Khaoya the Luyia elder and fate of death

BY  LUKE  KAPCHANGA& BERNARD KWALIA   DN/BUNGOMA      27/2/2008     KHAOYA

The  death of the Luyia elder Joseph Khaoya and his first wife , same night , while not bed ridden has  shocked the family, the community  and political fraternity.

With the country just coming from the post election violence which saw families lose spouses and children at one go, the death could not have been  peculiar.

What makes Mzee Khaoyas demise different is his position in society of the Luyia community at large and the active role he played while hosting the ODM leader Raila Odinga  some time last year.

The bold decision he took that of handing to Raila the spear and shield at Muliro gardens in Kakamega, was what provoked political observers in the region, particularly in Bungoma to wake up.

Mr. Lucas Watta, one of his closest persons  then described the decision as “ very bold and instrumental for the people”.

Mzee  Khaoya called on the Luyia and the Bukusu in particular to support Raila, saying the time predicted by the late prophet Elijah Masinde about Luyia leadership had come.

He insisted that the prediction by Masinde the legendary Dini Y a Msambwa leader about the the Luyia or Bukusu ascending to the country’s leadership through Lake Victoria was indeed now.

He urged, according to his close friends that if they supported Odinga for the presidency, and he in turn appointed Musalia Mudavadi as the vice president then chances, are that he will succeed him after serving his full time.

This argument is   what infuriated the Ford-K brigade in the district who saw Khaoya as a traitor.

The Ford-K leadership from the Bungoma countered by explaining at length , that the prophesy by  the late Masinde had already been fulfilled through the late vice president Kijana Wamalwa.

They reasoned that because Wamalwa deputized the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and later took over as the Ford-Kenya chairman then, the said leadership was achieved.

This sparked off , a series of debates as visits to the shrine of the late Masinde became a hot issue , with family supporting the ODM pentagon team to visit while Ford-K opposing.

Mr. Watta said that handing Raila the traditional instruments of  power, was to identify him as the emerging leader, and this was the expression of trust in him by the elders.

There was nothing wrong or improper in handing the shield and spear to the ODM leader, he added, because the elder was giving direction to the community to take politically.

It is the direction, which those opposed to him say may have contributed to his untimely death , together with the wife.    

Mr. Mulunda Khaoya one of the sons, who described the death as tragic said Mzee Khaoya was determined to have the Luyia community united.

“My father always talked of Luyia unity and by presenting the Shield and Spear to Odm Leader , was done on behalf of the community elders , who wanted the ODM pentagon team to have their blessings’, he said.

Kanduyi MP Mr. Alfred Khangati descried the late elder as a visionary and daring leader.

In his condolence massage,the ODM MP said the late Khaoya  was instrumental in introducing the party in Bungoma , which was considered the Ford-K stronghold.

Mr. Khangati said the his courage to present the Odm leader Raila Odinga with a shield and spear at Muliro garden in  Kakamega changed the politics of the area.

He praised the late elder for initiating meaningful development projects during his time as the MP and assistant minister, whose record has not been broken.

Mzee Khaoya is reputed to have been behind the construction and installation of Nzoia sugar factory, Sangolo Institute of Science &Technology, Mabanga Framers Trainig centre  and Bungoma prisons

The institutions remain the only meaningful developments in the greater Bungoma district  initiated during the Kenyatta administration .

However, history has it that he lost the 1974, elections to the late Dr. Fredrick Masinde when the prisons was built in Bungoma town.

The prisons was considered by the voters then as , an institution of torture and suffering for law offenders.

Mr. Khangati says, the Bukusu community  has lost a leader who had the personal initiative to defy popular believes to bring development or  unite them with other Kenyans.

Mr. Patrick Wangamati the founder chairman of the Bukusu council of Elders Asssociation,  on his side said the death of the elder together with the wife at the same time was a bad omen.

“As elders we  take  the simultaneous death of the couple suspiciously as it is rare and could be a bad omen,” he said.

Mr. Wangamati reminded the Bukusu to respect culture and their traditions , saying it is a taboo to introduce outsiders  to what holds them together.

He said as much as the dead are never blamed, but the late acted wrongly to take the ODM leaders to the shrines of the Dini Ya Msambwa leader Elijah Masinde against the wishes of the community.

This was rebuffed as misleading because traditionally couples who are very close normally die at the same time.

Mr. Muliro Kunikina an official of Trans- Nzoia branch, dismissed Mr. Wangamatis views as politically inclined and has no basis.

“All along when visits to the shrine of the late Masinde were arranged, Mzee Khaoys never personally got involved and he did not even accompany the Pentagon team as being claimed”, Mr. Kunikina added

The newly elected mayor of Bungoma Mr. Majimbo Okumu , said the loss is big for the Bukusu community , particularly when the country is at the cross roads politically.

“We were expecting to get advise and direction from such like elders, for the community not to be isolated politically”, Mr. Majimbo said.

Mzee Khaoya 77 and his wife Bethsheba 72 died on the night of 23, the man at Kenyetta national hospital while the wife at Mt.Elgon  view hospital in Bungoma town.

According to Mulunda their father traveled to Nairobi to see his personal doctor, Dr. Mac Gligeyo at Kenyatta National hospital  for routine medical check up on Wednesday last week .

Mulunda says it was him who drove the elder  to Kisumu where he boarded a plane alone, without any signs of serious sickness.

 Dr. Bulimo Khaoya , another of  his sons based in Kisii said the late Khaoya was in good spirits but the check up was normal as he was a diabetic.

As a family Dr. Bulimo explained they have an arrangement for Mzees regular medical check up to get proper treatment on time.

It was said that when he arrived at Kenyatta, his doctor recommended him for admission, and the conditions deteriorated with time.

They  said their mother  died at around 3.40 on Saturday  night  after developing  asthmatic attack.

They explained that the mother was sickly and died on arrival at the hospital.

The late Khaoya at one time served as a chief of the current day Bungoma South district before venturing in politics.

He was elected to parliament in 1966 and appointed assistant minister of agriculture in 1969.

He at time time also contested the Saboti   parliamentary seat , when the late vice president Kijana Wamalwa  opted not to run in 1989 after a petition against him.

He came to the limelight last year when he openly supported Mr.Odinga for the presidency, when his clansman Mr. Musikari Kombo the Ford-k chairman was supporting the president Kibakai.

Mr. Khaoya was the chairman of Balunda clan of which Kombo belongs, who bury the dead in a sitting position.

He is survived by 60 children and three wives Mary, Wilbroda and Florence .

Nzoia and farmers problems remain

BY   LUKE  KAPCHANGA  DN/BUNGOMA     5/3/2008   NZOIA

Problems affecting sugarcane farmers contracted to Nzoia factory seem to have refused to go away.

From around 1990, the complains about corruption, mismanagement , poor harvesting and delayed payments of farmers  dues, have kept on propping up every other time.

With close to 30,000 farmers in the greater Bungoma district, elective politics had always  revolved around the factory and its management.

The farmers suffering has played part in shaping up the politics of the area, as those elected usually tend to be on the side of farmers.

So, on Tuesday last week, they came in hundreds at Bukembe market, this time round to be told why burnt cane is being abandoned .

Hundreds of millions of shillings is feared could be going to waste , as the factory has refused to harvested burnt cane since the start of dry spells late last year.

They felt that the management was playing tricks with them, because as where as the nucleus estate cane , is set ablaze almost on daily basis, it is harvested immediately .

While as much as they try to plead, when a farmers cane has been accidentally burnt , management just turns a deaf ear.

During the meeting farmers, together with their leaders declared war to the board of directors over the refusal to harvest burnt cane.

Particularly on the spot was chairman of the board of directors Mr. Burudi Nabwera, who called upon to be dismissed.

Kanduyi MP Mr. Alfred Khangati said” Am declaring war on Nabwera to listen to farmers complains or he quits”.

The ODM MP, who described himself as a man of “stamina”, vowed not to give up until 

the issue of burnt cane is solved.

“Am a person of stamina, who should be taken seriously , and Nabwera has no point to be the chairman among the people he has no respect for”, he added.

This was followed by the resolution by Bungoma mayor, Henry Majimbo Okumu, demanding for the entire board of directors to be replaced.

The board, Mr. Okumu said has deliberately refused to harvest their cane, which is over mature and that burnt during the try spells.

But the managing director Mr. Francis Oyatsi stood his ground , saying burnt cane can not be harvested due to congested program.

He defended their policy on out grower burnt cane , insisting that when hundreds of tons of cane is burnt at once, the factory can not cope.

The MD attributed the failure by the factory to absorb standing mature cane to weather.

He pointed out that last year, cane from the swampy areas was not harvested  as the area never experienced try seasons between the months of December and March.

What is more threatening again even this time round is that, their projection is to harvest 300,000 tons of cane in five months.

Yet the worry is that they are expecting long rains in the next two months, so this means most of the cane in swamps will be left to rot.

The solution to harvesting lies in the factory expansion according to the Kenya sugar board chairman Mr. Saulo Busolo and Webuye MP Mr. Alfred Sambu.

They both stressed the need to have the factory expansion given priority when addressing farmers  problems with the factory.

A Mauritian firm has shown interest Mr. Busolo told farmers in the expansion of the factory, to reach the crashing capacity of 10,000 tons per day.

They are responding to the Nzoia management request for experts to advise them on the much anticipated expansion program  to bring the harvesting nightmare to an end.

They have been  identified as specialists in the sugar industry who could give guidance for the company to improve on productivity.

Speaking last year, Mr.Oyatsi noted that “We have the potential to produce upto 85,000 tones of sugar:  and make shs.850million profit”.

The experts will look among other issues on the Arkel machinery which have been lying at the factory yard since 1992, if they can be installed.

The Arkel machinery according to factory sources has had vital components extracted and installed quietly  and indicated as newly imported spares.

Another issue will be what measure is required to  clear over mature cane which is going to waste , after farmers started planting the crop without following laid down regulations..

 

On his part Mr. Sambu blamed management for giving false figures on crashing of cane per day.

Management he said, used to talk about being capable of crashing 3,000 tons per day, which has decreased to 800 tons, when area under cane  had expanded rapidly.

They could not even maintain the 3,000 tons, he complained at least to be consistent with maturing cane in the fields.

He blamed poor forecasting by agriculture team at the company, who seem not bothering to tour farm fields to know the area under cane.

The refusal by the company not to harvest cane, Mr. Busolo said was contravening the sugar Act.

According to the Act, a farmer whose crop is burnt is penalized when harvested and delivered to the factory.

He accused the Nzoia board of directors for working outside the Act, when they should get direction on the steps to take from it.

Farmers he added can not be punished, by having their crop to go to waste when arsonists sets it on fire.

He told farmers, that the company still owes them hundreds of millions of  shillings in arrears which has to be paid in full.

The money Nzioa is supposed to pay include , interests on over mature cane , waived interests on loans to farmers by president Kibaki and presumptive tax.

He called on farmers to work as a team and come up with a scheme which will force the factory management to pay interest on cane after reaching 18 months as one way of committing them to stick to the harvesting program.

He accused the management for defying the government directive of 2001, to stop deducting presumptive tax which should be refunded  and estimated to be above shs.300million.

Afarmer Mr. Goeffrey Njuhilili accused elected leaders for being compromised by management as one reason for their suffering.

He claimed that past leaders used their positions to get tenders as suppliers , colluding with senior company managers, who become corrupt as they seek their protection.

Leaders mostly MPS from the region he cautioned should declare publicly if they are doing business with the company so that farmers   do not waste time taking complains to them.

Most of the speakers wanted to have the freedom to sell their crop to private harvesters so that they do not lose completely. 

 Mr. Oyatsi  who was appointed to the post late last year, pointed out that the future plans of the factory is to have milling capacity of 8000 tones per day.

“our thinking of the company’s future is to have the milling of not less than 8,000 TCD , translating into 2million tones annually”.

The MD , said currently they were milling 3.000 tones which he insisted was insufficient to handle all the standing cane.

To achieve this, he stated , was to motivate workers through recognition of their performance  and building team work..

“As much as I want to have  the most committed framing community around,  employees have to be productive and not waste their time while at  work stations”, he went.

The problem at the mill , he noted which has made the company not to perform is fear and distrust among workers.

“Workers spent most of the time fearing, or regretting about the past, thus they lack confidence when told  about setting and achieving targets “.

What annoys farmers most is that , now they have nobody to sp[aek for them.

During the last general elections politicians never made it a hobby to use sugarcane as a platform for election.ottom of Form

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Saboat land defence force

BY LUKA   KAPCHANGA   DN/BUNGOMA   14/3/2008  MILITIA.

Members of the Saboat Land defence force(SDLF), arrested in the military operation going in Mt. Elgon , should be  charged for crimes against humanity.

Mr. Job Bwonya the coordinator of the Western Kenya human rights Watch, proposed that the international legal experts should be involved in drawing charges against members of SDLF because of the killings and destruction of property in the past three years.

Speaking in Bungoma town, Mr. Bwonya who gave his express support to the military operation described the rag tag militia as evil and destructive.

More than 607 people so far, he stressed had killed in the mountain since the clashes started over what looked like differences over the allocation of Chebyuk farm.

The coordinator, also revealed that 109 people who had been abducted have disappeared without trace.

Another 33, had their ears chopped off, after being classified as traitors or failing to pay taxes for the up keep of militias.

He called on the army to expedite the operation  and flush out the criminals, have them arrested and be arraigned in court.

Time , he said has come for the criminals who have been operating freely with impunity in the mountain to face the full force of the law .

He also asked the government to consider compensating victims of the SDLF attacks as it took them long to act.

Most of the families he went has lost everything and should be compensated to start life afresh after the operation is over.

Being a planting season, he appealed to the military, to ensure that peace is restored  for the region to start planting.

“If residents fail to prepare their farms on time, then after getting rid of one problem, the government could be creating another of donating food to the the part of the country which is self sufficient “,he remarked.

Security personell are said to have rounded up hundreds of men and taken to army bases and questioned.

Those suspected  to be members of SDLF, are handed over to police.  

 

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Musikari Kombo has to quit Ford-K Chair

BY  LUKE  KAPCHANGA    DN/BUNGOMA      30/4/2008      FORD-K

Ford-Kenya chairman and nominated MP Mr. Musikari Kombo is under siege, to quit the post.

But if shoving   comes to pushing, the former minister for local government is likely going to put up a fight.

Mr. Kombo who by last year believed was carrying the destiny of the Luyia community and by extension the Ford-Kenya supporters country wide on his back , could be heading to oblivion as calls for his removal grows louder by the day.

Yet he is not without defence, as those who still have confidence in his leadership are pointing an accusing finger at one of the cabinet ministers from western province for being behind the quit calls.

Ford-Kenya officials from Trans/Nzoia have openly supported their chairman, whom they say had managed party affairs with a lot of humility.

Even at his backyard of Webuye, councilors allied to the party, are optimistic that Kombo still  holds the destiny of the Luyia.

Cllr. Eric Soita dismissed those who want changes in the party as sellouts and detractors who are after personal benefits from enemies of the party.

Bumula MP and assistant minister Wakoli Bifwoli has cautioned those agitating for KOmbos removal, to expect a tough fight which they will loose with disgrace.

He reminded the party supporters ,of former minister Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi who fell from grace after undermining Kombos leadership of the party, adding that those making quit calls will not be spared.

The political troubles of Mr. Kombo began immediately he lost the Webuye seat to his perennial rival , Alfred Wekesa Sambu of ODM in the last general elections.

He had held the seat since 1992, when the multiparty democracy was introduced by defeating the first area MP  Joash Wamangoli, and has been winning subsequent elections with comfortable majority against Sambu.

The former Kanduyi MP Mr. Wafula Wamunyinyi was the first to come out openly calling  for Kombos removal as party chairman, citing the party’s poor showing in the last general elections.

He complained that the party has been shrinking and even in Bungoma it only has majority support in Kimilili and Bumula constituencies.

Mr. Wamunyinyi stated that “the world over, party leaders always gracefully steps aside when they perform dismally for the new blood to take over and steer supporters to new heights’.

Surprisingly, Wamunyinyi was Mr. Kombos closest supporters and even went on record warning those aspiring to contest against him in Webuye constituency of dire consequences.

The chairman, he used to tell meetings was to go unopposed , to prepare him for the presidency in 2012.

Mr. Kombo, has been a survivor as getting the PNU nomination was a shocker to his detractors but was greeted with relieve among his supporters who see a lifeline for their chairman.

Last weekend a top Ford-Kenya officials revealed in Bungoma that by fronting Mrs. Mary Wasike as the party’s choice  for nominations, some key members were indeed scheming to shutout Kombo from the limelight.

The choice of Mrs. Wasike , who has since been  appointed the PS in the ministry of  Labor  was mischievous and whose motive was for the party destruction not wellbeing.

According to the official who is well versed with party affairs, this annoyed MPS, Eugene Wamalwa of Saboti and Dr. John Eseli Simiyu of Kimilili who came to the defence of Kombo to get the nomination slot.

This  however infuriated some party supporters in Trans-Nzoia and Bungoma who felt that , the slot should have been left to the woman.

After kicking of the quit calls at a  press conference in Bungoma town, the former MP who is also the Bungoma party branch chairman has on several occasions been convening meetings with party officials and councilors.

The strategy according to the people who have been attending such  meetings at various hotels and Mabanga FTC,  was  mainly to lay  grounds  for    discreding Kombos performance  and his lack of vision for the party .

This seem to work as several branches country have picked up the cue and are demanding to see Kombos back.

The most vocal was from Nyanza and North rift, the areas which both have the historical  backing of the party and enjoys support.

Five branches of Trans Nzioa, West Pokot, Marakwet, Pokot North and Mt. Elgon issued a statement in Kitale saying,” its time for the party to think of its future if it has to remain relevant in future”.

Their disappointment and frustrations comes from what they complain was dismal performance in last years polls, so it requires revitalization and re-organization.

But the calls have been dismissed by  Kombos supporters as the work of a senior minister from Western and the only minister who comes from the province and could have the interest in the party leadership  in none other than foreign affairs minister Moses Wetangula.

Though , Wetangula has never publicly declared interest in the post of chairman, close confidants of his support the assertion that he is also angling to go for presidency in 2012.

During his campaigns last year he used to hint to his supporters that in the event Kombo was reluctant to contest the presidency, then he will step in.

And if the foreign minister is the position himself for the Kibaki succession race , the only option in the coalition politics the country is witnessing is through F-K

Mr. Wetangula some time in March,while attending a funeral at burial at Lwandanyi   in his Sirisa constituency allegedly blamed Kombo for the partys poor showing in the polls.

The minister who was accompanied with a group councilors from his Sirisia constituency described Kombo as “ a political spent force”.

When Mr. Allan Chenane , one of his close confidants was asked about Wetangulas position on the calls for Kombos removal , he maintained that the party was stable.

“The minister has  confidence in Kombos leadership and those making allegations about schemes to have changes in the party want to create tension and unnecessary divisions’, Mr. Chenane said.

Mr. Kombos troubles may have started with the death of Bukusu elder Joseph Khaoya, whose burial was marked with changed political fortune favoring ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Mr. Odinga then prime minister designate was received with pomp and song, as dance and singing filled the air while attending the burial in Wamunyinyis former constituency.

Saboti MP, Eugene Wamalwa stole the show by cautioning party leaders present to read the signs and unite theLuyia community or risk being eclipsed by the young generation of MPs.

“Young MPs from this community are watching carefully actions by our leaders and we want to move as one people  to have our voice heard”, he told mourners.

He added that should leaders not heed them, and keep the community divided politically, then come 2012, they will be booted out.

He received standing ovation at the funeral, and charging from the silence which followed his address, pundits opined that Kombos position was in trouble.

Then Party supporters on the grassroots started discussing openly about having changes at the party helm, and went further by proposing the younger Wamalwa to takeover the party leadership.

When asked if he has the ambition of heading the party, he replied” the peoples power is supreme and being privileged to serve them need to be appreciated at all levels”, Wamalwa remarked.

As the party lawyer , however he did not come out clearly if he wants to push the chairman out, insisting that the party constitution has to be defended at all costs.

According to him, the party will have elections in 2010, when it will be prudent for those calling for Kombos removal put in their man or woman of choice.

Yet another option to hold elections can be through resolution passed by the National delegates council(NDC), when  demanded by members.

With the growing calls to have Kombo quit is one signal for the NDC, to be convened  by none other than Kombo himself who is vested with the powers and have his fate discussed .

The party supporters are of the  assumption that given his resilience and behavior, the younger Wamalwa could replicate the  late  Vice –Preisdent Kijana Wamalwa, who was his elder brother to  steer the party  to greater heights.

Mr. Hilton Otenyo a regular commentator on Luyia politicis from Kakamega agrees that, “it is Wamalwa who can revamp the party to regain its foothold in TransNzoia and Bungoma”.

Mr. Otenyo observed that as of now, nobody can talk of Luyias being in F-K, with change of leadership making in roads to western province could be possible.

Replacing Kombo , may not be easy, as talk is gaining ground about possible merger with the New Ford-Kenya.

New Ford-Kenya a splinter group led by minister Soita Shitanda , who walked out on Kombo after a failed coup is also chaired by former minister Mukhisa Kituyi.

Dr. Kituyi who has kept a low profile since losing his Kimilili seat to a new comer, was a thorny in Kombos leadership , after losing the party chairmanship in 2003.

If the merger comes out to be true, then possible candidates list to replace Kombo as chairman will be very long and cause more fallouts after the party polls, if they were to be held.

Mr. Kombos undoing  was his over confident during elections of being appointed the VP, after the polls was PNU to win fairly.

The Ford-K chairman is said to have spent very little time in the constituency and changed or disregarded advice from his closest aides.

He therefore opted not to campaign nor had no  time campaigning in his constituency , using any available to chance todrum up support for Kibaki.

His handling of the party affairs annoyed even his close friends, but underestimated them due to his closeness to the president.

Those close to him claim that he kept to himself campaigns funds both during the referendum and last years elections.  

During all his tenure as a senior minister, Kombo is accused of locking out people from Webuye to getting  any senior government appointments.

Most of the projects he promised on the ground none has taken off, to benefit the people.

The notable one , the banana tissue culture project is cited were he is said to have instructed his close friends to buy seedlings from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology by refusing free seedlings given by KARI.

 He is also accused of failing to appoint his party officials both at the local and regional level to any