Things Kavirondo
By Dikembe Disembe via Facebook
There is nothing wrong with Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o being the Governor of Kisumu in 2017. I have read somewhere that he may seek the position come 2017.
Makueni County remains a pace setter in devolution because Prof Kivutha Kibwana has remained strong willed and true to devolution. Kisumu needs a governor who will not be armtwisted by MCAs.
The challenge with the first generation of leaders of Luo Nyanza Counties is our penchant to be academic in everything. People rejected ‘politicians’ and elected the so called ‘non-politicians’ as propaganda then was that governorship required those with ‘corporate sector’ credentials.
Awiti was at Marie Stopes. Obado was at Kenya Sugar Board. Ranguma was a KRA commissioner. I don’t know where Rasanga came from.
However, our experiment with devolution in Nyanza isn’t cozy. Bomet, for instance, elected a long service legislator, Isaac Rutto, who, despite opposing the 2010 constitution (on instructions from one William Ruto) which anchored devolution, has been one of the system’s greatest saviors.
The result is that people of Bomet have embraced the system more than those in Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori. I say this because Luo Nyanza has been one of the most apathetic regions to get people to buy into Okoa Kenya.
I dare add: If Raila Odinga’s attempts to add more money to counties flop, it will be because leaders, especially governors, of Luo Nyanza – the bedrock of reform politics – did not inspire our people to once again ‘add fuel’ to the struggle.
In Bomet, where to erect a university is the problem. Opinion is divided whether it should be Bomet town or Sigor. In Homa Bay, the only county in Western Kenya with no university or even university college, leaders are yet to even identify the site!
In Migori, an MP claimed a university cannot be constructed in his constituency because the site earmarked for the construction has ‘minerals’.
The above two examples are just two instances on one development issue – higher education infrastructure and its implications to rural economies.
Truth is, we from Luo Nyanza have disappointed other regions. The struggle to anchor devolution has been costly and heavier on us than any other region. You all know Dr. Odhiambo Mbai, the chair of constitution’s select committee on devolution, was killed because of his belief on this system.
But the first generation of our governors, folks who were not at Bomas…folks who were not in Naivasha…folks who came onto the scene after 2010, after the promulgation; folks who were enjoying the leather chairs of corporate boardrooms and sweet family evenings in their homes when their political counterparts were sweating the new system out with a determined status quo establishment, these folks seem not to appreciate the struggle, the bloody struggle, to get into their coffers the billions they are now wasting with abandon.
The struggle to anchor devolution is a struggle to economically emancipate Nyanza. The tragedy, sadly, is that Nyanza leadership has become overly excited with the first batch of billions coming to the Kavirondo. The brazen embezzlement, the blatant theft, the wanton misappropriations, by county leaders, makes Dr Mbai turn in his grave.
OMIYO, whichever way you look at it, Luo Nyanza must have a new cohort of leaders. Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o heading to Kisumu is therefore good news. The struggle must be sustained by those who’ve fought it; those who understand it. It is until our people feel the wonders of devolution in their wards, in their villages, in their homes, that we can begin the other fights we must have with the ‘baboons’ in the road to FEDERALISM!
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ODM Party sent a team to investigate the problems in Kisumu County. The team, led by the ‘communist’ Oduor Ong’wen, presented their report last week to the party and party leader. Our party has given the leadership there time to sort out their issues because when JAKOM will descend there, let no one cry eti ooh, Raila chunowa gi Ny’ong’o…oooh, Raila chunowa gi Muhindi (Shabir)…ooh, Raila this….ooh, Raila that… ‪#‎OKBICHALONU‬