There’s a story that led to rancor, forcing the Star to unpublish. The headline, which now permanently remains on the internet, provides the gist of the story: that President Uhuru’s possible quest to lengthen his reign is being propped up by Kenya’s military and, surprisingly, the Luo nation!
The military can speak for themselves. I want to speak for the Luo Nation, as a Luo.
When President Uhuru shook hands with Raila Odinga, he also shook hands with the entirety of the Luo Nation.
It is worth repeating here that on matters politics, Raila Odinga, for the foreseeable future, remains the sole and legitimate representative of the Luo Nation at the national stage.
I do not here mean that the Luo Nation agrees entirely with the political tactics of Mr. Odinga but we are now acutely aware, more than any time in history, that navigating the murky world of Kenya’s politics with a realistic chance of forming any future government of Kenya depends on the Luo’s collective determination to never again carry the yoke of holding Kenya accountable.
The Luo do not seek to impose their will on anyone. If other Kenyan communities are not ready to suffer the consequences of holding Kenya accountable, the Luo of this generation are now very willing to join the rest of Kenya in that collective amnesia.
We reject the inheritance of another generation of Luos, who, chasing the utopia of a “better Kenya”, bequeathed us the role of fighting to achieve it. The cost of that war are the years of economic and social stagnation of the Luo community. We are worse off, materially, for holding forte for the other ingrates.
When we revisit history and ask ourselves to account for Jaramogi’s banishment, for example, we realize that we did not have to stand up to people whose land rights were less important to them than we made them.
There is no reason we became the eternal champions of ‘human rights’, including the rights of those who would exterminate us if only they had a chance at it. We had no business being the permanent rearguards for ‘good governance’, regardless of the costs to limb and life.
If other communities now realize there is a gap in the national effort to make Kenya a democratic and fair society, any of the over fifty communities can fill in.
Which brings me to the accusations being leveled on the Luo. Are Luos enabling Uhuru?
Of course yes. Luos are enabling Uhuru to run the country in a manner he promised he would do. Luos want President Uhuru to fulfill his promises and succeed in his rule.
The Luo did not vote for President Uhuru Kenyatta. In fact, the Luo collectively boycotted the election which ushered President Uhuru for a second term, an election which President Uhuru won by a landslide!
No other Kenyan leader has received an overwhelming mandate to rule Kenya than Uhuru Kenyatta. That mandate came to him regardless of the legitimate concerns of the Luo nation.
In fact, sadly, the still Luo paid a heavy price in their determination to reject Uhuru. Ahead of repeat elections, a number of Luos were killed by the police, including a six month old baby. For nothing.
Because of this, and many other usurpations committed against the Luo, it is safe to conclude the Luo have exited the streets. But the streets are still there and anyone can rule them.
If Uhuru wants to extend his term, the Luo will not be at the forefront opposing it. If that is enabling, at that moment, everyone will have enabled it.
The Luo nation has joined other Kenyans in their nice slumber. Good for them.
