By Sandra Blessing
In Seme, at a burial, Anglican Bishop Charles Onginjo set the tone for the Luo community, asking them to vote out non-performers to stop the developing culture of begging and handouts from politicians.
The Prelate expressed satisfaction with the youth who informed him that they will vote out elected leaders in the 2027 general elections over non-performance.
“After every five years, we go into elections. Those who have not worked, ensure you vote them out. We must reboot and have a new start as a community,” he said.
Rev Onginjo at the same time said the Luos are not robots to be used at the whims of politicians for their own selfish gains instead of for the greater benefit of the community.
“You have the right to make a choice. Let us not be used as robots. As a community, we must stop being used at the whims of the political class. We must ask the hard questions,” he said.
The Prelate said the politicians have been encouraging the culture of handouts in the community and taking advantage of the poverty among the youths.
He said the politicians have formed a bad habit of transforming the youths into political goons by exploiting their economic constraints for their own good.
“You are reducing our people to dogs and beggars. Stop cheating our people and riding on the ignorance of the people. It’s a very unfortunate culture we are developing,” he said.
Rev Onginjo challenged the politicians to develop the culture of truth and honesty to avoid sinking the community into beggars.
“If you walk around with goons, thinking you are popular, then you are cheated. That doesn’t make you popular. Empower the youths and make them economically independent,” he said.
The Bishop said he was not bothered by the current conversation over one term or two terms but wants the community to critically engage in the conversation.
He said dissenting voices should not be misconstrued but should be allowed to enable the community to successfully navigate through the engagement.
“We must reclaim the lost glory of our community. We used to ask tough questions as a community, and now I don’t understand why we want to just follow people,” he said.
