POLITICAL SNIPERS A THREAT TO TURKANA OIL BENEFITS

It is now official. A bumpy ride awaits the people of Turkana. The people are under threat from their own guardians. The political forces too are under threat. Their monopoly as "the givers of life" to the masses is quickly fading. 

The prospects of a splash of petrodollars will see the populace economically empowered. With this comes a people that is focused and with eyes trained on visionary leaders. Now, this is where the bombshell will hit its target.

It will elevate the masses above their leaders. The leaders will be reduced to mere messengers of the people. Their "traditional" role of giving life to the hungry and the sick will be long gone. Their influence will be a thing of the past.

This brings me to the crux of my thesis. There will be a confrontation. Each side will seek to "prove its mettle". And I see a violent, if not bloody, confrontation coming. The people will rise up to demand what is rightly theirs. The "leaders" will cling to their positions to defend their source of livelihood. Several reasons suffice.

Profiting from the ignorance of the masses

According to a recent Kenya National Bureau of Statistics report, illiteracy level in Turkana county stands at a record 82%. At constituency level, Loima Constituency has the highest share of individuals with no education – at 93 per cent! The story is the same in all other constituencies in the county.

Which begs the questions: Are these people aware of what is happening in their land? Do they know what their leaders do for them? Are there any measures to mitigate this? If yes, how and when will they be put in place?

This calls for deliberate measures to bring these guys on board. Turning our backs on them only serves to strengthen the perception that some people are coming to profit from their ignorance.

I admit that it is not an easy task reaching these chaps and splashing some light into their brains. It is a costly endeavor. But the cost of leaving this wound unattended is higher than what we can imagine. It must not be ignored. For it will dampen our triumphant entry into a Canaan full of Petrol.

Political snipers masquerading as peoples' voices

The sad reality on the ground is a blessing to these folks - political snipers. They thrive on the blindness and shallowness of brains of the masses. They have capitalised on this for so long.

They know what touches the common man. They are henchmen-for-hire. Their appetite for wealth is beyond limit. They will stop at nothing to acquire them. The interests of the cow herder or that thirsty kid in Nakabosan are none of their business. These are enemies number one of development.

These people have links within/out the county borders. They are so powerful and moneyed. But luckily, they lack the brains to countenance what awaits them – the power of the masses. 

These are dangerous creatures. They have to be stopped from advancing their venomous attacks. And it is possible to do this - reach out to the masses and empower them and they (political snipers) will automatically lose their support base.

Some thoughts are here:

Tullow Oil Plc Must Come Out Clear and Clean

The silence and hospitality of the people of Turkana is not a leeway for anyone to “eat and spit at them”. They are conscious of what they do. Their aspirations are intact. Their vision is fixed. They want to get a share of their God-given wealth. They abhor falsehoods and opaque dealings. They demand that those who have their interests at heart must come clean and declare what they have in store for them.

Invest in Education. Build Schools

You can only escape the blows of an ignorant oppressed person by educating him. Education and learning, and not empty talk, are the tools with which to empower the masses in Turkana.

Build new schools. Expand existing ones. Support them. Let them “see” the fruits of their wealth. An enlightened populace is a great enemy to those venomous political snipers. Do it now please!

Twitter: @mlemukol.