Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 10:23:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: odhiambo okecth
I watched Calvin Burgess on TV saying that Dominion was closing down, and I could not believe it. I asked myself, what went wrong?
I was privileged to have met the said Calvin Burgess, sometimes in 2006, and I liked his ideas. I was taken on a tour around the firm, and I made a report that was compelling, and in support of what Dominion was doing at Yala Swamp.
I went back into history to look at what Yala Swamp was like before. We had what we used to call Lake Basin Development Authourity, and we all know that it failed to harness Yala Swamp to her full potential.
LBDA was a complete failure, and this was a government body. So it means that the government failed to harness Yala Swamp, or rather, the government failed the Luo people.
Then a Mzungu came all the way from Oklahoma, and indeed made Yala Swamp to be the pride of our region. I toured the firm before having a one on one with Calvin, and I thought, at long last, we were on the right course.
I was taken round the rice plane, a plant that was going to process 8000 tonnes of rice on a daily basis! What economic potential for Kenya?
I also knew that there were some teething problems that had to be addressed. The issue of compensation was paramount. The issue of Environmental Impact Assessment was of grave concern to some journeymen, and Calvin did not read the mood correctly.
I knew that these were small things that could be addressed. But Calvin surrounded himself with journey men, people who could not give him the correct advice that was needed.
I drew parallels with what we have in Central Propvince, and the fact that nobody in Central Province was making the kind of noise journey men were doing with Dominion in Nyanza, and apparently, nobody took notice.
I said that in Central Province, we had Kakuzi, Sasini and Del Monte doing exactly what Dominion was doing in Nyanza, and yet, the people of Central were all the more happy with those concerns.
I said, pray, what is all this noise about? Can we not address the concerns in a more civilized way, without making too much noise. Calvin did not listen, and his handlers did not listen as well.
Dominion did to us what Kakuzi, Sasini, Del Monte and others have done to the people of Cental Province; it brought sure food on the tables of many.
But, our own people, journeymen, have at long last succeeded. They have driven Dominion away. And they are all the more happy to have been paid the kind of 30 pieces of silver that condemned Jesus.
I will not comment on my feelings about Dominion, because, Dominion itself also took to thick skin, and could not listen to advice that could remedy the situation.
It is sad now that people who had been used to doing honest work for a living, must now go back to crime, drug abuse, prostitution and all the other social evils, to eke out a living.
Odhiambo T Oketch
PO Box 11204
00100 Nairobi Kenya
Tel; 0735 529 126, 0724 365 557
Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com
NB, Can someone send to me Calvin’s email so that I send him this text.
—–
Subject: It is sad Dominion must leave
I don’t know the details that led to Dominion closing down, but I do know that here in the US the local community will do anything to keep in place a company that employs her children. What is happening in Luo Nyanza is enough to ensure that no company will even give it a second look. This is not the only case in which the local community has given an investor a hard time. Remember the Sondu Miriu hydro power project? the project was plagued with so much problems its a wonder it even got completed, albeit several years behind schedule. The next culprit trust me will be the gold mining company in Migori. I am disappointed at the way w have elevated politics into all aspects of our lives, we should know when to separate politics and economics!
I think it is a very sad situation. Once again, it is the issue of letting Kenyans letting politics and politicians lead them blindly. The councillors having their own selfish interests have probabbly convinced the local people on the ills of Dominion, yet if Dominion packs up and go,the same people will be crying for jobs and blaming the government for lack of jobs. As Kenyans, when do we start taking responsibility for our actions. Have we become mindless that we follow leaders blindly even when it is obvious they are ruining us. Dominion is not perfect but surely the people in Nyanza need them more than they need Nyanza. As you can see, if they relocate, wherever they go those people will gladly receive them. I have heard many kikuyus hoping that Dominion will move to Central but unfortunately land is an issue there. Please, Nyanza people, do not bite the hand that feeds you.
http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143984468
This is what ails jaluoland, too much domo. If only we could focus our energies on things that could improve our lives and those of our people. Yes, your comparison with central is in order. You correctly put it that they are happy having Kakusi et al. All we are happy about is domo domo and self destructive tendencies. Today is about cabinet, tomorrow about ??? We focus our energies on wrong things.Why dont we learn from others than allow our emotions to over rule us???
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 11:44:16
Subject: RE: It is sad Dominion must leave
Jokanyanam – En an’go marach kodwa???
Why can we NOT move forward and instead keep revolving in this 50-year old time warp???
At the recent KDFC (www.kenyadevelopmentfundcorp.com< http://www.kenyadevelopmentfundcorp.com/>) launch in Florida, I witnessed first hand how friends of Kenya admire the intelligence and resolve of a NEW GENERATION of Jokanyanam. LET US MOVE FORWARD and live the CYNICS behind.
DOMINION IS HERE TO STAY!!! Those individuals from Siaya and Bondo Districts (councilors???) who have been compromised should face the FULL FORCE of the law.
My two cents worth…
JABUNGU
Posted on behalf of David Ndolo by Jaluo Press.
Why can’t the Luos, like the Kikuyus, find ways to develop their own land instead of bringing wabeberu, whose interests totally disregard the local people once they put their tentacles on the ground?
The Equity Bank, which is now controlling microfinancing in Kenya was started by an association of coffee growers in Central Province years back when it was called Kenya Building Society. What the Luos seem not to grasp is that you cannot start partnership with anybody if you are not bringing anything on the table or have something you willing to give as surety.
What are you people promising these foreign investors with money? What are you willing to lose should the project in question fail? I think it is cruel to promise other people’s land properties.
THOSE WHO WANT DOMINION TO LEAVE MUST PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE.
WHERE DO YOU WANT DOMINION WORKERS TO GO AND BEG
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF LUO TALKERS
IF YOU WANT DOMINION TO LEAVE THEN YOU MUST BUY THE FARM
IF YOU CANNOT BUY THE FARM, OTHERS WHO ALREADY DOMINATE THE FIELD WILL. SAME STORY!
LUOS MUST STOP TALKING AND START ACTING
I HAVE DEALT WITH MANY OF YOU AND I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT MOST OF YOU ARE CYBER CHEERLEADERS
I KNOW ALL OF YOU. GROW UP GENTLEMEN AND BE PATRIOTIC
BARACK
Post edited for content by Jaluo Press.