Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu CITY

The bunch of Luo MPS and leaders attended the so-called consultative meeting in Bondo last week. They denounced the Nairobi governor Dr. Evans Otieno Kidero for his effort to assist the poverty ridled community by conducting a series of high profile Harambee fundraising towards socio-economic projects in Nyanza was misplaced.

These gentlemen of parliament should know that the index of poverty in Luo-Nyanza is the highest in this country. Therefore, the community would definitely welcome anybody who is readily coming to their assistance with both arms. The region therefore needs a foresighted person like Dr Kidero who is mindful of the less fortune members of the society.

Some of the leaders who spoke the loudest should perhaps spent their valuable hero worshiping individuals instead of making any meaningful contributions to wards development activities in the region. One of the examples is the Homa-Bay Senator, Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ who spearheaded anti-Kidero debate, was first elected to represent the larger Mbita Constituency in Parliament before it was splintered into two parts with the creation of Suba South or Gwassi constituency some years ago. Kajwang’ later jumped the ship and relocated his politics to HOMA-bay County and contested the Senate seat, but left nil record of development in Mbita. However, the Senator cannot account for any single economic or infrastructure project he had initiated and completed in Mbita after being in Parliament for close to 17 years.

The outspoken Senator can only be remembered with the song lyrics of Bado Kuna Mapambsno as his only legacy in Mbita. He was eventually forced out of Mbita which he left in a huff after sensing defeat early this year and relocated his politics to HomaA-Bay town for the purpose of hoodwinking the voters in the larger County.

Kajwang’ entered into Parliament almost at the same time with the late Joshua orwa Ojode, the former Ndhiwa MP who was elected in 1974. Ojode, however, left behind a remarkable record of development in Ndhiwa. The MP who converged at Bondo and vilified Kidero are some of those leaders still happy when presiding over the Poverty ridden people, while some of them are swimming in ill-gotten wealth. They should know that hero worshipping politics is now outmoded and has no place in modern society,

Instead of criticizing Dr Kidero, the MPS should strive to sensitizing their people to compete with their neighbors in wealth creation. The Luos have been wallowing in abject poverty ever since this country attained its political independence in 1963, while other neighboring communities moves much faster and turned their areas.

Good example is the comparison of Kisii town and Kisumu CITY. While Kisumu is lagging behind in development, activities in Kisii town are very competitive while Kisumu is stinking in dirty garbages and broken sewerage lines which goes for weeks unrepaired.

Let these MPS come up with tangible ideas on how the Luo-Nyabza could move much faster and catch up with other regions, instead of polarizing the region with deceitful politics, which are full of empty slogans.

Ends