Reports Leo Odera Omolo

FOR the first time the Prime Minister Raila Odinga was brave enough to tell his Luo supporters to discard the culture of begging for handouts and that instead they should venture into small trade and commercial enterprises so as to empower themselves economically.

Speaking before mammoth crowd during the emotional burial of a prominent educationist the late Samson Ojwang’ at Osasa village Kakangutu Location, Kabondo Constituency in Rachuonyo South district within Homa-Bay County Odinga said they should emulate the Jewish Community. A Jew will never beg anything for free thing, but would always borrow money from his friends, relatives and neighbors to venture into a small business enterprise, even if it is too small like a shoe cobbler. But once his business prospers, a Jew would always quickly refund the money advance to him.

Youths in the region, he said, should consider starting small enterprises and other income generating activities instead of pursuing the bad habit of {Gonywa} loosely meaning “Free us”

Gonywa habit and culture promote idleness and laxity and should be discarded at all cost.”Let every able bodied men and women work and by so doing they would be able to free themselves from the scourge of abject poverty.

He also advised the Luos to change their attitude of arrogance to cohesiveness with their neighbor.”Wherever I go Kenyans have always told me on my face that I am good, but once I become the President of the Republic of Kenya my Luoloose tank Luo people will cause havoc to their Kenyans neighbors. You should adjust you culture an be humble to your neighbours,”he said

The Prime Minister moved the crowd when he narrated the history of a world renown business magnate Mr.Hilton, who is today the owner of the globally spread chains of five star hotels. Id Hilton had started a simple as cobbler. The man is to-day a living example of hard work and determination wh9ch pays.

The late Ojwang’ a renowned teacher died at the age of 84. He was the father of a Nairobi and Nyanza prominent businessman –cum- politician Hebert Ojwang’ who at one time was the Prime Minister Personal Assistant, but voluntarily left the job to venture into business And also a prominent Nairobi lawyer Nesbit Ojwang’

The Prime Minister coined his now famous story of the cat and a group of disgruntled mousses who met and decided that they should tie a bell at the end tail of the cat so that they will be able to monitor its movement. But when it came the time of tying the bell now one was ready to be brave enough o accomplish the task. He likened those unnamed politicians who had ganged up against his presidential ambition like cat and mice.

Earlier the former Karachuonyo MP Dr Mrs Phoebe Asiyo had raised the political temperature when she argued that it was wrong for the cabinet to propose changes in the new constitution in a section which says that 30 per cent of the electable MP should be women. He said the women leaders were not happy with that decision.

Asiyo’s sentiments were backed by the Sotik MP Dr Joyce Laboso and Mrs Ida Odinga in their addresses.

Speakers after speakers who included MPs John Olango Aluoch {Kisumu Town West}, John Pesa {Migori } and the host Joseph Oyugi Maguwanga who acted as the master of ceremony scathingly criticized leaders whose names are associated with the outlawed “Mungiki” terrorists.

The late Ojawng” left behind his wife Mama Ruth Adhiambo Ojwang’, two sons and three daughters. He was eulogized as as a man of high integrity and principles whose wisdom has helped many youths access better education and good life

The Prime Minister and his wife presence at the funeral together was rare phenomenon signifying their closeness to the family of the Ojwang’s.

But local political pundits were quick in making intelligent guesswork that it was an outright endorsement of Herbert Ojwang’ who is vying for the newly created Kabondo parliamentary seat. The same pundits viewed the move as an outright campaign to give Hebert Ojwang political mileage over a dozen of other aspirants who have already declared their interests in the seat..

Most of the aspirants for the seat which was created from he larger Kasipul-0Kabondo constituency. Among hem is the incumbent Ojugi Maguwanga, the former MP Dr Ralph Kopiyo,. Prof Otieno Muga former director oaf Medical Services and a dozen of others.

Ends