luo men beauticians, I am jealous.
I once operated a car wash in Nakuru. Whole town was dependent on one sharp Luo technician for the repair of generators, lawnmowers and car wash machines. When other fundis tried and failed, their mantra was. “Labda tuite George.”
George’s passion and understanding of the internal mechanics of machines was superb. Very admirable. Outside politics, we all admire such people. We wish to find such people in government offices, in hospitals, in county governments. That is people who KNOW AND LOVE THEIR WORK
But we have a case we are all happy when we are beneficiaries of Luo talents and passion, but we begrudge the same when it is convenient. This whole idea of Luo cannot lead us stems from this INSECURITY DUE TO OUR INADEQUACY
Yesterday blogger Seth Godin talked on the difference between EGO AND EGOMANIA.
“People talk about ego like it’s a bad thing. But our desire to do a good job, our self-trust, our willingness to dance with fear” that is what is EGO which he notes is a good thing to be harnessed
“People talk about ego like it’s a bad thing. But our desire to do a good job, our self-trust, our willingness to dance with fear” that is what is EGO which he notes is a good thing to be harnessed
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