KISUMU'S FAMOUS PEOPLE:THOMAS MBOYA

Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya (August 15, 1930 – July 5, 1969) was a prominent Kenyan politician during Jomo Kenyatta's government. He was founder of the Nairobi People's Congress Party, a key figure in the formation of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), and the Minister of Economic Planning and Development at the time of his death. Mboya was assassinated on July 5, 1969 in Nairobi.
Thomas Odhiambo Mboya was born on August 15, 1930 in Kilima Mbogo, near Thika town in what was called the White Highlands of Kenya.

Education

Mboya was educated at various Catholic mission schools. In 1942, he joined a Catholic Secondary School in Yala, in Nyanza province, St. Mary's School Yala. In 1946, he went to the Holy Ghost College (later Mang'u High School), where he passed well enough to proceed to do his Cambridge School Certificate. In 1948, Mboya joined the Royal Sanitary Institute's Medical Training School for Sanitary Inspectors at Nairobi, qualifying as an inspector in 1950. In 1955 he received a scholarship from Britain's Trades Union Congress to attend Ruskin College, Oxford, where he studied industrial management. Upon his graduation in 1956, he returned to Kenya and joined politics at a time when the British government was gaining control over the Kenya Land Freedom Army Mau Mau uprising.

Political life

Mboya's political life started immediately after he was employed at Nairobi City Council as a sanitary inspector in 1950. A year after joining African Staff Association, he was elected its president and immediately embarked at molding the association into a trade union named the Kenya Local Government Workers' Union. This made his employer suspicious, but before they could sack him, he resigned. However, he was able to continue working for the Kenya Labour Workers Union as secretary-general before embarking on his studies in Britain. Upon returning from Britain, he contested and won a seat against incumbent C.M.G. Argwings-Kodhek. In 1957, he became dissatisfied with the low number of African leaders (only eight out of fifty at the time) in the Legislative council and decided to form his own party, the People's Congress Party.
At that time, Mboya developed a close relationship with Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana who, like Mboya, was a Pan-Africanist. In 1958, during the All-African Peoples' Conference in Ghana, convened by Kwame Nkurumah, Mboya was elected as the Conference Chairman at the age of 28.
In 1959 Mboya organized the Airlift Africa project, together with the African-American Students Foundation in the United States, through which 81 Kenyan students were flown to the U.S. to study at U.S. universities. Barack Obama's father, Barack Obama, Sr., was a friend of Mboya's and a fellow Luo; although he was not on the first airlift plane in 1959, since he was headed for Hawaii, not the continental U.S., he received a scholarship through the AASF and occasional grants for books and expenses. In 1960 the Kennedy Foundation agreed to underwrite the airlift, after Mboya visited Senator Jack Kennedy to ask for assistance, and Airlift Africa was extended to Uganda, Tanganyika and Zanzibar (now Tanzania), Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and Nyasaland (now Malawi). Some 230 African students received scholarships to study at Class I accredited colleges in the United States in 1960, and hundreds more in 1961-63.
In 1960, Mboya's People's Congress Party joined with Kenya African Union and Kenya Independent Movement to form the Kenya African National Union (KANU) in an attempt to form a party that would both transcend tribal politics and prepare for participation in the Lancaster House Conference (held at Lancaster House in London) where Kenya's constitutional framework and independence were to be negotiated. As Secretary General of KANU, Mboya headed the Kenyan delegation.
After Kenya's independence on 1 June 1963, Mboya was elected as an MP for Nairobi Central Constituency (today: Kamukunji Constituency) and became Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and later Minister for Economic Planning and Development. In this role, he wrote the important "Sessional Paper 10" on Harambee and the Principles of African Socialism (adopted by Parliament in 1964), which provided a model of government based on African values.

Assassination

He retained the portfolio as Minister for Economic Planning and Development until his death at age 38 when he was gunned down on July 5, 1969 on Moi Avenue, Nairobi CBD after visiting a pharmacy. Nahashon Isaac Njenga Njoroge was convicted for the murder and later hanged. After his arrest, Njoroge asked: "Why don't you go after the big man?. Who he meant by "the big man" was never divulged, but fed conspiracy theories since Mboya was seen as a possible contender for the presidency. The mostly tribal elite around Kenyatta has been blamed for his death, which has never been subject of a judicial inquiry. During Mboya's burial, a mass demonstration against the attendance of President Jomo Kenyatta led to a big skirmish, with two people shot dead. The demonstrators believed that Kenyatta was involved in the death of Mboya, thus eliminating him as a threat to his political career although this is still a disputed matter.
Mboya left a wife and five children. He is buried in a mausoleum located in Rusinga Island which was built in 1970. A street in Nairobi is named after him.
Mboya's role in Kenya's politics and transformation is the subject of increasing interest, especially with the coming into scene of American politician Barack Obama II Obama's father, Barack Obama, Sr., was a US-educated Kenyan who benefited from Mboya's scholarship programme in the 1960s, and married during his stay there, siring the future Illinois Senator and President. Obama Sr. had seen Mboya shortly before the assassination, and testified at the ensuing trial. Obama Sr. believed he was later targeted in a hit-and-run incident as a result of this testimony.

Annual Kisumu Impala Boat Race held at Impala park-Lake Victoria

The second edition of the annual Kisumu Impala Conservation Boat Race was successfully held at the weekend Kisumu Impala Sanctuary on Lake Victoria.The race with the theme ‘Let’s row to conserve the sitatunga’  aims to raise funds for the conservation of the endangered sitatunga antelope found in the wetland on the shores of Lake Victoria. The occasion was also used to create public awareness about investment opportunities in tourism, human wildlife conflict and display of tourism attractions in the region.
The boat race marked the peak of a three-day cultural event in Kisumu City. The three-day event included, cultural exhibition, dance troupes, tero buru procession and bull fighting, the climax being the boat racing.
The event was presided over by the Minister for Forestry and Wildlife Hon Dr Noah Wekesa who was accompanied by KWS Director, Mr William Kiprono. They were hosted by the area MP Hon Shakeel Shabir.

This year’s race had attracted 180 paddlers from Mbita, Usenge, Luanda K’Otieno, Ndere and Kisumu. This comprised 10 teams for men and women with each team having seven paddlers and two reserves. This brought to a total of 20 teams.
Men paddlers from Lwanda K’Otieno beach were awarded Sh100,000 after emerging winners followed by Lwanda Kamin Oningo who were awarded Sh60,000. In the third category were Usenge who won Sh40,000.
In the female category, women paddlers from Lwanda Kamin Oningo were awarded Sh100,000 after emerging winners followed by another team from Ndere who were awarded Sh60,000. In the third category were Usenge women paddlers who won Sh40,000.
Kenya Wildlife Service in conjunction with stakeholders  launched the inaugural Kisumu Impala Conservation Boat Race in 2011.
The race seeks to raise funds to conserve the rare sitatunga antelope found in Kisumu Impala  Sanctuary by the shores of the lake by constructing a 3-km perimeter wall fence at a cost of Sh28 million.
The race on the theme “Save the Sitatunga” gave the participating stakeholders a chance to showcase their products and activities as well as highlight the potential of Kisumu and Siaya counties as tourism investment and attraction destinations.
The aim of the event is to bring together members of the local communities and corporate organizations in the Lake Victoria region for sport, fun and fundraising.

KISUMU'S SITES:JARAMOGI MAUSOLEUM

The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation has developed a one-stop community-based museum, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Museum (JOOM) and Jaramogi Mausoluem situated at Jaramogi's homestead in Bondo, Western Kenya. The museum and monument serves as a cultural centre, a historical and national monument. The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum is a one-stop community-based museum and Luo Heros Exhibition Centre  It is managed by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) in partnership with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF).
Here one will see stuffed animals and other Luo cultural equipment and learn about famous traditional medicine men the community has ever had. The Oneko family has donated the entire homestead, a 25-acre piece of land, to the National Museums of Kenya to be used as a tourist attraction site.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, born in the second decade of this century, devoted his life to the service of this great nation Kenya and the people of Africa. As a teacher, leader, statesman and Pan-Africanist, he showed, both by his words and by the example of his life, the way forward, to truth, to peace and to justice.
He strove for excellence in all things and never compromised his principles and ideals. His commitment to integrity, and his courageous determination to stand firm in defense of what he knew was right, guided his life. His outpouring sympathy with the poor and disadvantaged in society was immeasurable. During his life time, he was a benefactor of many orphans and other disadvantaged Kenyans.
He had the highest respect for education and academic achievement. In honor of this great man, the Jaramogi Foundation continues with his life's work and espouse the universal values of social justice, respect for human rights, pursuit of peace and unity and support for people centered development.

KISUMU'S FAMOUS PEOPLE:JARAMOGI OGINGA ODINGA

 Oginga Odinga was born in Bondo,Nyanza Province. In his autobiography, Not Yet Uhuru, Odinga estimates the date of his birth to be October, 1911. Christened Obadiah Adonijah, he later renounced his Christian names and became known as Oginga Odinga. Little Odinga attended Maseno Secondary School and Alliance High School, finishing his formal education with a diploma in education from Makerere University College in 1939.

 From 1940 to 1942 Odinga taught mathematics at the Church Missionary Society School at Maseno, and from 1943 to 1946 he was headmaster of the Maseno Veterinary School.

Later in 1947, the father of seventeen moved to the business world, founding the Luo Thrift and Trading Corporation where he served as its managing director until 1962.

His efforts earned him admiration and recognition among the Luo, who revered him as Ker (spiritual leader) – a position previously held by the fabled ancestral Luo chief, Ramogi Ajwang, who reigned 400 years before him. Vowing to uphold the ideals of Ramogi Ajwang, Odinga became known as Jaramogi (man of the Ramogi people).

According to Luo tradition, a Ker could not be a politician, so Odinga relinquished his position as Ker in 1957 and became the political spokesman of the Luo.

The same year he was elected member of the Legislative Council for the Central Nyanza constituency, and in 1948 he joined the Kenya African Union (KAU).

In 1960, together with Tom Mboya he formed Kenya African National Union (KANU). When Kenya became an independent Republic in 1964, he was its first Vice-President.

As Vice-President he did not agree with Jomo Kenyatta's government, and he resigned his post and quit KANU in 1966 to form the Kenya People's Union (KPU).

The friction between Odinga and Kenyatta continued, and in 1969 Odinga was arrested after the two verbally abused each other publicly at a chaotic function in Kisumu.

He was detained for two years, and was consigned to political limbo until after Kenyatta's death in August 1978.

Kenyatta's successor, Daniel arap Moi, appointed Odinga as chairman of the Cotton Lint and Seed Marketing Board. He did not last long in the post, presumably because he was still outspoken against Kenyatta's policies.

Odinga attempted to register a political party in 1982, but when the then Attorney General Charles Njonjo amended the constitution (which made Kenya a de jure single-party state), his plans were foiled.

In 1991 he co-founded and became the interim chairman of Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD). The formation of FORD triggered a chain of events that were to change Kenya's political landscape.

FORD split before the 1992 elections. On his part Odinga vied for presidency on Ford-Kenya ticket, but finished fourth with a share of 17.5% votes. However, he regained the Bondo Constituency seat after being forced out of parliamentary politics for over two decades.

Odinga died in 1994 and really the country had lost a great son, a nationalist, and a patriotic citizen.

The seventh edition of the Safaricom Kisumu Marathon

The 7th annual Kisumu marathon was ran yesterday 16th December 2012 with over 400 runners participating. It was a 10 km loop around the city which had the athletes going  round 4 times with the starting line at Equity bank, snaking through the major roads in Milimani and Nyalenda over four laps before the finish line at the Jomo Kenyatta sports ground.The 2nd oldest full marathon in the country had been postponed for about two weeks due to lack of sponsorships because of  the unpopularity of marathons in the region. Safaricom came to its rescue by sponsoring the marathon to the tune of 1.5 million with the men’s and women’s winners in the 42-kilometre race  each earned Sh200,000 with the first home runner across the line pocketing Sh10,000 extra. The race is usually characterized by its high humidity and heat perfect for a marathon race.
Daniel Kipkorir Kilimo won the men's title  clocking two hours, 14 minutes and 26 and former Amsterdam Marathon champion Magdalene Chenjor (2:31:32) took the first place in the women’s race.

There was also a five-kilometre race exclusively for Kisumu area runners with the men’s and women’s winners getting Sh7,000 and the cash awards, like in the marathon, going down to the 10th-place finisher.
There are future plans to elevate the race to jack pot status  with winners expected to pocket 1.5 million and  for it to be used as a try out event for international marathons and more races will be included to attract more participants like the kids, youth and veterans races.

KISUMU'S SITES:LUANDA MAGERE'S ROCK-SIDHO

 A site in Sidho with a stone is still revered as the spot where Luanda Magere died and people come from far and wide to conduct rituals and prayers at the site. The site is about 12km from the Awasi-Chemelil road, 1.5Km before you reach the Kopere - Songhor junction.  Visitors brave the rough terrain and often muddy impassable narrow pathways to catch a glimpse of the mythical legend.
A brownish rock shaped like a curved back of a human being, which has partly been sunk into the ground, is quite visible at the quiet site where Magere is said to have died. It is believed to be Magere’s body.
The rock is regarded as a shrine, leafy indigenous trees provide shade to the revered site and residents believe it comes with numerous good tidings. From the rock, the villagers believe they can get solutions to drought, family problems and political crisis.
The site is popular with many people who come to consult the spirit of the man who is said to have been a great warrior. This rock is accepted as concrete evidence that Magere lived. The site is kept alive by traditional war weapons, including a spear and shield, believed to belong to Magere. The artifacts are placed under an indigenous tree next to the rock. On another branch of the same tree hangs a traditional smoking pipe, which Magere is believed to have been smoking in times of war pitting the Luo against the Nandi and Kipsigis.
Apart from the war regalia and the pipe, a clay pot, covered with a calabash, containing drinking water drawn from a stream near River Nyando, about 100 metres away, is also placed at the site but nobody knows who fetches the water. A framed-picture of the Legio Maria spiritual leader, Melkio Ondetto, also graces the site.
Pregnant women are not allowed to step on the site of the rock. If they do, they will miscarry, the villagers say.
Residents claim that they still come across skeletons belonging to those killed in the wars that were fought at the turn of the 18th Century.
There are residents who claim that Magere appears to them in dreams and tells them to prepare for planting well ahead of bumper harvests.
Rainfall and fertility of this area is testimony that it is a revered and sacred place. It is here that they pray for rain, wisdom and strength.
Hunters sharpen spears and pangas on the stone. They believe that they will not go back home empty-handed from their hunting excursions after sharpening spears on the rock.
There are different species of snakes within the sugar plantations that surround the site. But the residents say the snakes are friendly because of the presence of Magere’s spirits. White butterflies, believed to signify and symbolize hope, strength and posterity , fly around the site.

THE LEGEND OF LUANDA MAGERE

Of all the famous Luo legends, that of Luanda Magere stands out as the most recent and, perhaps, most tangible
Among the Kenya Luo ethnic community, the story is told of a legendary hero called Luanda Magere.
"Luanda" means "rock".  "Magere" could variously mean "the one that builds" or "the one on which I shall build" (if the root word is taken to be "gero", i.e. to "build"), or "the fierce one" (if the root word is taken to be "ger", i.e. "fierce"). So the name "Luanda Magere" could variously mean "the rock that builds", "the rock on which I shall build" or "the fierce rock".
Folklore of the Luo speaks of a mighty warrior known as Luanda Magere. He belonged to the Sidho clan in Kano, and he was believed to have once walked the shores of Lake Victoria. The Sidho clan occupies the present sugar belt at the foot of the Nandi escarpment. He was possessed of unearthly powers, and his flesh was made of stone. Arrows, spears and clubs simply deflected from his body, making him invincible during warfare. He was famously known for his capability to tear an entire army apart.
The Luo traditional enemies at the time were the Nandi. The Nandi's like fighting at night but Luanda Magere with his group liked daytime. The Nandi's were very good fighters at night compared to daytime. While people were fighting, Luanda Magere was to be seen at home smoking tobacco. But when his people were under Nandi threat, he could be seen asking for his spear and shield. When he went to the battlefield he could kill so many Nandi’s all at ago and eventually forcing them to retreat to their homes.
Luanda Magere was so powerful such that the Nandis used to be so much afraid of him. When they went to war and found out that Luanda Magere was also in the battlefield, they would retreat back to their Nandi country. Magere would go to the Nandi people and take their cattle and other items without resistance. This he did in daytime. Those who may have attempted to resist were being killed on the spot as they could not kill him. This was because Luanda Magere was made out of hard stones called 'Luanda'.
When these enemies were trying to spear him, their spears only bent as they could not penetrate through him. This is when they started to worry of what substance Magere was made out of. They tried all they could do to kill him but they couldn't succeed. After some time, they concluded that he was God's creation and therefore could do nothing about it.
 The Nandi were tired of being defeated at war by the Luo. One of the Nandi’s thought it wise that they give him one of their beautiful daughters to marry. Eventually they found one beautiful lady and told him that they have accepted defeat and the only price they could pay was to offer him their beautiful daughter in marriage so that he could stop raiding their homes during daytime to take their cows. Given that cows were sacred to the Nandi’s, anyone who could come and take their cows was seen as sacred.
The girl's role was to find out how to defeat him. They therefore picked the most beautiful Nandi girl and sent her to him. Though the Luo elders advised him not to take the girl, Luanda Magere did not heed their advice. Luanda Magere's eventual downfall came at the hands of his wife. Now it happened that whenever Luanda was sick, his first wife would care for him. One day he fell ill when his first wife was away. He therefore called his Nandi wife to bring him some medicine. Luanda instructed her to cut his shadow with a knife and instill the medicine. She was surprised when she saw his shadow bleed.
That night, she crept out of Luanda's home and ran back to her people. She was received with joy when she told them her husband's weakness: that his shadow was made of flesh and was vulnerable to attack. The news quickly spread. The Nandi knew that the Luo would not expect them to attack as Luanda had married one of them making them kinsmen. They then attacked the Luo in the middle of the night. The Luo fought fiercely and Luanda killed so many Nandi warriors that they decided to retreat. As he was running, one Nandi warrior remembered that Luanda's strength was in his shadow. He stood at a hill and threw his spear at Luanda's shadow. Luanda Magere fell down and died.
 Magere disappeared from the battlefield after he was stabbed, the Kano people for who Luanda Magere fought went home wailing terribly as their hero had been killed. When he died, there was a strong wind everywhere and over the whole of Kano and Nandi, there was a thick cloud covering on the sky. The area suffered a two-year drought before he appeared in a dream saying where he was.
He appeared to old men in a dream directing them to where he was. However, at first they could not reach him as he was in a bush a few metres from River Nyando, where nobody could find him. It rained heavily for three consecutive days after Magere’s body (the rock) was discovered and the community offered sacrifices to pay their respects.