Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Mbita Town

The recent launch of Suba Council of Elders brings glad tidings to the Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga.

Suba elders who have been largely under shadow of Luo Council of Elders as a sub-set recently coroneted their own “ker” Mzee Apollo Okeyo Omuga of Rusinga Island.

In a colourful ceremony that was attended by thousands of Suba People including Elders from Meru, Maasai, Luyia, Kikuyu, and Luos among others, the Suba elders resolved to continue their unwavering support of Raila Odinga and encouraged other communities of Kenya, some of whom were present at the function to support Raila.

The coronation was done by Hon. Peter Nyakiamo on the heartland of the Suba Community, Mfangano Island, at a Abasuba Peace Museum on August 12th, 2011.

The Suba community are Bantus, with an estimated population of about 500,000 spread across Nyanza and western Region. In Nyanza, you find the Subas in Mbita and Gwassi constituencies where they form over 90% of the population in the two constituencies.

They are also found in Nyatike and Migori constituencies where they form over 40% of combined population.

Unknown to many, prominent sons of Suba include the late freedom Fighter, and independence hero Tom Mboya, the late Senator Mbeo Onyango, Hon. Osingo Migure, Hon. Peter Nyakiamo, Hon. Zadock Syongo, renown educationist, Mrs. Roseline Onyuka, Hon. Millie Odhiambo, Hon. Josephine Sinyo, prolific writer, Philip Ochieng, Prof. Edward Oyugi Akong’o, Prof. Fredrick Onyango former VC of Maseno university, and many other emerging leaders such as Caroli Omondi, Sam Wakiaga and a Microsoft Executive Dr. Mark Matunga and this reporter {Leo Odera Omolo},Prof Okello Ayot of Kenyatta University, Prof.Walgio Ogweno Orwa of Bondo UniversityDr Obiero Ong’ang’a the executive Directr of OSENALA,Prof Erick Otieno of Maseno University and many others.

Even though the launch of suba council of elders event was purely cultural, it quickly generated political content where many viewed it as a huge part of Luo community edging away.

The fear was that this critical block of Subas would weaken Raila bedrock support from Nyanza. The leader in the middle of this is Dr. Mark

When asked why he was allowing the Suba elders to come out of the luo shadows, Matunga noted “ Subas are Bantus, and Luos are Nilotes, and it was important for the Suba to appreciate and enjoy their full identity even though they have fully and amicably integrated with the Luos” Matunga’s aide said, adding that “ there has not been any conflict between the Subas and Luos and I do not foresee any manner of conflict”.

The extent of Suba Luo integration and intermarriage is so deed and now for so long that the sense of cohesion is very, very strong. This is to an extent that the new generation of Suba do not even know that they are Subas let alone speak the language” he noted. “it would be unthinkable that that scoping Suba identity would in this new Constitutional dispensation would create any sort of conflict” asserted Matunga…

Matunga went farther on to say, “those who view the Launch of Suba Elders as minus to Raila are dangerous peddlers of lies, and should not be allowed to cheat Kenyans… if anything, inauguration of Suba Elders depicts Raila not as a leader of Luos only but a national leader who has achieved exemplary cohesion and integration among the Luos and Subas, and is indeed a leader to be trusted to bring Kenyans of many tribes together to peacefully co-exist” he added “ as a matter of fact, recent history indicate that Raila’ solid support even by voting record is from Suba region, and that will not change in life or in death” asserted Matunga.

The notion that Subas are running away from Raila now emerges to be lies being propagated but competitors of Matunga for the County Governorship. This is because the Subas have resolved to rally support behind Dr.

Mark Matunga for top county seat. And the launch of Suba Council of Elders was simply being viewed as to seal support of the Matunga, a phenomena that would spell doom for many aspirants.

It turns out that only Matunga from among the pack has generated bedrock support from his backyard who are the Subas for that matter. Many Subas especially the elders view Dr. Mark Matunga as their new TJ. Mboya. In a very short span of time, Matunga has initiated several development projects in the area only compared to what Mboya could do.

During his speech at the inauguration for Suba Council of Elders, Dr. Matunga struck an emotionally captivate code saying that “ Tom Mboya died at the age of 39 with many unfinished business… if elected as governor of Homabay County, I will be 39 years old, and my job will be to pick up from Mboya left finish the development work that he left unfinished” noted Matunga.

When you listen to Matunga speak, it helps understand why not only the Suba people would support him, but many across Homabay County.

The Elders feel that for a very long time, they have finally found a leader who will bring about development.

A point of unity that came out very strongly during the Launch of Suba council of elders was the focus on Raila for presidency and Matunga for Governor.

The elders feel that dealing with county and national aspects on the political front will enable them emerge more united than if they allowed themselves to deal with parliamentary and local politics. Apparently the same is the posture that young professionals from Suba have adopted, but went further to add Obama to win second term bid.

The newly installed Suba elder Mr. Apollo Okeyo, encourage many members to register to the council and help promote peace co-existent among the Subas and other communities. Mr. Okeyo vowed to woo other communities to to support Raila, and he noted that in addition to core activities of Suba Council of Elders in Suba, the group will travel to other parts of the country to visit other communities to drum up support for Raila. He said that the Elders would support their sons and daughters to go for County

ends