From: Samo Kiwa
Leadership is a privileged position to not only serve the people by among other things as a role model showing the people how to do positive things. That is the reason despite the fact that all of us have weaknesses, we remain very critical on those who hold leadership positions, we watch every step a leader makes and hear every word a leader speaks and note every misstep they make.
This may look unfair to leaders and hypocritical of those who hold leaders to account. However it is very fair to the followers who depend on the leadership of the leaders. Leaders should be respected for the sacrifice they make to serve but that does not make them more important than the followers. The followers are actually more important than the leader and what is fair to them has more weight than what is fair to the leader.
It is for this reason that when some of us see our leaders make one misstep after another, we climb hilltops to make noise.
Today I am climbing the hilltop of jaluo.com to say that the MP of Gwassi’s behavior has been wanting, remains wanting and he has to change if he is to be taken seriously.
An MP worth his salt is not expected, should not beat, physically batter constituents even if they heckle him. Even if they are hired or even supporters of his sworn enemy he has no right to resort to unlawful and barbaric behaviour. It would be another matter if he was under attack and acted in self defense of which we would ask what his body guards were doing.
When he boxes and kicks people he calls drunkards that is not self defense.
In the strongest terms possible we are saying to Mbadi John to DESIST FROM BARBARISM and those he thinks are opposed to him will work with him. He is a young man and has a long way to go and should treat people he think are simpletons with care. AN MP is a REPRESENTATIVE of the people whether they voted for him or not. He should always be thinking of how best to represent them but not how best to alienate and exclude his perceived non supporters.
Samo, we are with you on the hilltop. The people of Gwassi must be liberated from the yoke of poor leadership. God has given us all the oportunities to determine our destiny. It is in our own hndas and we do not want spoilers like Mbadi whom we voted for to let the opportunities be swept away by the winds. If thre was a recall clause in the current constitution, I would have initiated it.
It is time Nyanza electorate wisened up and chose people who offer good leadership to the people, not people who have reputation for gang violence and hooliganism. If an MP and his bodyguards behave like hooligans what do they expect the youth to do.
You guys should tell your MP to reign on his behaviors and ill manners.
There is no were on earth one has a ticket to deprive somebody off his right just because he is an electorate, as long as we respect the electorate they should also respect their leaders.secondly let us be ready to accept defeate sincer this is the core problem with the image here.
SHAMEFUL ACT BY HON MBADI.
I have been reading this act by the Hon; Mbadi of Gwasi.I can only see the blame heaped on the Member Of Parliament but nobody tells as to why such kind of attrocity happened.At times,many people fail to use their common sense of which they end up being disciplined.
Hon Mbadi, could have known better how to handle the situation.There are cases when you dont need any assistance to deal with political goons or idiots. There are cases when a youth winger can spend the whole day drinking Changa and talking very ill about his Member of Parliament.At times he can even bragg that he will tell the Member of Parliament in his face. May be this the case with this situation in Gwasi.
My last question to the public which the late misician Okatch Biggy also asked was as to WHY THE LATE ADUERA AS AN ADULT COULD BE CANED AS AKID BY THE AUTHORITIES DURING THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE OGINGA ODINGA.
Thanks
Odhiambo Omolo Jarongo-Kodero bara
Nagilo, are you telling the world the youth denied your MP his rights to serve the people of Gwassi? Or are you saying those who contested for Gwassi parliamentary seats are denying Mbadi his rights? Tell us who is denying him his rights and what rights he has been deprived of. The said youth have complianed and you can only help by explaining the other side of the story. What is it, made a whole MP go physical with youth, hecklers or idlers – whatever you want to call them?
When you hear an MP of crying wolf that some people are not leting him work, be sure has has no agenda for his work. I would listen if he complains that the Speaker of the National Assembly, A Government Minster, Provincial Administration, The Prime Minister or the President is interfereing with his work as an MP or his rights.
A mere contestant at elections or village youth has no political or government authority deny a whole MP his rights unless you mean something else or his calibre is so low that he gets threatened by a reminder or two of what he has failed to do or waht he has done wrong.
Did he do that? i missed it! he thinks he is still in the rowdy out of control Kenyan Universities, that shows that discipline starts early. He is an idiot.
Bz Mugogo
Papua New Guinea
What a shame ? The mp should have used the ESP money and CDF to help the needy youths he battered.Hon. M.P did not have a car and a house before he joined parliament. Now he has. His subjects are the poorest in the province. The roads are all murrum and are poorly done. Help the poor and jobless physical beating is a thing of the past
Mbadi should apologize to the people of Gwassi. He was not voted an MP to champion hooliganism.I am ashamed to call him my MP but because we cannot recall him, let us resign to ftae and like has been said elsewhere go for alternative leadership come 2012. I urge the people of Gwassi that instead of spending time mourning this lost term, take time to strategize for progressive leadership in subsequent terms. Meanwhile, those who can help Mbadi redeem his image should do so. A lost image for our MP is a loss for all of us. An MP is just a reflection of ourselves.
Gwassi has a huge potential but its major undoing is retrogressive leadership which Mbadi is still perpetuating. We get surprised when a young man like him instead of thinking globally and regionally, still operate on clans, subclans and such like divisionist ideas. Instead of thinking of legislation that can enable the government to empower marginalized communities; mobilizing professional from the constituency; using an MPs contacts to bring donor funded projects and investments, he is fighting at roadsides with youth.
Instead of sensitizing the people of Gwassi to be on their marks for taking adavntage of their geographical locations to trade with Tanzania and Uganda, he is busy fighting everybody including white haired elders whom he should be relying on for advise.
Instead of mobilizing Gwassi voters to turn up and vote, he is fighting the very voters.
Gwassi MP John Mbadi has lost both control and respect. He always abuses his opponents, fights the youth that propelled him to parliament and has no known development agenda. He recently had a good taste of what will follow at Sindo when he dragged Hon. Otieno Kajwang along to his own constituency as he could not come on his own. It would have been impossible for him to address the crowd in his own back yard. It was shameful when the crowd actually acknowledged his opponent with wild cheers as he and four other MPs watched in disbelief.
I believe that the Nyanza voters now know the MPs with no leadership qualities and I forsee many of the current MPs going home.
Jo Kaksingri omiyo Mbadi ‘red card’ okone ni ‘wuog e pap e dhi ibed piny’. Gi timo kare nikech Mbadi wang’e tek ahinya. Ng’ano ma mako yuech mi dwa ywego Kaksingri gi Gwassi?
Aparo Mboya wuo Ndiege, wuowi mane oting’o nying’ Suba malo. Nyasaye oprwa wanuang’ wuowi manyalo telo e yo maber. Aparo bennde tel mar Jaduong’ Nyakiamo – Nyasaye oprwa wanuang’ wuowi manyalo rito telo.
We are only bickering on what we do not know. The reporter was not at the scene and based his argument on hearsays. Have ever called,written or physically gone to Hon Mbadi for explanation? Why didn’t the Police take action? You cannot be the accuser and the Judge at the same time. It is high time we electorate of Gwassi change our attitudes and perception towards the democratically elected leaders. This is why we Luos( Basubas) are still backward in the map of luoland. We have endless hatred notwithstanding the leader in position. Why can’t we be like our brothers from central province who are development geared rather than engaging in petty issues of no consequences.
The MP ( or the Seat ) of the day should be respected by all means. There is no way the rowdy, drunkard, disrespective youth can behave to an MP that way, leave alone an elderly Mzee in the village.
The more you fight with a democratically leader, the more you fight GOD as leaders are appointed by GOD.
We the community of Kaksingri should change our hardline and disrespetive approach towards our leaders.
Andrew, respect is earned not imposed. An MP is an HONORABLE person in society and we watch his every action, step and word. What a village nonentity does and get away with, an MP cannot get away with. If an MP fights a’drunkard’ by the roadside, the MP will end up being blamed far and wide and not the ‘drunkard’ and people like Mbadi should know this. We do not need to waste time confirming anything from him but as constituents we have all the rights in telling him that an MP who squanders his mandate manhandling people he refers to as ‘idlers’ on roadsides is not worth representing the people of Gwassi. It is the height of immature leadership for the MP to do what he did then without apologizing send people like you who think the people of Gwassi and Kaksingri are fools to ‘hoodwink’ us that he is an innocent, democratically elected people’s representative. Kindly tell him that he is going nowhere with that kind of imaturity and products of party nomination anomalies will not see the inside of the national assembly anymore.
ODM should respect party grassroots to choose leaders that locals deem fit otherwise it is shooting itself in the legs by either imposing candidates or maintaining an inefficient and ineffective party nomination machine that is overseen by a party that has no modern management structures and funding mechanism. This is the cause of problems in Nyanza’s political leadership like the one exhibited in Gwassi and if unchecked would be ODM’s undoing. MPs think that by hanging on R.H. Raila’s coat tails, they can get away with anything.
Who is 100% upright in the society?. Who has not done any mistake in his/her lifetime. How many have not quarrelled even in their own family?. Let us know that one’s destiny is determined by GOD and not humanbeing, like the way some people are putting it. God is the one who knows the truth. Let us respect that the security of humanbeing is paramount. Some idlers are are making it personal rather than mind their own business. Even some people who are now commenting here, given the chance of being MP, can be tyrannts.
I don’t agree with you – Egase wa Egase – Grow up beyond cheap ideologies which have sunk into your mind. You are operating in dark world where you play cheap thoughts of “People being sent to hoodwik”.You look more immature than the MP. And by the way, why didn’t you take legal action with your so called “nomination anomalies”?.
People of Gwassi need to wake up from their slumberland of retrogressive thoughts and politicking. Why don’t we exploit our land resources rather than preoccupying our minds with petty issues. Basubas!, wake up for developments. If the MP did that, why don’t you take him to Police rather than hiding behind the veil?
Let us respect every one’s views with faireness. Calling names and disrespect have no room in the society. I am sure there is root cause for everything
It has been realised that this column is partisan on this issue with some people resolving to settle their vendettas through here. Bring constructive issues, news, reports rather than attacking personalities.
Some MPs think that by shouting and heckling at the national arena and being seen with the Prime Minister would earn them votes come 2012. They are mistaken.
The things that would count are: how you manage CDF; articulate in parliament issues that affect constituents; initiating and surpoting bills that are intended for the common good; mobilizing talent and other resources for developing the constituency; maintaining positive relationship with all constituents even those who voted for opponents; avoiding non combative relationships with political opponents in the constituency in any case being an MP is not about an incumbent or oppenents but about representation of the constituency.
It is very sad that most of MPs we have in Luo Nyanza are still along way to go in mature political leadership. It is aso disappointing what people in Nyanza think are characteristics of a good political leader including sheer ‘wang’ teko’.
Jo ma promote ‘wang’ teko’ piny biro tiyo gi ‘wang’ teko’ to rob you of all that you deserve. MP ma wang’e tek ka oparo ni telo onwang’o gi teko ne owuon, en kat mana winy en onyise wang’ teko.
Why do we always and at all the time – year in/out cry about our elected MPs. Who elected them in the first place? We need to re examine our consciences very clearly because there have been no so called good Luo MP since the first Parliament.
Let us reason. If the LUO MPs cannot be seen besides the Prime Minister, then who should be there?. is the Prime minister not a Luo MP?. By the way, which MPs surround the President?. The current MPs should not be scared with the 2012 issue.
Whoever feels he is so mature, should contest the 2012 elections. Leaders are elected by GOD before they were born. Who can question GOD’s work?. If you were not elected, then God has not seen and choosen you.
The current Luo MPs are doing a good job and they deserve encouragement and not discouragement.
The fact that ODM nomination machine needs shaping up is not a secret. Nomination anomalies has charecterized nominations in Nyanza even in pre-ODM days and most of the people who end up in parliament are really not democratically elected. That was the case in Gwassi and many other Luo Nyanza constituencies.
I do agree that the quality of an MP is a reflection of the quality of constituents. An MP who performs poorly is an indication that there is a problem with the constituents. Thi s is exactly why we are pained by my representative behaving badly.
Tell me, who are the bona fide party members who nominated those who stood in the last national elections. Without bona fide members, those so called party nominations are sham kangaroo courts where thugs carry the day. DO NOT TELL US GOD APPROVES OF THE PSEUDO PARTY NOMINATIONS. To be fair to ODM, all other political parties in Kenya do not conduct proper nominations.
You therefore do not insult me that my MP was democratically elected. There were no democratic elections held in Kenya but we accept all those in leadership despite those anomalies. After accepting them, we must hold them to account in both deed and word. That is your responsibility and right as a citizen and I have those rights and responsibilities too.
I am not the only one who has made the observations. Check what Atwoli observed on western Kenya politics. Luo Nyanza shall continue to slide in poverty unless its political leaders and residents behave maturely and WE SHALL USE FORA LIKE THIS TO MAKE OOR POLITICAL LEADERS WAKE UP AND INDICATE TO THOSE WHO THINK LEADERSHIP IS KINDERGATEN STUFF THINK TWICE BEFORE VENTURING INTO POLITICKS. Who said God chooses leaders to fight ‘idlers’ on road sides. God chooses leaders to be responsible and all MPs should know this.
Gwassi is a case of immature politicks in Luo Nyanza where winning an election is seen as an end in itself and the best you people can do is to remind your MPs to deliver and behave maturely. There are surely MPs worth emulating like Orwa Ojode.
Watch out people of Nyanza or Basubas. Being an MP is not the most desirable thing in the world. We have people even in Gwassi who are doing a lot of development and influencing people positively without being in politics. We have many who are doing much better financially than they would do if they were MPs. We therefore do not understand why many people still think anybody who comments here, contributes in a harambee, drives a vehicle, tasks an MP to account or mobilizes a group is intent on becoming an MP.
Many of us are comfortable with what is in our hands and I advise many of our professionals and businessmen to hold dearly waht is in their hands. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT MY MP WOULD MISBEHAVE AND I KEEP MUM.
Nyinyi watu bure kabisa!
Let me give you an extract from Vision 2030 delivery scretariat presentation to MPs.
On culture change:
“You reap only what you sow, tend, fertilize and prune”
On ownership and participation:
“MPs are expected to catch the vision and take principled initiative inhelping constituents realize Vision 2030 through facilitating consultation and information exchange”
On Efficiency & Effectiveness:
MPs should drive Vision 2030 projects in their contituencies and align local priorities to Vision 2030; adopt sustained and pragmatic long term planning with constituents; lead from the fron(educating constuents rather than politicising issues e.g comercialization of farming, protecting water towers and promoting rule of law); cooperation and coordination together with DCs(promote efficiency and effectiveness of CDF, LATF, LASDAP and Dedicated Constituency Funds usage); coordinate private sector, civic bodies, religious organizations, community gropus and professionals to work together to realize Vision 2030)
If your MP is not assocaited with the above themes for realizing Vision 2030, he is not worth being an MP. It is not only your MP, but many in Luo Nyanza would not pass the test of move towards Vision 2030.
What is potrayed here here is not conducive for realizing Vision 2030 in our constituencies.
Our dear people, chiew uru, piny oseyawore and you would only reap what you sow.
I still stand by the fact thatr any MP who has not had any election petition was indeed constitutionally and democratically elected. This is a fact that we cannot erase out of our minds and perceptions. We have seen the waves of nullified petitions of some MPs. This is what should have happened in Gwassi if you are not happy with the current MP.
Indeed God does not choose leaders to fight “idlers’ by the road side. In the same way GOD punishes/disciplines misbehaved persons and especially to his choosen ones. Broaden your knowledge that there is nothing like immature politics nor waking up of Political leaders. Politics and Education are two different institutions.
One does not need to be an MP to initiate developments in the constituency. Why can’t they even build a public Toilet? Remember, the same people are too mean to even educate their own brothers/sisters.
Remember, no MP will just wake up in the morning and start kicking and raining blows on his constituents. I am sure that no poor Mzee at home will accept any abuses from the youth. How do you expect to misbehave to an elected MP and expect to go Scott free in the name of 2012? – This is Nonsense!.
The Basubas, we have been backward for many years because of such backward reasoning. We should wake up now. The current breed of MPs will go, the next will come but you will still not get an ideal and just MPs from Nyanza.
You do not need to waste time changing MPs mid term. However, you need a mid term review to strategize for the next elections including proper nominations unlike in the past ones. It is through those psedo nominations that we ended up with some medocre MPs like the one we have.
Many people, without being MPs have done much more to Gwassi than Mbadi who cannot even see to it that the main roads from Sori to Sindo are maintained by CDF funds. The state of the road changes for the worse immediately you pass Suba/Migiri border. Do you want these guys to mobilize funds to maintain the roads?
Do you want these guys to build for people toilets in their homesteads? Our people are not so poor as to beg for toilets from others? I mean is it only toilets you and Mbadi can think of ?
For going to school, we have seen many familes where the serious ones go to school upto university successfully but others fail to proceed because of lack of seriousness. You do not want their successful brothers or sisters to buy for them certificates? If there are those who are serious and fail to go to school, then those are the people who you need to mobilize others to help.
We want the MP to use CDF funds wisely, mobilze constituenst for worthy causes and be arole model to young people. You do not do all that by fighting ‘hecklers’ on road sides.
We are seeing good initiatives on environmental protection, mobilizing funds for schools, mobilizing investments in the community, sensitizing people on business and developmentv by many who are not interested in being MPs.
About Mbadi’s behavior, it is not the first time we are getting negative reports about his ‘bravado’. Isn’t he the same Mbadi who was going physical with a former MP, isnt it the same Mbadi who used unprintable words in public gainst a senior civil servant from Gwassi?
I have heard wazees who are wronged handling the issues very maturely and Mbadi shold learn a lseeon or two from them. If the youth misbehave, just get their identification or have them arrested for disorderly behavior. When he goes phisical on them, that is simply assault and you need to revise the Kenyen penal code.
I also hope you are not representing the MP, if you are then there worse things we have not seen from him and we are keeping the diary live for END TERM EVALUATION.
Egase wa Egase – It is evident that you are the one who had sent the boys to humiliate the MP Mbadi. Your reasoning capacity is so shallow which also reflects on what type of a person you are – with your constant negation towards the MP.
What development trends can you table from the former MPs?. You are only see the problem of the Road and the boys whom you had sent to attack the MP.
You are not even aware of the ongoing CDF projects in the constituency.
Let me assure you that your the so called – End term Evaluation will a shame you and your team the way Katiba Referendum did to some people.
Any activity done by our people be it farming, fishing and other forms of trade can only thrive if access to markets is efficient and one of the first ways to ensure this access is to maintain roads in good conditions. This is why in neighbouring constituencies like Nyatike and Ndhiwa whose MPs understand what development is, roads have improved remarkable. WHY ARE THE SORI-MAGUNGA-LAMBWE ROAD and KIABUYA-NYANDIWA-SINDO roads not maintained at AN ALL WEATHER STATUS like the ones in Nyatike?
It is the height of intellectual bankruptcy to fail seeing that infrastructure especially those related to transport are basic to development . That you talk of toilets which we know constituents are able to construct instead of key development initiatives exposes an inability to see issues in the right order.
Mbadi is only second to Syong’o in being Gwassi MPs who have had the priviledge of controlling the CDF funds. However, with the WIDE REASONING CAPACITY and CONSTANT ENCAURAGEMENT you accord Mbadi:he has failed to see that infrsatructural development and maintainance is necessary for development; he has failed to grow from being reactionary to being pro-active; he has failed to appreciate that he is a representative; he still thinks that he went to parliament through his might.
In your WIDE REASONING CAPACITY, you are failing to see that nobody in the submissions above is defending the so called ‘idle youth’. They are simply saying that the MP’s reaction to whatever those youth said to him reveals immaturity and that immaturity I said is consistent with his reactions in different circumstances in the past. I also said it is also consistent with lack of accountability that emanates from failure to appreciate his mandate. This might not be unique to Mbadi or Gwassi because Kenya has been suffering from leadership with no clear mandate as a result of poorly managed nominations and elections.
Your failure to appreciate that in a democracy, it is the constituent’s business to monitor and evaluate their representative. It is not the business of a cabal of ‘kinsmen’ and ‘supporters’.
The mid-term evaluation is useful both to an MP and the constituents. If you do not see that we are telling the MP to WAKE UP AND SHAPE UP, then too bad for all of us-we all loose this term and wait for end term evaluation. It is still my hope, you are not talking for the M.P.
Lastly, all of us are proud of the new constitution and I doubt if the referundum ashamed anybody and tell Hon. Mbadi that RESPECT IS EARNED NOT IMPOSED and yourself that SOUND REASONING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND POOR REASONING BETRAYS ITSELF.
Wishing you a fruitful mind brother.
Very interesiting debate. One side appears well informed and academic and the other side emotional and very personal. To help you, I will go ahead and modorate by highlighting issues raised by both sides:
EGASE:
1.MPs behaviour is important in his leadership role and should be beyond reproach. An MP is so powerful an office that his whispers are heard by many.
2.MP should be proactive not reactionary
3.MP could have been grieved
4.MP should uphold and be seen to uphold the law when handling grievances
5.MP should address teething problems in the constituency. The poor state of roads unlike in other constituencies is a bad indicator
6.MP should use CDF funds for prioritized and inclusive development
7.The above informs monitoring and evaluation of the MP that all constituents should participate in
8.A mid term evaluation can be used by the MP and constituents to restrategize for the common good and constituenst should base their choice in 2012 to a thorough evaluation
9.Nominations and elections in the past have not been fair and this could be the source of the poor accountability by leaders. A fair nomination and election process might yield to more accountable leaders who recognize the source of their powerful position
10. Development is not a prerserve of MPs and all residents can contribute in their own ways including mobilizing resources and fellow residents. All who want to contribute towards development do not necessarily have to be MPs to do that
RAWINJO:
1. MP was justified in assaulting youth who ‘heckled’ him
2. Egase’s argument indicate he is the one who sent the youth to embarass the MP
3.Egase’s talk of unfair nominations and electins in the past betrays and call for thorough mid-term and end term evaluations betrays shallow thinking
4.Other people who Egase is saying have been mobilizing constituents for worthy causes are so mean that they cannot even build toilets and educate their brothers
5. The poor state of roads in the Gwassi that Egase is talking about is a none issue
6. Egase is constantly negating the efforts of the MP
7. Egase is operating in a dark world
8. Egase should have petitioned for nullifying MP’s election istead of negating his efforts. He is even not aware of the CDF projects in the constituency
9. End term evaluation would ashame Egase and his team
10.There are no development efforts by former MPs wortntabling
I might not have picked the issues well but you guys can go ahead and pick them then have a forum in your constituency to debate especially in December when most people are home. You can also have a forum of professionals in the diaspora.
One caution though. It is not about Egase, not about Rawinjo, not about Mbadi, not about the ‘idle youth’ not about Mbadi’s perceived opponents but about SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN GWASSI and integrating VISION2030 and Millenium Development Goals in Gwassi’s development agenda.
May God grant you the wisdom to conduct healthy debates.
There is something seriously amiss in some of these arguments. I have followed this debate and quite a number of people have commented. Then when one Egase wa Egase(he needs to tell us the meaning of his name), it as if he has hit a hippo where it matters(yaani ong’uk rawo radhianja) and we are seeing desparate attempts at tramping anything the hippo come across underfeet. He is even accused of having sent boys to humiliate the MP. May be he sent them but arguments he is advancing here are very true to Kenyan politics and cannot be in anyway linked to sending of the ‘boys’ to humiliate the MP.
What Rawinjo and his cohorts should know is that: If there is one issue that everyone literally has an opinion about, it is public leadership and public leaders. This is for a good reason-public leadership touches our lives in ways that we cannot ignore. The choices public leaders make have implications on such important personal and communal matters e.g. what we can afford or not; the kind of health care we can enjoy; our security; relationships; and the kind of society we shall retire into.
Thura Rawinjo, Egase ong’ukou!!!Ah! Ah Ah!Ah! kama upondeno ong’uku! Egase wang’i riek ka ongo.
Right Hon. Raila after looking at the party constitution in what can be referred to as a mid-term review has acknowledged need to have a rellok at the ODM constitution. That is waht leadership is about.
We are at a loss when need for mid term review and end term evaluation is trashed by some people who think they are doing Mbadi any good.
Rawinjo, we do not care who you are. A mess in Gwassi’s leadership and representation hurts all of us. It is a fact that Mbadi went pysical on youth at a roadside over ‘gonyo’. Of course we do not support the issue of ‘gonyo’. It is also a fact that the state of roads in Gwassi is wanting. Yesterday just after a drizzle, a lorry could not pass God Oloo. Reason being that a shody job was done on the raod due to inept supervision by the CDF committee which is composed of Mbadi’s kinsmen and apologetics.
Mbadi’s leadership took a wrong turn the moment he went clannist with the CDF committee. We gave him a chance and it is two and half years down the road and we have the worst roads in the whole Homa bay county.
Please spare the people of Gwassi impunity summarized by your attitude: ‘Mbadi is an MP and he can get awyy with anything’
I wish Egase, Bunde, Ogai and Ong’ukwa were not economic with words. A snake is snake whether you call it a reptile. There is a time to sweeten your talk but there is also a time to shoot straight.
The thing is: Rawinjo’s arguments show poor and ilogical reasoning and an attitude of ‘uta do nini? Mbadi our son is at the high table and as he gets for himself large pieces of cake for his stomach, we are getting the crumbles’. What Rawinjo doesn’t know is that the big chunks of cake will choke Mbadi and the crumbles they are collecting from under the table have already been contaminated’
CDF sio pesa ya mtu. CDF is a public fund. The fund is not from any MP’s pockets. Even CDF committee members do not contribute to it. The use of the funds is therefore public bisiness and the public must demand accountabilty and transparency in how CDF funds are used. You do not wish away or belittle demands for accountable and transparent leadership.
An MP is a representative and whatever he does is part of that representation. His behaviour is therefore public business. Anybody who does not know this has no business being in public office.
Nomination procedures in all political parties need a radical change and ODM is already ahead in re-enginnering itself. Anybody who does not appreciate the need for change and revamping of the party is simply a traitor of the party. It is not about lip service, it is about the heart and deeds for true reforms in political leadership.
WE ARE BEHIND AGWAMBO FOR SPEARHEADING CHANGE IN ODM. WE ARE NOT DISAPPOINTING HIM BY MAKING POSITIVE STEPS IN THE NATIONAL ARENA AND MAKING TWO STEPS BACKWARDS IN HIS BACKYARD. WE ARE ALSO IN ODM TO STAY AND WAITING TO REGISTER EN-MASSE AS WE SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF REFORM IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. WE ARE ALSO SURE THE REFORMS ARE UNSTOPPABLE, COME RAIN OR SUNSHINE.
Why are some people hellbent in sending wrong messages about ODM. ODM stands for accountability and responsible leadership and those incorrigible MPs and supporters should be weeded out by ODM reforms.
By the way Egase, I like you comments. But can you explain your interest in the issues you raised? This is what Rawinjo should have asked you.
From all my contributions in the issue, I am an ODM sysmpathizer but not a bona fide meber just like many ODM sympathizers. Secondly, I am a university student from Gwassi Constituency. Egase wa Egase means ‘of Gwassi son of Gwassi’. Mbadi is therefore my MP and the reports about him are not pleasing. We have kept quite for long thinking that he will change.
The report of him assaulting youth who complained to him for giving them small ‘chai’ was reliably confirmed. We are not defending the youth
for asking ‘chai’ and complaining about small ‘chai’. However the attempts to defend the MP assulting youth in his constituency is not acceptable.
The youth might be voiceless but we are providing a voice and saying down with impunity in Gwassi constituency. Down with lack of accountability.
That is my interest in the issue. Otherwise, I am one person who believes one does not need to hold a political office to serve the community and advise my fellow young people to use whatever position they are in to serve the community but we all need to hold politicians to account for their deeds.
I ‘ve been following this debate with keeness and have been perplexed by the direction the arguments have taken. I hail from Central province with working base in both Gwassi and Mbita for a many years.
Let us call a spade a spade. At least there are have been some signs of CDF developments in the current s leadership compared to the previous leaderships.
It is evident by the ongoing construction of schools, Water Dams, Electricity installations just to mention a few.
I am perturbed by the way some people have displayed their ignorance in the whole issue. Within a period of 2yrs 6months from election, much have shown signs of blooming back to life. The conditions of Schools were pathetic which led to pupils learning under trees. In this 21st century and more so from Nyanza region, it is unexpected. Many water Dams are being constructed and their work in progress are evident.
As much as leadership accountability is paramount in any leadership pyramid, it doesn’t mean that blanket condemnation should be order of the day. The improvement of infrastructures is not an overnight job. Patience bears fruits in any vision. Borrow a leaf by visiting Central province ( Counties ?). It doesn’t take a genius to envisage that Rome was not built in a day. Hatred, Bitterness, name calling are branded as anti development. People of Gwassi, hold your horses and engage in mature and constructive focus of development beyond dwelling on one issue as it is here.
I am quite sure that some people who are commenting in this column are not aware of what is going on in the Ground.
It is true that the conditions of the are bad, and have been worse even in the past. I can see some work being done to them. The issue of party politics should not feature or infiltrate into the current ongoing developments.
That is a better form of defense but can you table CDF projects done in the period 2002 to 2007 then 2008 to date, related costs and distribution. You cannot compare the era when CDF was not there and when CDF is there. Before CDF, people from Central where you hail from presided over constant starvation of Nyanza of development funds, assasination of people like Mboya and persecution of people like Odinga.
Our people are very well aware of what they are talking about and that is the Luo way of internal democracy. Let the MP be put on his toes and perform. It is very absurd, you as an outsider is undermining democracy and call to account in a place where you are hosted.
You might not feel the pinch of the bad conditions of the main roads in the constituence since you do not rely on the roads for livelihood. The traders who use the roads frequently feel the pinch most. We are not ignorant of the pathetic states of the main roads and we are aware in neighbouring constituencues, access raod have improved a great deal.
Development is a delicate issue and you just do not come up with white elephants which have no impact on livelihoods. What is the point of having a dam 2kms from the lake yet people who are 20kms away from the lake have no source of water.
It is also very strange you telling us that rural electrification is funded by CDF or Mbadi. Bwana wacha madharau hiyo kutoka central. We are not some idiots. Sisi hatuna shida na wageni, lakini respect our intelligence.
You mean Rural Electrification Fund is not funding electrification in Gwassi but Mbadi? Man, you are just implicating the MP in a scandal non of his constituents have accused him of!
You guys are just making it worse for the MP. The best is not even respond to the arguments raised here but for the MP to change tact and represent the constituency and apply CDF funds fairly. He is lucky that he is getting EARLY FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE HIS PERFORMANCE. He can even reconstitute the CDF committee and engage better advisors. From the kind of defense we are seeing here, he lacks good advisors.
I consider those criticizing him more useful to him than those ‘defending’ him. I congratulate you people for initiating a review mid course. It is healthy and should be embraced by other constituencies. You all know the role the press and civic society has played in reforming KENYA and you people should carry on. THE ENEMY MIGHT JUS T BE WITHIN, NOT FAR AWAY.
Let us fight for reforms from the grassroots.
This is a forum for open democratic discussion and not ethnic assisnation. Some of the issues raised by Onyoyi P of – “starvation of Nyanza of development funds, assasination of people like Mboya and persecution of people like Odinga ” are in bad taste and does not reflect your views of good leadership quality of a person you are looking for, dropped to you like Manna from heaven.
It is absurd that you do not even have the factcs to base your arguments on.
The question of ethnic based discussion or alignment does not reflect on your intellegence as you perceive to have. Just like I have commended here is the same way a Luo can do to Muranga or Othaya constituency. There is nothing like “madharau or wageni “in a democratic discussion.
Let me remind you that the new constitution does not have the demarcation of freedom of speech or discussion of any nature. For your information, Gwassi is not inhabited by the luos only just like the developments of Kenya as acountry is not done for one tribe alone.
It would be of “intellegence” to table your facts on the so called developments needs rather than having meaningless discussion rather than being driven by imotions.
Such like discussions and minds of Onyoyi P are the ones which have retarded developments in Gwassi.
Fighting for reforms does not mean displaying ones arrogance but with tangible and factual reasons.
Does Mureithi(Muriithi???) understand Gwassi better than the people of Gwassi to to claim constituents are ignorant about their constituency.
CDF developments are there in all Kenyan constituencies unlike before when we did not have CDF. The issue here is prioritization, fair distribution, impacts on livilihoods and sustainability.
We all agree, grading a road does is not an overnight thing but you do not need over 2 and half years to grade a 20km stretch. During the same 2 and half year period, roads in neighbouring constituencies have been graded over and over again.
Lastly, Mbadi himself criticized the former MP over the road issue and we are surely using the same yardstick if not a better yardstick. What makes you think we should not use the same yardstick on him?
Your defense has collapsed just like the other attempts being employed by some members of CDF committee. By the way did Rawinjo shed his Rawinjo label and now having the Muriithi label?
You people tell Mbadi and his CDF committee to reform. These hollow defenses shall not hoodwink the people of Gwassi.
Muriithi, Onyonyi said a fact that in the past, Nyanza residents and MPs had difficulties bringing meaningful developments in the communities. This was because of politics of exclusion under Mzee Kenyatta and Kiambu mafia, followed by Mzee Moi and his nyayoists and Mzee Kibaki with Mt . Kenya mafia in his first term. Moi arrogantly ascribed to the low standards of living to be a result of ‘siasa mbaya’. True, it was his bad politics that excluded people. The peolple played good politics in continuously holding the government to account and now all Kenyans are enjoying the benefits.
You therefore do not compare that period of exclusion to now when the government has done its best and funds are on the grounds to improve livelihoods.
Onyonyi requested you to table CDF projects from 2002 – 2007 then 2008 – 2010 and their distribution all over the constituency.
Onyonyi understands better where we have come from. We have survived all odds that were put against us to be where we are and it is very arrogant for somebody to use the name of another whom we did not share with that dark past. As said by Onyonyi, that is ‘bad manners’. No body from Central Kenya lectured people on how to surmount hurdles that were put agianst our people and nobody in Kenya knows the relationships among the Nyanza people.
Many residents of Gwassi are originally Basubas but it is foolish for an outsider to think they are not part of the Luos. Almost every home in Gwassi is related to a home among people who are originally Luos. Even the so called original Basubas were part the aristocratic Luos who ruled the Baganda Kingdom. Ask H. E. Museveni and he will tell you this. It is the same thing you find in Bunyoro Kingdom where you found people like King Oyo.
Be sure you are very ignorant about many things in Suba.
Muriithi,you talk like you do not know the sufferings we have undergone. Caused by nobody else but governments where our people were excluded.
Unlike in the past, our MP has resources at his disposal and he is joking around and you expect us to entertain your cheap defense of his unaccountable leadership. Yes, Kenya is more open under the new constitution and you are free to go MAKE HIM YOU MP, SENATOR OR GOVERNOR IN CENTRAL KENYA IN 2012 IF HIS PERFORMANCE IS SATISFACTORY TO YOU. WE DO NOT WANT HIM TO BE GWASSI MP COME 2012 OR YOU VOTE FOR HIM.
It is an insult for somebody who has not experienced underdevelopment and neglect by successive governments for 40 years to claim that the people themselves who were neglected caused the underdevelopment. Did this Muriithi want the people of Gwassi to tarmac their roads by their meagre resources. SENSITIVITY TO THE PLIGHT OF A PEOPLE MUST BE DISPLAYED.
The people of Gwassi did not send some devils to go and tell past governments to neglect the area. Even the past MPs did not tell the governments to neglect the area. Political leaders, NGOs all dvelopment agencies and those who pretend to speak on their bahalf must know the TRUE DEVELOPMENT HISTORY in post independence Nyanza and far flung areas like Gwassi. They were in the same category of neglect like Northern Kenya.
Let us ignore those agents of underdevelopment who are saying transportation infrastructue is not a priority. It is infrastructures like roads that open up a place first for other economic activities.
Ignore those who do not want reformed leadership in Gwassi(reformation is not necessarily change of guard).THEY ARE ALL ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE.
Our people must learn to work hard and take advantage of oppoturnities but at the same time holding leaders accountable and knowing what is rightfully theirs. In the same breathe, they should also know what is not rightfully theirs like GONYO. If one says, the people should not demand accountability, THAT PERSON IS ALSO AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.
People should also know that many a time those who affer hard talks mean well but the sycophants are like the sharp teethed rodents who bite off your flesh but blows over it so that you do not feel pain immediately.
People like Muriithi who talk for the current CDF Committee and MP are dangerous rodents who want us to feel nice and continue sleeping as they bite off our flesh. They want us to wake up when all our flesh is torn off by their sharp teeth.
It is good, we have woken up and we shall continuously shout for our people to work hard during the day and keep vigil at night when the rodents are active.
The enemies of the people is not in the leadership, elected by the same people but lies among themselves. This is exhibited by such like people with inclined and hardline critism of road sides. If the people of Gwassi did not realise politics of developmemt in the past MPs, then there is serious need to re-evaluate the intellectual ability of the voting elite.
It is not in line that all the MPs who have been previuosly elected could not have the same failed leadership agenda of underdevelopment. Who is to blame ? . The elected who was judged ( wrongly / rightly? ) by the electorate who carried out their “correct sense of judgement’, I presume and re-evaluated befor zeroing to the elected?. Does it don on you the gaps in the intellectuality of the electorate in their voting power?
The Politics of Clanism in Gwassi has taken the centre stage. This is one of the undoings and firsty enemy of development in this potential rseoursefull land.
The second thing, laziness among the productive population who depend on the handout contributions leads to poverty which will not be easy to eradicate.
How many prominent, educated and well placed Luos of Gwassi who are capable of contributing to the development in Gwassi have initiated any tangible development without strings attached of becming an MP?.
How many of them have even come together as a development caucus with a development agenda for the people of Gwassi? Many have resorted to the development of selfishness and clanism disregarding the poverty stricken community.
People of Gwassi should think outside the box, think beyond the horizon of one source of development – which has become a source of outcry.
Learning development from other tribes – Kisiis, Kikuyus etc who have adopted the politics of development and not hatred and clanism would be a boost to the grassroot community of Gwassi.
One does not need to be a Luo to understand Gwassi politics and development. A foreigner, whitemen, come and reside in Gwassi, collect the data and come up with a good ragenda for development complimented by the Gwassi people without any querry. Does it take a genius to realise that a Kikuyu, Kenyan by birth can also contribute and comment on the Politics of Gwassi without a much ado?.
Many Luos of Gwassi are the ones who are ignorant of their own constituency as many of them talk from the Towers of Babel they have been elevated to having no knowledge of what is going on the ground. These are the same people who do not return to Gwassi for development but resorts to “Domo politics” shopping centres and the streets of major towns.
Some of the people bickering here should have an exchange programme – visit Kikuyu land and compare the developments in those arears as depicted by the unity and maturity of the people who are hardworking ( individually and collectively )and do not dependant on one source of water.
This does not mean that all Kikuyu MPs are 90% in their leadership ability to execute the development projects. It takes one or two to unite and forge ahead in terms of development which will bring about poverty eradication to the community. – This is what is lacking in the Luos.
For some of us to come to Gwassi and do business means needs initiative and determination which even the Gwassi people can adopt.
Let us wake up from darkness of politics of clanism and come to light of politics of unity.
It is indeed insensitivity that borders on ‘slime headedness’ by a person who claims not to be originally from Gwassi to claim that the suffering by and neglect of the people of Gwassi was there own making.
Really, the people of Gwassi are a resilient lot who have sustained their livilihoods against all odds – lack of medical facilities, inaccessibility and all the things that characterize underdevelopment. Despite all this, a ‘slime head’ who has been pampered by past governments is coming to say that it was the people’s making. THAT IS THE KIND OF ARROGANCE FROM CENTRAL THAT BUNDE ALLUDED TO. IT IS NOT HEALTHY FOR ANYBODY.
Gwassi MP and indeed all other and civil servants must be held to account. Our people must rise up against impunity and unaccountability by public servants.
Holding people tio account has never been a factor of underdevelopment the way Moi used to put it and the way one Muriithi want to tell us.
The peple have tasked Mbadi, the MP to account for his actions and handling of CDF funds. Let him account. The same accountability should be demanded from all MPs and public servants.
I like the sharp shots. There is no point mincing words when the common ‘wanjiru’ is suffering. I can inform Muriithi that there are real ‘Wanjirus’ in Gwassi who have suffered with the others for many years and know what suffering in Gwassi means. I can also tell Muriithi that if he is a real Muriithi, there is a way visitors exercise their rights where hosted but still remain above the rest.
Lastly, all Kenyans must learn to demand good leadership from public servants. An MP is not a clan leader, not a youth gang leader, not a patron of an exclusive club, not a commander in chief of his body guards but a public servant and representative of a people. He is a messeanger of the people. He does not send himself. It is also the people who know whether he is a good messenger or not.
I am in this war of fighting for reformed leadership at all levels of governance and we determined to dismantle all ideas that are meant to maintain status quo be it at the constituency, county or national arena. Raila ismoving forward yet others are fighting him overtly(Rutos) and other are fighting him covertly(by unaccountable deeds yet associating with him, or trying to portray that his leadership supports impunity and mediocrity like the Muriithis)
WE ARE TIRED OF POOR GOVERNANCE!
It is real ‘madharau’ somebody telling me that he knows my backyard better than I do. Muriithi, we have the facts of what is happening on the ground because we have real stakes there(our kinsmen are living in unsatisfactory conditions while yours might be enjoying life in central).
Our people also need to be awaken to hold local leaders to account. Under the new constitution, it would no longer be the central government to be blamed. The public need to be sensitized to hold those who are charged with managing develved funds to account. Days of blaming the president is long gone. At the moment, we start with the MP, his CDF committee and districts. In a few years time we shall graduate to counties.
We are creating a strong demand at the grass roots for accountability and you shall not succeed in discauraging us from this agenda. We do not care whether it is Mbadi or somebody else but an MP must deliver and be seen to deliver; he should also BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW NOT JUNGLE LAW WHERE THE STRONGEST SURVIVE.
Muriithi, theere are many Kikuyus, Kisiis or people from other places who reside in Gwassi or Luo Nyanza. This is not because os the hospitality and genorousity of the natives. It is a kind of hospitality you will never get from any where else in Kenya. It does not mean the natives are stupid. I WONDER WHY YOU DID NOT STICK TO YOUR NATIVE CENTRAL WHERE PEOPLE ARE SO ENTERPRISING AND THEIR PURCHASING POWER SO HIGH. Whose purchasing power is sustaining your business in Suba?
You also need not go to school or undergo some brain surgery to know that government expenditure in an area especially infrastructure spurs development. Not until the CDF, LATF came into operation, there was little Government of Kenya activity in Gwassi, let alone government projects and expenditure. You can therefore not blame past Gwassi MPs much.
Despite the government neglect, the’lazyness of the people’ their purchasing power still sustain you and you still prefer living among them rather than amongst your own where despite pampering by successive governments, the poverty driven crime rate is so high that you fear living in Central.
Who is more lazy between one who is given all resources is still poor and one who has not been given all resources is still poor? YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DISCARD THOSE CHAUVINISTIC THOUGHTS!
I know many people of Gwassi who have sacrificed their little to educate many of their kinsmen who did not have sources of livelihoods.
I PERSONALLY WENT TO SCHOOL NOT FROM GOVERNMENT BURSARY OR RESOURCES FROM MY PARENTS. IT IS THESE SONS AND DAUHTORS OF GWASSI WITH SOME PAST MPs THAT USED THEIR RESOURCES TO EDUCATE US.
I also do not want to mention names of people who do not hold public offices and are not interested in politics who are really doing well in mobilizing development.
Now we have CDF and we have no reason to blame the government and we are telling our MP, CDF committee and local authority to act accountably and responsibly to spur development using the funds. We are neither asking the MP to use his personal resources nor do us any favour. WE ARE TELLING HIM TO DISCHARGE HIS RESPONSIBILITY accountably.
We are also saying that they should be famous for mobilizing the people to take advantage of the new opportunities instead notoriety for hooliganism and sychophancy in the national arena. He need not do this directly but can use other professinals. THE PROBLEM IS THAT DUE TO HIS POOR PERFORMANCE HE THINKS THE PROFESSIONAL WOULD STEAL THE LIMELIGHT FROM HIM. He therefore frustrates their efforts. He is the fisrt Gwassi MP who personalizes development activities and takes offense when professional chip in at development intiatives. WE HAVE MANY EXAMPLES OF ATTEMPTS TO EMBARASS OTHERS WHO JOIN HANDS WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR DEVELOMENT INITIATIVES.
Many of the professionals are however not interested in political positions. They are keen on investing in Gwassi but are cautious due to the poor transport infrastructure. IN THE MUCH DEVELOPED CENTRAL KENYA, INDIVIDUALS DID NOT USE PERSONAL RESOURCES IN MAINTAINING ROADS.
It is true clannism is a cancer and this is exactly what some have accused the MP of perpetuating. He antogonizes the people of Gwassi against those of Kaksingri. Within Gwassi he antogonizes one subclan against another and even within his own subclan, he antagonizes one ‘thot’ against another.
Lastly, there are no best practices to learn from Central. If there was you would stick there. It is also a misconception that Kikuyus or Kisiis are more enterprising. Enterprises do not thrive in a vacuum but in an enabling environment that we are puting pressure for.
The so called enterprising culture in Kisii and Central are driven more by greed than need for service and production. That is why we get constant reports of unprecedented crimes by father against daughter, brother against brother, wife against husband, men against female animals. You get all kinds of abnomible crimes due to the absence of attachment to one another and the love of money above anything else. WE DO NOT ADVOCATE FOR THAT IN GWASSI and you know very well that is why you are happily living in Suba. PROTECT THAT PRIVILEDE JEALOUSLY NA AVOID BEING A POLITICAL HIRELING BY YOUR HOSTS.
I am a Coomunity Economic Development student in Tanzania, and currently being paid to analyze documented Community Development in Suba District and therefore have deep insights in what I am talking about. Share with me your contacts and I can give you a summary of the analyses.
An analysis of CDF projects also reveals a high degree of misprioritization, wastages and poor accountability.
ON elections, we have said repeatedly that we have never had fair elections in Kenya and what is happening is not the will of the people.
We are said, that we are telling our people to work hard and invest. MBADI IS NOT TELLING THEM THIS BUT FIGHTING THEM.
We also said, the fact that people are being encauraged to work hard is not a license for the MP to misbehave and squander grass root resources. The fact that i am working hard is not an excuse for MBADI TO RIDE ROUGHSHOD OVER OUR PEOPLE .
People must work hard, must save and invest and take advantage of new opportunities but Mbadi must be accountable to the peple of Gwassi. We shall keep on shouting that MBADI NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF GWASSI. ENEMIES OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT LIKE MURIITHI CAN GO HANG THEMSELVES IF THEY DO NOT LIKE WHAT WE ARE SAYING or go invest in more developed Central Province.
MBADI, wake up you are a young man and you have a life to live even after being an MP. Please consider the criticisms and redeem your image and let people like ‘Muriithi’ not cheat you. You need a positive image after being an MP in case you do not make it back.
On behalf of a group of professionals from Gwassi:
We envision Gwassi where people live decently, all professionals, NGOs, politicians and the Government partner to uplift the living standards of the people.
1.We appeal for a reformed society and leadership where respect for the common good reigns supreme. We appeal for unity of all Gwassi people. All Suba people, all Homabay people, all Kenyans. UNITY HAS NEVER CAUSED PROBLEMS ANYWHERE.
2.We appeal for openness and accountability
3.We appeal for an end to the culture of GONYO where wazees run after 50 shillings instead of using the same time to generate 500 shillings; the youth waste time wanting for 20 shillings instead of using the same time to generate 1000 shillings
4.We castigate clannish and exclusivism. Each and every person deserves a decent life irrespective of clan
5.We appeal for hard work, responsible living, savings culture, investments and enterprising culture
6.We appeal to the government to compensate the long years of neglect by tarmacking the Sori –Mbita- Homabay road.
7.We appeal to the local government MP and CDF to construct more access roads; permanent stalls in markets; refrigeration facilities at beaches;
8.media centers comprising computer lab and internet facilities in every primary and secondary school;
9.A demonstration farm in every primary and secondary school
10.Promotion of solar and wind power use, biofuels like biogas
11.We appeal for NGOs to partner with our people to bring development to Gwassi
12.We appeal for Gwassi professionals to support school libraries and prize funds
13.We appeal that every school to set up prize funds especially the girl child to promote excellence in school by the girl child
14.We appeal for all churches to preach development and good care of resources
15.We appeal for unity and reconciliation among clans and sub-clans
16.Let Gwassi be the most preferable destination of rural investments in Kenya
17.We appeal to the MP to take the criticisms positively and work with everybody and he is assured of a legacy that his children and grand children will feed from. Even if he does not stand next time, if he completes the term well, he will open opportunities not only for himself but all the constituents. There is no harm learning from small people, idlers drunkards. You might be surprised at the good ideas they have.
18.To those who claim to be and use the names of vistors in Suba, please be advised that your stance on some of the issues is counterproductive. Reference to a whole group of people as good for nothing when you claim to be a visitor is simply NOT WISE!
Your destiny as a people is in your hands and you can all make it. Issue like unnecessary squabbles over land wastes your time and resources. The time and resources can be employed for productive use.
May God bless all of you.
How much has the successful Muriithi from Central Kenya contributed as an individula to the development of Central Kenya leave a lone Gwassi where he is enjoying the LUO HOSPITALITY?
Whom is he partnering with in Gwassi to bring development. We want to join the partnership and supplement his efforts.
To all of you great people of Suba.
In memory of the the late Tom Mboya I dedicate to you this Laymen’s Economic Primer. I was born after the assasination of Mboya but I know very well about his contributions to economic development of Kenya which was immense.
To me, it is an inspiration that the Luo Abasuba occupying the current Mbita and Gwassi districts in Homabay County, parts of Migori County and the Mara region of Tanzania can not only attain for themselves better and sustainable livili hoods but contribute immensely to economic development and growth in the entire East African region.
The location occupied by the majority of the Abasuba is very strategic and the distribution very handy. This also applies to the wider Luo Community which the Abasuba are an integral part of. Like, Mboya, many other Luos have contributed to the political economy of the East African Countries.
We do not forget, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the doyen of pluralism and inclusive politics in Kenya, his scion, the R.H. Raila Amolo Odinga who has provided the impetus of reforms in Kenya for the past decade, people like the late Robert Ouko who displayed a high sense of patriotism at the expense of his very own life.
Mboya’s dream of a prosperous Kenya was also a dream for prosperous Abasuba. People of Suba must therefore rise up and improve their lot.
This primer provides an outline of what Suba peple must do individualy and collectively to improve their economic well being.
The well endowed Suba people must invest in Fishing industry. There is a great need for well managed fish colling plants along the beaches; fishi processing factory; bone and fish meals for livestock.
Cooperatives must invest in modern water transport services. This will provide alternative transport of people and mrchandise within Suba and the wider Nyanza.
Tourism and water sports is also an area with opportunities. The Ruma National park and the beatiful Suba beaches are already existing resources. The professinals from Suba can drive the formation of Suba Investment Group to develop beach hotels on the islands and mainlands of Suba and manage tour comapnies.
The same Investment Group or smaller groups and cooperatives can invest in food value addition services that would provide ready market to the farmers and emeployment to the youth. There is alot of potential in livestock farming and horticulture.
The Abusaba should be subjected to financial literacy campaigns with the goal of installing a savings, investments and responsible consumption culture. We need a strong investment vehicle if not many that would mobilize people’s investments into the stock exchanges in the region.
The Abasuba must retain good cultural practices, discard the bad ones and embrace progressive culture. Our aunties, sisters, daughters, wives must be integrated in leadership. They must begiven access and encauraged to pursue education to the highest levels. An investment in girl child education is equally important as an investment in boy child education.
People must join together in development and enterprise not only in consumption.
In addition, the people of Suba must woo the Government, NGOs and other investors to be their partners in development at the same time preaching the culture of accountability. We must partner with all for the benfit of all.
Lastly but most important, id God centered lives. God is the source of WISDOM and PROSPERITY
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Take home formulas:
INCOME = (must be used for ) SAVINGS + INVESTMENTS(in Suba and elsewhere) + Responsible CONSUMPTION of home grown services and products
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE =(a result of) People’s ABILITY X DRIVE(Motivation)
You are now enabled by and have the drive to chart your destiny collectively and individually. Woo the government for more enabling
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