The majority of Kenyan Luos watched in disbelief as Chebukati announced the results of the 2022 presidential election. All of their dreams were dashed as the news was revealed, stabbing them in the heart like a deadly tri-dagger. Many families wept for days. They wept because this was the fifth attempt they had presented their bull for the national contest. Agwambo the bull was known for his prowess in political wrestling. He could only be compared to Amalinze the cat from Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart.” Because neither Amalinze nor Agwambo’s back ever touched the earth, they were both referred to as “the cats.”
Even more, Agwambo had all he needed for these elections at his disposal, and he had convinced everyone that he understood how to win. The Luo nation could now finally reap the benefits of their successful freedom campaign. It represented the fruition of at least 25 years of effort. All preparation was in place, all important hands had been shaken, and all important rivers had been crossed, including the Rubicon.
And yet we still lost.
After one party loses two elections in a row, there is sort of blood in the water.
Robert Dallek
How we lost, or why we lost is not a subject matter in this article.
For over 50 years, the Luo nation in Kenya has approached Kenyan politics on a united front. Its sense of political order, social organization and unity had made it one of the strongest ethnic players in the Kenyan political terrain. Indeed, it is true that in an ethnic-based political system like Kenya’s, ethnic mobilization is paramount and the Luo have perfected it. It is the reason they have been able to negotiate with the successive regimes by either offering, or withholding their social and political goodwill to various Presidents. It is this political strong-headedness has also given strength to their long-serving king-pin Agwambo, forcing other leaders to approach the Luo cautiously, and with white gloves.
For at least 25 years, there is no question that the Luo have remained steadfast and loyal supporters of Baba. They followed him, even in his lowest of moments, or in the moments when he made irrational decisions. This ‘to-the-hilt’ loyalty advanced to near-spiritual levels, and Baba became like a god. I believe he felt it, I believe it somehow got into his head that he no longer needed to consult them anymore or to discuss a concerted plan of action with them. He must have assumed they understood him, and they in turn assumed that he would use his mysterious powers (juogi) to know the best course of action. This, my friends, was the beginning of our tragedy. We followed Baba to the high mountains, into deserts and into the rivers. And in doing this, we failed to spot the red flags along the way. The few who raised alarm were shut off and told to stay at the back or leave. We watched as Baba’s inner circle hijacked him from the people, locking out feedback, even critical feedback that every leader requires to make informed decisions. Any Luo leader who associated with the government of the day was seen as a traitor and had his ‘Luoness’ questioned. In the end, as we approached the 2022 elections, our 25 year-old hope clung onto a thin strip of unverified fact – that Baba’s bilateral ‘brotherhood’ with President Uhuru Kenyatta would open the gates of State house and hand him the keys. We were basically leaning on one another, but collectively leaning on nothing.
Days to the elections, many members of Baba’s inner circle were celebrating and plotting about who would occupy which desk within State house. I tell you so many beers were drank, and so many eggs were counted before they were hatched. These eggs would later smash on our faces in the most despicable manner ever.
And so we lost to William Ruto.
Six months later, the hemorrhage has began. Luo leader after Luo leader is crossing the floor to join the ruling party. A few Luo leaders are speaking out against a ‘cult of Odingaism’ that they now claim had permeated Luo-land. They see themselves as the brave ones who have seen the light. They meet in hotels and give press conferences urging the people to abandon the Odinga ship. Are they genuine? Are they the alternative voices? Is this what the post-Raila Luo leadership will look like? To these merchants, I say a resounding NO.
On the other hand, Baba has launched a plan of mass action to pile pressure on the government, and hopefully to bite it where it hurts the most – the economy. Sounds well and good, but again, what is the end-game for this? Is it the quest for another extra-political settlement (handshake)? Or is it a revolution in the making? Because it can only be one of the two. Indeed he has the advantage of the prevailing elements that he could exploit – the high standard of living, the poor performing Kenyan shilling, and a general discontent among the wider Kenyan population about the government’s bloated workforce. But even with this head-start, he will need to first re-brand himself as the Agwambo, the people’s freedom fighter, since he had almost lost all of his freedom-fighter credentials during his ‘handshake’ dalliance with President Uhuru Kenyatta, when he joined the bourgeoisie and ate with them.
From Argwings Kodhek to Christopher Msando, a great portion of Kenya’s flag is painted red by the blood of Luo leaders who in their quest for justice, had stood in the way of powerful nefarious elements within the successive regimes.
Now listen. The Luo are a strong-willed people who will protest an injustice to any lengths, and the history of Kenya cannot be complete without the role of the Luo in shaping the country’s pre and post-independence democracy. That glory has however come at a heavy cost for the Luo, more so during moments of civil unrest, when they have had to bear the brunt of government violence. In Kenya’s history, the Luo nation has sacrificed many sons who died or disappeared under unclear circumstances. From Argwings Kodhek to Christopher Msando, a great portion of Kenya’s flag is painted red by the blood of Luo leaders who in their quest for justice, had stood in the way of powerful elements within the successive governments. Further still, a seemingly deliberate propaganda machine led by compromised media elements, has increasingly profiled the Luo as ungovernable trouble-makers and rabble-rousers. This negative branding continues to be a burden that a Luo child has to bear his entire life. We all know about the ‘O-curse’. From the moment he mentions his name, a Luo child will most often not be admitted to a school of his choice, hired, or considered for promotion at the workplace for fear that he harbors disruptive political motives. In essence, the Luo nation has earned its stripes laying Kenya’s round-table and therefore needs no introduction at the table, let alone the fact that it deserves a sizable piece of the national cake.
And so in our self-reflection, we find ourselves at an ideological parting of the ways (Akirikiki), and a few in-house questions must be asked:
Will the Luo nation forever oscillate between Baba’s way and the ruling party’s way? Are these the only choices? Many thinkers have spoken about the dangers of a false dichotomy. The notion that there is only an ‘either’ or an ‘or’. A black or a white, a good or a bad. To this narrow thinking, I again say a resounding NO. There is always a way beyond the two paths.
The Luo nation has rightfully agitated against successive ruling parties to protest continuous marginalization, first politically then economically. They therefore have a valid reason to keep the government on its toes so long as they are still excluded from it. Even more because their efforts for legitimate change at the ballot are constantly sacrificed at the altar of electoral misconduct and ‘opaqueness’. The ruling party does not become a good party just because they won the elections.
Kenyans should continue to protest for better governance, affordable health, freedom from hunger, better conditions of life. Not to merely help Baba achieve political nirvana.
NGITO JL
Equally, Baba can remain the Luo nation’s cultural leader, but he does not need to remain the Luo nation’s chief political negotiator forever. Every dog has its day. It is time he lets someone else do the negotiation. He has had a colorful past and his name is boldly etched in Kenya’s history books. He now needs to cement his great legacy by doing what many African leaders struggle with. Many people already liken him to Mandela, and this is the only lesson Mandela taught that Baba has not taken. He needs to be reminded of this last piece of wisdom. To leave the dance-floor without killing the music, and to allow other younger dancers the space to dance and for a new Luo leadership to emerge.
For my Luo nation, it does not have to be either the ruling party’s way, or Baba’s way. There is a third way. The organic way. In these treacherous days of positioning and posturing by selfish leaders, the Luo nation cries for a voice of reason. A voice propelled by authentic lack and marginalization. A voice of hope for the poor Luo children who need to live in Kenya and co-exist with other nations without their name being a burden. A voice that is not laden with vengeance or bitterness, or the need to vanquish the others. I believe there is space for a fresh thinking, a fresh new generation of Luos who yearn to share their brilliant vision with the rest of Kenyans. Indeed, I believe that one day, Kenyans will give a chance to a Luo leader with a fresh vision. Because the Luo star is too bright to pass through the Kenyan sky unnoticed.
Broken wings fly 
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