Post by Ed on Nov 3, 2005 19:45:05 GMT 3
Children of lesser god? Not Luos
By Miguna Miguna
NO one should be permitted to quibble or equivocate about the status of Luos in Kenya. Luos, just like any other Kenyan community have the right to exist, to belong to any political groupings of their choice, to state their opinions publicly and fearlessly, and yes, even to openly peacefully demonstrate or protest against the government of the day. They have the right to do this without constantly being brutalized and murdered by a government that they are paying to protect them. Luos owe nobody any apology for their existence or for holding any particular opinion. Not the president Not Kombo. And certainly not Githae, Kiraitu, Kimunya, Karume, Karua or Nyachae.
This should be self-evident and fairly simple in a society where there is respect for life and the rule of law. Apparently not so in Kenya.
The previous governments repeatedly brutalized, dehumanized and oppressed members of the Luo community; mostly for simply demanding their rights to state a different political opinion; to organize and assemble; and even to want to participate in electoral politics.
Despite being one of the key architects of the independence struggle that culminated into the election of Jomo Kenyatta as the first president of Kenya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was always treated with suspicion and resentment by the Kiambu mafia, that surrounded, then suffocated the Kenyatta regime, excluding the most popular members of the Luo community from the corridors of power.
Thus, when Jaramogi disagreed with Kenyatta on ideology, political direction and policies, he was firstly hounded out of office and the government he had helped bring to power, then detained without trial. Jaramogi's subsequent attempts to exercise his constitutional rights were suppressed and extinguished, first by Kenyatta, and later by Moi.
When TJ Mboya, another Luo political giant, was perceived by the Kenyatta regime as too ambitious, brilliant and a potential competitor for State House, his life was cut short by an assassin's bullets. They did not even wait to see whether or not their suspicions were right or wrong before killing him. And as usual, Kenyans have not been told about why he had to die.
Later, the articulate and illustrious Dr. Robert Ouko met the same fate. We are still waiting for the results of the Parliamentary Inquiry into the circumstances leading to his death. His killers are still free and boastful. Then came this regime. Kenyans, including Luos, had great hopes and expectations this time. Once more, a formidable political operator and a courageous Kenyan; one well known for his bold exploits and strategic vision, another Luo, almost single-handedly bestowed power on another Kikuyu. Hate him or love him, it was Raila Amolo Odinga, who was instrumental in the NARC victory in December 2002. It was definitely not Simon Nyachae, Njenga Karume, Musikari Kombo, Lucy Kibaki, Kiraitu Murungi, John Michuki or Amos Kimunya. This government had barely been in power for one year when Dr.Crispin Odhiambo Mbai, was assassinated. And just like with the other political murders, no one has been arrested, charged or convicted of this crime. Of all the case cited above, the one striking similarity
among them is that the innocent victims of this systemic violence have been both prominent and ordinary Luos who have been perceived as threatening to the establishment. Like ants, their lives were deemed disposable by those in power.
Jaramogi's attempts to form the Kenya People's Union (KPU) and the Kenya Socialist Congress (KSC) were frustrated, first by Kenyatta and then later by Moi. These democratic attempts were completely smashed by the powers that be, because, again, as a Luo, there was a strong belief that Jaramogi should not be allowed to ascend to the pinnacle of power in Kenya. When Jaramogi eventually managed to organize a successful campaign against one party dictatorship, culminating in the repeal of Section 2A, the formation of the FORD in his political twilight, he was undermined, frustrated and sabotaged. Again, a Luo was never allowed to assume the most prestigious office in the land. Other Kenyans have suffered the indiscriminate battering of GSU but Luos have clearly had a more than fair share of the brunt of the repressive instruments of power - truncheons, bayonets, live bullets and torture chambers. Luos have been physically and economically suffocated under successive post-independence Kenyan regimes.
Press reports have recently quoted the Assistant Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Robinson Githae, as saying, while addressing a Banana rally in Central Province, that " they ...perhaps making reference to Luos... are like red ants that are not worth talking about or associating with."
No one in this government has had the common sense to condemn this hate propaganda. Githae has neither been publicly admonished nor suspended.
I was therefore baffled to read a report about Lucy Kibaki, saying that "Raila is like his father who gave Kenyatta a hard time until he was detained as a punishment" [sic]. She then publicly accused Raila of funding the "violence in Kisumu;" "ferrying youths from Nairobi to cause chaos in Kisumu;" and for being "an enemy of Kibaki's government."
Apart from that lame jab at a dead Kenyan hero, Lucy Kibaki made very serious allegations against Raila that the Kenyan police should promptly investigate, and if found to be credible, then charges should be laid. However, should these statements be found to have been made mischievously in order to score political points, then we should demand that the president's wife be charged accordingly and tried. This time, we hope that the high and the mighty will not enter a nolle prosequi, like they did the last time Lucy openly broke the law.
These are the kinds of talk that can lead to genocide. They should never be tolerated. Section 5(2) (a) to (c) of the current Kenyan Constitution allow any Kenyan who has reached the age of 35 and is registered in some constituency as a voter in elections to the National Assembly to stand for and be elected president of the Republic of Kenya. Raila is a Kenyan citizen who has attained the age of 35. He has a right to think, dream and imagine that he can be the president of Kenya. He also has the right to organize and popularize himself in readiness for such a contest.
The nonsensical talk emanating from some mighty corridors of power that a Luo cannot be elected the president of Kenya is balderdash. Luos are tax paying citizens of this country. They are entitled to all rights and privileges accorded Kenyan citizens. Luos are not children of a lesser god and are not second class citizens.
- The writer is a Barrister & Solicitor in Toronto, Canada
By Miguna Miguna
NO one should be permitted to quibble or equivocate about the status of Luos in Kenya. Luos, just like any other Kenyan community have the right to exist, to belong to any political groupings of their choice, to state their opinions publicly and fearlessly, and yes, even to openly peacefully demonstrate or protest against the government of the day. They have the right to do this without constantly being brutalized and murdered by a government that they are paying to protect them. Luos owe nobody any apology for their existence or for holding any particular opinion. Not the president Not Kombo. And certainly not Githae, Kiraitu, Kimunya, Karume, Karua or Nyachae.
This should be self-evident and fairly simple in a society where there is respect for life and the rule of law. Apparently not so in Kenya.
The previous governments repeatedly brutalized, dehumanized and oppressed members of the Luo community; mostly for simply demanding their rights to state a different political opinion; to organize and assemble; and even to want to participate in electoral politics.
Despite being one of the key architects of the independence struggle that culminated into the election of Jomo Kenyatta as the first president of Kenya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was always treated with suspicion and resentment by the Kiambu mafia, that surrounded, then suffocated the Kenyatta regime, excluding the most popular members of the Luo community from the corridors of power.
Thus, when Jaramogi disagreed with Kenyatta on ideology, political direction and policies, he was firstly hounded out of office and the government he had helped bring to power, then detained without trial. Jaramogi's subsequent attempts to exercise his constitutional rights were suppressed and extinguished, first by Kenyatta, and later by Moi.
When TJ Mboya, another Luo political giant, was perceived by the Kenyatta regime as too ambitious, brilliant and a potential competitor for State House, his life was cut short by an assassin's bullets. They did not even wait to see whether or not their suspicions were right or wrong before killing him. And as usual, Kenyans have not been told about why he had to die.
Later, the articulate and illustrious Dr. Robert Ouko met the same fate. We are still waiting for the results of the Parliamentary Inquiry into the circumstances leading to his death. His killers are still free and boastful. Then came this regime. Kenyans, including Luos, had great hopes and expectations this time. Once more, a formidable political operator and a courageous Kenyan; one well known for his bold exploits and strategic vision, another Luo, almost single-handedly bestowed power on another Kikuyu. Hate him or love him, it was Raila Amolo Odinga, who was instrumental in the NARC victory in December 2002. It was definitely not Simon Nyachae, Njenga Karume, Musikari Kombo, Lucy Kibaki, Kiraitu Murungi, John Michuki or Amos Kimunya. This government had barely been in power for one year when Dr.Crispin Odhiambo Mbai, was assassinated. And just like with the other political murders, no one has been arrested, charged or convicted of this crime. Of all the case cited above, the one striking similarity
among them is that the innocent victims of this systemic violence have been both prominent and ordinary Luos who have been perceived as threatening to the establishment. Like ants, their lives were deemed disposable by those in power.
Jaramogi's attempts to form the Kenya People's Union (KPU) and the Kenya Socialist Congress (KSC) were frustrated, first by Kenyatta and then later by Moi. These democratic attempts were completely smashed by the powers that be, because, again, as a Luo, there was a strong belief that Jaramogi should not be allowed to ascend to the pinnacle of power in Kenya. When Jaramogi eventually managed to organize a successful campaign against one party dictatorship, culminating in the repeal of Section 2A, the formation of the FORD in his political twilight, he was undermined, frustrated and sabotaged. Again, a Luo was never allowed to assume the most prestigious office in the land. Other Kenyans have suffered the indiscriminate battering of GSU but Luos have clearly had a more than fair share of the brunt of the repressive instruments of power - truncheons, bayonets, live bullets and torture chambers. Luos have been physically and economically suffocated under successive post-independence Kenyan regimes.
Press reports have recently quoted the Assistant Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Robinson Githae, as saying, while addressing a Banana rally in Central Province, that " they ...perhaps making reference to Luos... are like red ants that are not worth talking about or associating with."
No one in this government has had the common sense to condemn this hate propaganda. Githae has neither been publicly admonished nor suspended.
I was therefore baffled to read a report about Lucy Kibaki, saying that "Raila is like his father who gave Kenyatta a hard time until he was detained as a punishment" [sic]. She then publicly accused Raila of funding the "violence in Kisumu;" "ferrying youths from Nairobi to cause chaos in Kisumu;" and for being "an enemy of Kibaki's government."
Apart from that lame jab at a dead Kenyan hero, Lucy Kibaki made very serious allegations against Raila that the Kenyan police should promptly investigate, and if found to be credible, then charges should be laid. However, should these statements be found to have been made mischievously in order to score political points, then we should demand that the president's wife be charged accordingly and tried. This time, we hope that the high and the mighty will not enter a nolle prosequi, like they did the last time Lucy openly broke the law.
These are the kinds of talk that can lead to genocide. They should never be tolerated. Section 5(2) (a) to (c) of the current Kenyan Constitution allow any Kenyan who has reached the age of 35 and is registered in some constituency as a voter in elections to the National Assembly to stand for and be elected president of the Republic of Kenya. Raila is a Kenyan citizen who has attained the age of 35. He has a right to think, dream and imagine that he can be the president of Kenya. He also has the right to organize and popularize himself in readiness for such a contest.
The nonsensical talk emanating from some mighty corridors of power that a Luo cannot be elected the president of Kenya is balderdash. Luos are tax paying citizens of this country. They are entitled to all rights and privileges accorded Kenyan citizens. Luos are not children of a lesser god and are not second class citizens.
- The writer is a Barrister & Solicitor in Toronto, Canada