You would not fail to notice a Luo elder during important functions. They had distinct attire and walking style.
A Luo elder of yore often donned multi-coloured or black flowing robes, with beaded skull caps similar to those worn by the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
They carried fly whisks and walked with a limp with goatskin bags hung around their waists. However, this is slowly becoming a thing of the past as wrangles take centre stage in the Luo Council of Elders.
The current leadership has been accused of breaking from the past by failing to speak with one voice and foster unity among the community.
The council has split into two factions with one led by Ker Elly Otondi from Kisumu County and the other by Nyandiko Ongadi from Homa Bay County.
Factions in the council came to the fore during President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy William Ruto’s thanksgiving prayers at Afraha Stadium after ICC dismissed their post-violence cases.
The chairman of one splinter group Mr Ongadi led a delegation to the rally.
According to Mzee Adera Osawa who is the secretary general of the Ongadi camp, they were working on proposals for merger which they want the elders to discuss.
“I am working on the possible ways of uniting all factions without necessarily involving the political class who have been at the centre of the controversies,” he claims.
Divided
Mzee Osawa said the council split after some elders refused to follow the constitution.
“We used oral constitution from the days of Mesopotamia to anoint a king until 2002 when we developed a constitution,” he said. The constitution stipulates clearly that there can only be one ‘Ker’ at a time.
The wrangles over the council chairman have spilled to the corridors of justice. The split is so bad that Mzee Otondi and his team skipped the funeral of former Chair Riaga Ogallo on September 7, last year.
The elders have also been feuding over the ownership of the Ofafa Memorial hall where they have an office.
Mzee Otondi defended his team, saying they were doing their best to uphold the interests of the community – culturally and politically.
“The elders are so politically active and divided that they cannot work together. Politicians, especially the debutantes, are using the elders for their political interests. Some believe all they need to win seats are blessings from the elders,” said Ondiek Mboya, a political analyst.
Last week’s criticism of the council by Kisumu Governor Jackton Ranguma, his deputy Ruth Odinga and Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch has sparked a debate on the leadership (elders).
Resolving cultural issues
Speaking during the installation of Mzee Zablon Omoso as an elder for Seme, the leaders said the council was an important institution that should carry out mandate as spelt out in their constitution.
The deputy governor told the elders to concentrate their efforts on resolving cultural issues affecting the community.
“Stop going to towns to munch samosas, chips and sodas. Go back to the villages and arbitrate on matters affecting the people,” she said.
Mr Olago wondered why the elders no longer dress in their traditional attire when attending functions.
“I expected you to come here dressed in your traditional regalia not black suits,” he said.
Mr Outa asked the elders stop delving in partisan politicians as they were expected to be arbitrators.
The elders are now under pressure to redeem their image and resolve the disputes that have split the council.
The previous elders were not only tough and mysterious but welded the big stick as they kept law and order among the Luo community.
Former Luo Council of Elders Chairman, Mzee Koyo Opien, was a no nonsense man and politicians, including the CORD leader feared him because he often gave them a tongue lashing in public. If he were alive today, he would have landed in jail for hate speech.
“They ensured every home had a granary and cattle to ensure food security. Those who went against the Luo culture and customs faced disciplinary action. Besides the Provincial Administration, their word was law, “ says Mathews Oduka who has studied the Luo leadership.
It was a tradition among some of the elders to deliberately arrive late at important functions.
During funerals of key personalities in society, they bowed at the coffin and wave the fly whisk twice before walking to the dais to greet the guests by waving the fly whisk three or four times.
If an important figure is present, like CORD leader Raila Odinga, they would walk to him, place their hands on his forehead as if to bless him.
Protocol officers set aside seats for the elders during functions.
The elders speech was slow and calculated but authoritative. Ker Adala Otuko, a former diplomat, made history by becoming Ker (elder) at only 41, when the ideal age for the post was 61.
Other chairmen of the council were Mzee William Ouko from Ugenya, Paul Mboya and Mzee Joel Omer.
