The Luhya Unity: Francis Atwoli should stop Day Dreaming

Like everyone else, I believe that the most popular definition of democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Democracy is equally a political process that allows a plurality of political parties to ensure popular participation in the political decision-making.

Other manifestations of a democratic government include a free and independent judiciary, a free press and the recognition that is given to the provisions of the constitution, especially on those clauses that concern fundamental human rights which include freedom of speech, movement, and association.

 Most of these rights, apart from their inclusion in the nation’s constitution, are also enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights.

For the aforementioned reasons, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has every right as a citizen of this country to be involved in any political activity that advances his interests. However, his efforts to name a Luhya Community spokesperson is mischievous, day dreaming and an attempt to stifle the democratic freedom of voters.

 Atwoli should first appreciate the fact that what he is perceiving as divisions is, in fact, the way most people from western Kenya have chosen to exercise their democratic right.

The narrative that Luhya people spread their votes among different presidential candidates because they are always divided is not true. What is true though is the community listens to everybody who comes to campaign for their votes. This should be applauded and other communities encouraged emulating the same.

Atwoli should stop demonizing the community for not being tribalistic enough during elections. Ethnicity and tribalism are the twin evils that Kenya has to fight and fight to win it. We cannot win by receding into our tribal cocoons as Atwoli is advocating.

Atwoli should also be reminded the only time the Luhyas voted almost for one person was during the 2002 general elections. Two facts informed this, people across the country were fed up with the KANU regime.; Secondly the opposition ticket of Kibaki and Wamalwa had raised euphoria and people saw real change through them.

Wamalwa did not need to be named a Luhya spokesperson to claim his position in the politics of the country by then.He was so convincing and he had a good rapport with the Luhya electorates.He did not need an opinion poll to inform him of his popularity.

Atwoli can go ahead and name the so called Luhya spokesperson but he needs to be sure of one thing, this will divide the community further. It will backfire on him and he should prepare for the backlash that will follow.

Atwoli should also know about the clan rivalry, especially between Bukusu and Maragoli clans.For many years the two remain suspicious of each other.The dust will not settle without this playing out and it may turn to be a grudge-settling contest.

In addition, how Atwoli manages the egos of the likes of Mudavadi, Wetangula, Jirongo, Khalwale and Oparanya will lead to some sort of forced marriage or it will reach boiling point as we head into the next general election.

 Last but not least, instead of Atwoli wasting his precious time on something that is going to divide the community further, he should instead advocate for the economic revolution of the western counties.

He should be proactive and use the contacts he has both at home and abroad to market economic potential of the counties like Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia. Kakamega county, for instance, needs a good housing, state of the art modern hospital, tarmacked roads, good incentives to sugarcane farmers and proper schools.

Politicians from the Luhya tribe must drop their mentality of tribal chiefs and start thinking about the future of these great counties. Those with ambitions at whatever level should come out to be scrutinized by the electorate and share their plans on how to take the country forward.

Finally, Kenyans should change their mindset and forget about divisions of tribes and focus more on building a united Kenya.