A LETTER TO THE LUOS.More importantly, before getting all worked up about the reasons for and/or mechanics of holding a national referendum, we – the Majestic People of Luo Nyanza – demand and deserve to hold an Extraordinary Regional Dialogue(ERD)with The Odinga Caliphate in order to settle three burning issues.The first issue is the introduction, entrenchment and practice of multiparty democracy in Luo Nyanza. This is critical. For more than three decades, we have been suffering under the yoke of The Odinga Caliphate. Luo Nyanza is the only region in Kenya where multi-party democracy has never been practiced.The Caliphate whimsically handpicks candidates for party and all elective positions. Since the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in Kenya more than twenty years ago, Luo Nyanza has never experienced political freedom. Our once thriving and dynamic culture has remained stagnant and transfixed on the chimera of one man’s political ambitions. For about 25 years, Luos have been forcefully herded or intimidated into one cult after another by The Paramount Chief. Thesole purpose is for the continued domination and control of Luo Nyanzapolitics, as a means of livelihood by The Caliphate and to propel The Paramount Chief to glory. Any resistance to these parochial objectives has been met with violence from the Men in Black and other Caliphate goons.The second substantive issue is the introduction, planning and implementation of a democratic leadership culture and mechanisms for leadership transition in Luo Nyanza. This entails inculcating and promoting an egalitarian culture that will encourage, inspire and support leadership based on fundamental values and qualities such as integrity,hard work, transparency, accountability and collegiality.Luos - who were once the envy of Africa by the way we robustly exercised internal democracy in all decisions affecting us, vibrantly debated all pubic issues, and actively engaged in diverse productive endeavours in academia, the professions, the arts, science, technology and business enterprises, have, for more than thirtyyears now, been reduced to artefacts from antiquity. Our economy has been at the ICU for close to 40 years. We no longer inspire local institutionsof higher learning, trade unions, student politics and intellectual discourses with insightful ideas and rigour. We cannot provide leadership because even our council of elders have been handpicked by the Paramount Chief.No Luo – educated or illiterate – seem willing or able to engage in anything substantive without the approval of the Paramount Chief. We are nowadays best known for politicaland soccer hooliganism; not intellectual prowess, logical rigour or democratic practice. This situation must change .Consequently, the Dialogue I’m proposing is intended to demystifying, deconstruct and de-legitimise the prevailing culture ofleadership based on genetics. The principal focus would be to allow everyone to have equal access to leadership positions based solely on their efforts, demonstrated abilities and genuine – not contrived – popular support. At the end of the dialogue session, we intend to inculcate a leadership culture where positions of responsibility and privilege – not power – are earned through deeds or provable performance, integrity and vision. Leadership will be earned. Ascension will be organic; not staged through rigged or manipulated Caliphate nominations. Mythology will have no place in transitions; only solid and verifiable records.The third main agenda will be to unveil an Economic Recovery Plan forLuo Nyanza (ERP). This ERP must be multi-pronged. The first prong will consist of Luo billionaires, millionaires, business people, entrepreneurs, professionals and workers initiating and funding – as a group - at least three income generating enterprises in fishing, agriculture and ICT, which are cumulatively capable of employing at least 300,000 people at their commencements. We shall reconstruct all the infrastructure and enterprises neglected or destroyed by The Caliphate.The second prong will comprise of sourcing of fundsfrom specific wealthy individuals such as our foreign friends, entrepreneurs and philanthropists. We will expect that the very few wealthy Luo billionaires like Raila Odinga, Evans Kidero, Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Sammy Wakiaga, Hezron Awiti Bolo, Eric Opon Nyamunga, Raphael Tuju and EdwinYinda (isn’t this a pathetic number for billionaires none of whom is a true entrepreneur?) would dig deep into their pockets and liberally use their rolodexes to attract finance from wealthy friends, business associates and funders in order to make these initiatives a success.The third prong involves attracting resources from the national government, especially from President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and their rich colleagues, business associates and funders. This is the time for the Jubilee administration and its supporters to demonstrate bipartisanship,good will, good neighbourlinessand inclusivity. Helping us build roads, schools, hospitals, factories and regenerate other economic activities will demonstrate their support. We must create employment for the youth. This cannot wait.Finally – and this is a huge one – we should use this opportunity to invite our most celebrated achiever, President Barack Obama – to visit Kenya and preside over the launch of the ERP. This is the excuse Obama has been waiting for to visit Kenya, the land of his father and ancestors, before he relinquishes the title of “themost powerful man in the face of the earth” in less than two years’ time. For me, this would be a more prudent use of time for the Paramount Chief than the national referendum hoopla.Instead of wasting billions traversing Kenya and clogging our ears with the national referendum song and unleashing his Men in Black goons on divergent voices and independent thinkers, Raila must utilise his exaggerated skills to hold a dialogue for the empowerment of his people, the Luo. This is the best chance he has to audition his vision, managerial and leadership skills for us before taking the dance on national audition.He has blown all the other chances. It’s time for Raila to prove to us – Luos – that he was serious when he called for national dialogue with the Jubilee leadership.It’s also time for him to demonstrate that he cares about the sorry conditions of his people.Charity begins at home! If Raila and The Odinga Caliphate refuse to agree to this Extraordinary Regional Dialogue within twenty days from today’s date, we will have no option but to call a referendum on The Odinga Caliphate.The storms are gathering!Yours honestly,Miguna Joshua Miguna.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 14:18:36 +0000
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