Hon. Lomenen's Diatribe Won't Develop Turkana South

It was Paulo Freire - that great mind from Brazil and a long time champion of inclusive growth - who rightly observed that you need not belabour to look for a fertile ground for oppression, mental darkness and zero development than examining the contradictions of a given society, community or a nation. 

For a fact I am more inclined to the thinking that only a solid education can empower people. And that any person, entity or officialdom that denies peoples an education deserves condemnation of the highest degree.

Any person who purports to be speaking for Wananchi while negating the centrality of education is not a leader and merits not to be accorded any decoration of a leader. I hold this truth closer to my heart for I know the damage denial of education has caused to my people.

I know why poverty still rules Turkana and why - fifty-two years after independence - Kenyans over there have to depend on food rations to survive.

If the hollow noises there are anything to go by, I have no doubt in my mind that my land is leaderless. We have joyriders in place of leaders.

The other day it came to my notice that a Member of Parliament, a Mr. James Lomenen of Turkana South, is leading a crusade against a teacher in one of the many classless schools dotting this vast constituency for 'embarrassing the community and mobilizing people (on social media) to build the said school.'

According to the MP, the community deserves to live in 'dignity' only if its challenges are never revealed. That seeking support from well meaning individuals to build a school for a school-less population is akin to ruining the good image of the people!

The MP is on record to have sought the intervention of local Education officials to 'punish the said teacher for believing that he can do much without his (MP) blessings'.

Looked at closely, this political diatribe boils down to two fundamental points: 1) That a leadership that does not value the electorates will make sure any step geared at enlightening citizens is demolished; and 2) development is still a one-man show notwithstanding constitutional requirements on public participation.

It's sad that a project initiated by poor villagers with the help of a selfless teacher to put up a school for their children is fought by a man who controls a budget for local development and worse still, has nothing to show for the millions of shillings under his control.

Many of us who have been in Turkana will automatically salute these villagers for their vision. It's a rare occurrence among a people ravaged by poverty and isolation to insist on building a school for their children. This - to a greater extent - ushers in the death of political fortifications based on illiteracy and burdens of the people.

But should we rejoice when politicians who believe it’s their divine role to shortchange dreams of their electorates still control all the levers of governance? 

Clearly, to lean back and fold our hands is not the way. Such myopic political philosophies are grounded in our fear to confront its architects. We legitimize injustices every time we resort to indifference as our tool of choice.

If poor children’s dream of getting an education is not enough to stimulate the rage within us, I don’t know what will.

The people of Turkana South Constituency deserve respect. That selfless teacher deserves our collective protection.

We refuse to stomach the lie making rounds out there that Hon. James Lomenen’s ‘bravery’ is what will lift Turkana South up socio-econo-political scales.

He has failed to prove his bravery by defending the rights of children of Kootoro Mixed Primary School to a decent education. Let him prove us wrong by building this school before his term expires in 2017.

Truth is our refuge!

Lemukol Ng’asike is an architect. Email:  lemoseh89@gmail.com  . Twitter: @mlemukol. 

One of the makeshift structures constructed by Kootoro Villagers that serves as a classroom

Architectural impression of the proposed Kootoro Mixed Primary School