GEM DISTRICT QUARRELS AND WAR OF WORDS INCLUDING COURT INJUNCTION
GEM DISTRICT ISSUE
By Felix Owaga Okatch
wuod Gem Nyawara
The issue of district headquarters is now generating a lot of heated debates and discussions among us in Gem, Kenya and the rest of the world. It is has put us on spotlight as JoGem mane ochiew chon. The inauguration ceremony which was to take place at Sawagongo/Nyangweso on Friday 4/12/09 was postpones to 8/12/09 and this time again the postponement was due to a court injunction to stop it.
Some say that the headquarters should be at Yala, others
Nyangweso/Sawagongo and some Nyawara Chiefs Centre near the famous Gem Hall.
It is now heading for name calling which should not be the case.
As JoGem, we are generally ahead of most Luos and we need to maintain that status as had been set by our fathers, grand fathers, leaders like Odera Akango, Odera Ulalo, Odera Sande, Ogada etc.
Even our elected leaders since independence of Kenya have guided us well despite many challenges and changes in time and space.
For this reason it would be good for us to debate honestly, with sober minds and do so intelligently, based on the circumstances on the ground. This will enable us come out with amicable solution to the problem.
To appeal to Jo Gem and illustrate that we have a common descendant, I take this opportunity to share with you in DhoLuo, a brief history of GEM.
Oral history of JoGem as recorded by Shadrack Malo in his book on Luos of Central Nyanza states that:
Joka Gem ne gin Anyanga, Kwenda gi Ojuodhi.
Anyanga nonyuolo wuowi achiel ma nyinge Nyakota. Kuom yawuot Gem adekgo,ariyonochamoni Anyaga chira nikech ginyuolore ahinya, mit koro Anyanga onindo ei Ojuodhi.To kawa wach moro nitie moriwo Joka Gem duto, Kwenda gi Ojuodhi podi gimiyo Anyanga duog’ mare, tinde ni ka gir liswa moro nitie to Jokanyanga ematieko. Anyanga ema ne duong’.
Luos are superstitious people and have evolved by principle of
primogeniture, that is respect to first borns to avoid bad omen.
Kwenda nonyuolo yawuowi abirio:
Uwoga,Thomo,Rariw,Nyikwaya,Gilo,Wiri gi Were. Kuom yawuowi abiriogo, auchiel ema karegi ochung’maber . Were kare oke kendo en ema ong’ere ni Kanyiwuor. Kuom JokaGem adekgo Kwenda onyuolore ahinya to Ojuodhi oloye mana gi ongenda maduong’. Ojuodhi nonyuolo yawouwi abich magin; Ndolo (Ulolo), Okwiri, Adhaya, Opiyo gi Odongo Achier. Kuom nyithind Gem adekgo emane onyuolore ahinya.
Higni mokadho kapodi Jasungu obiro Yala, delini momako Kwenda kod Ojuodhi ne gin kaka :
KWENDA
Korango ka Ndeda, Odendo Kowino, Yath Olalo Kokach, Kombok, Osira Kolare, Ndori Kayuo, Nyaolo Kolweru, Gombe Kowuor Aluru, Ramula Kodundo, Gamba Korege, Siala Kaduol, Yenga Koriwo, Lwand Minyowo, Bar Kopata, Bar Kokong’o, Uriri Korek, Siriwo Kogweyo, Pundo Kosare, Sipoklo Kaduol, Gongo Kachuth, Migosi Kodiembo, Nango Kaserwa, OmindoKamagundho, Bar aumara, Masogo Onuro Yath, Nyandiwa Kotina, Nyawara Kogwel, Uyonga Kondier, Muhanda Kobodi, Luri Karadier etc
OJUODHI
Maungo Kanyalia, Uhanya Kanyamwanga, Murumba Kodera Rangira, Got Nyangwira Kodera Ulalo, Lwanda Koloo Ramoya, Jemo Kodera Rangira, AnyikoKaluoch (sgt. Maramba Koluoch grandfather to Felix Okatch), Ulumbi Kaweyo, Marenyo Kogot, Sagam Kachola, Lihanda Kowuor, MudhineKadet Obondo, Rabuor Kodwar Osumba, Uranga Kodera Ulalo, Umiru Kanyangao, Muhanda Kotwenyo, Dudi Kagina, Ukaya Koyoo, Sirandu Koyugi Anyango, Ngolo Kanyanjom, Lundha Kolwande wuon Oduge, Rang’ala Konyalo, Hundro Kowuodha, Wanyiegore Komeno, Nyabeda Kolero, Ndegwe Koriwo, Bar Otwero Komenya, Nyanya Kouko wuon Akumu, Ng’ut Mbaka Kowenga, Kamuyare wuom Magolo, Nyanya Kajaoko, Ochok Tong’Konyango,
Umdongo Kowendho, Usiku Kosure etc.
FELIX OWAGA OKATCH
Tel: 254-721-735489
Jogem joma riek. What is the fuss about identifying a District Head quarters? Why dont you borrow a leaf from Jo Ugenya who according to Jogem are not ”very bright”but managed to locate their Head quarters at Ukwala with minimal hassle.
Gem is about leadership, the many forces of power existing in the area is the cause of this acrimony. Sober leadership should start with our rogue MP
A central location should be found for the proposed headquarters of the district.Land should be aquired and everything built from the scratch.
It is good to suggest central location but unfortunately, 70percent of JoGem are in the neighbourhood of Yala.
Take Ramula, Sagam, Jina, Yala township, Nyamninia, Muhanda, Nyawara, Kodiaga, Sirembe and Malanga, this comprises of over 70% of Gem population.
Therefore centrality cannot hold much water, though good.
People have to meet and discuss the way forward.
Jo gem are very wrong on this. It is the Government of the day to decide where to put up the district headquarters. It is not the so called “Gem elite” to decide.
One Felix Okach should also learn to respect other Luos. What did he mean by Jo Gem mane ochiew chon? Does he imply that the rest of the Luos pod nindo?
Rather than yanyo jo Luo, he should have focused on his political agenda after he failed to capture the Gem seat. It was a clear demonstration that jo Gem ok dware.
He is also known to use Ramogi FM to discredit Luos from other regions and claiming that Jo Gem are more learned than the rest of the Luos. Shame on you Felix!
Yawuot Gem, let us be level headed on this issue instead of throwing brick butts at each other. The saying ‘Bim okne sianda ne’ should apply hear.
Let us also get a forum to discuss the prevalent wave of crime in Gem too. Let us be positive.
Jakoyo nene ok okwalo ombulu, wan ema nene wayiere. Omiyo nyaka wariwre uru mondo wakonyre uru gero Gem.
The Jogem deserve all respect from other luos,let the rest emulate wat they did instead of spoiling for them,jogem are the engine of the luo society:cud they make it without us?
Wake up all. Times have changed. I’m from Siaya but a matter of fact is that southern Nyanza has more students in Kenyan universities at any time. That is development. Heaping praise on the past does not add value. In fact it deducts value from value added. Ancient Greece was the epitome of civilization. But where are they in the current world map?
Jo Gem ango matimo u. Be like Jo Alego. Okatch tok nyal.
Its true Gem are clever people, the problem with this District Headquater is the idear of these Kagola people to own everything. Alot of things have gone to Kagola, why don`t they too leave it to others. We should check the Gem boundaries to help us determine the central place for the headquarter.
I wounder why jomosomo should have a problem in ngado wach lets have the district headquater in siala kaduol at pap siala next to the siala district dispensary.
kajogem osomo moromo, kingad bura dichiel ni ongi map mondo ogere wagai to serve as the central point of gem. Look at the boundaries and not politicise the noble idea taken soberly.
Lets handle this matter seriously and soberly. Looking at the boundaries, Wagai is more ideal for the proposed headquarters as it stands to serve all corners of gem. Politics will just do more harm than any good. ”Wakwanza watakuwa wa mwisho, na wa mwisho watakuwa wa kwanza”. Gem should not brag of the past but should rather approach the future as a team to reclaim it’s lost glory.
I am also interested in the conversation and the history of Gem people. I understand that my biological father is from Gem. My mother passed on without telling me who my father was. But i came to realise from other people and through my own research that my fathers name is Peter Sande from Gem dudi but i really dont know where he is at the momment. i had been told that when my biological father differed and separated with my late mother when i was barely six months. by the i could not know who was my father was. My mother later re-married in Muhoroni, can some body help me so that i can get in touch with him wherever he may be and also to see him and greet him and share with him or if i can get his number.
sorry i did not indicate my number is 0713495782 and currently is living in nairobi.
Who are jokagolla??
secondly jogem should start thinking of who has more money not education,you study to make money guys dont freeze in the past!