Sunday, October 14, 2012

Luo, Kalenjin elders meet for alliance talks


By Vincent Bartoo
Luo and Kalenjin elders met in Eldoret in what pointed to an imminent political alliance between leaders of the two communities.
The meeting came amid widespread speculation that Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Eldoret North MP William Ruto could enter into a pre-election pact following a secret meeting between the two leaders.
On Saturday, the elders held a closed door meeting in an exclusive resort in the outskirts of Eldoret that lasted the whole day.
They declined to speak to the Press, but later allowed journalists into the hall for a small briefing before they continued with their talks. The Kalenjin elders were led by Mr Jackson Kibor and Mr Said Keittany while the Luo Council of Elders Chairman also known as Ker, Willis Otondi led the Luo elders.
“We have come here to meet our brothers since the Kalenjin and the Luo share a common historical bond,” said Mr Otondi. He said that when the two Nilotic communities migrated into Kenya, they were one but were later separated by culture.
“The Luo loved fish and so they went to live around Lake Victoria while our brothers and sisters the Kalenjin were livestock keepers so they chose the highlands,” he added.
Otondi said history seems to be repeating itself as the communities seek allies to work with politically.
He regretted that tribal divisions were taking root in the country and warned that this was risky for the nation’s cohesion.
Political direction
“That is why we as elders want to come in and unite our communities and so we decided to come home first because the Kalenjin are our people,” said Otondi.
On their part, the Kalenjin elders said the meeting was aimed at ensuring the two communities lead others in forming the next Government. Keittany said the meeting was part of an effort to enlist communities supporting Raila’s bid for the presidency next year.
“We want to see to it that our political direction is one and as elders it is our responsibility to show the way,” he said. However, the Kalenjin Council of Elders that is led by Josiah Sang was absent. North Rift for Raila lobby group attended the meeting.


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