21ST CENTURY COUNCIL OF ELDERS: RESPECTABLE OR ROGUE, GLUTTONOUS, TUMBOCRATIC OLD MEN?

By the pen of Gitau Wa Kung'u.

Yesterday on Wednesday, 21st April, ODM leader Raila Odinga and his wife Ida Odinga hosted a delegation of Luhya "council of elders" led by former ambassador Burudi Nabwere. The old men supposedly poured lot's of well wishes to him. Meanwhile, Hon Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi, 2022 presidential aspirant with One Kenya Alliance and a Luhya was busy enjoying tea over political enchantments to be betrothed groom of One Kenya Alliance with his coalition's co-principals Gideon Moi, Moses `Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka in the 2022 presidential election.

It's good to note that Hon Musalia Mudavadi has been getting the Luhya council of elders endorsements as the Mulembe nation king almost every year. He has been getting blessings to represent the Luhya community and probably become the first Luhya to become president of Kenya though he has always not succeeded yet.

Now, who were in the Luhya council of elders delegation to Raila's home while their Mulembe son was probably scheming the future of his political career and planning for next year presidential election? Are they the same old men who have been repeatedly endorsing him as their king? 

Today's Taifa Leo newspaper reports in the front page what could make you detest the all knowing grey haired mirrors of today's young people. Migori governor Obado is reportedly causing breakage of the Luo council of elders. He's adamant that the murder charges against him for getting involved in the murder of Sharon and her unborn baby two years ago and the unsuccessful impeachment he faced last year are schemes by ODM leader Raila Odinga to finish him off politically. A faction of the Luo council of elders probably believes that a leader must cause suffering and mourning to rule outstandingly, even if it means causing  death to a pregnant woman though he remains innocent man until proven guilty. The rest believe if Raila gives an unpleasant respiratory release of abdominal gases, their noses ought to be whipped for confusing it with a rose scent. Which faction is true between them, the one supporting Okoth Obado or the one supporting Amolo Odinga?

Sometimes back, some infamous faction of Kikuyu Council of Elders (Kiama Kiama) from Central Kenya visited Hon Odinga at his Bondo home where they supposedly endorsed Amolo. When the news spread, another faction of Kiama Kiama who called themselves the true Kiama Kiama aggressively distanced the reputable council's name from the "fake" and greedy Bondo endorsement. The attacked endorsing delegation whose: backs had straightened; who were now  bouncing in youthful pace as they listened to the Rhumba song  lyrics, "pesa ni sabuni ya rohoo..." denied the other "bitter old men" and insisted that they are the true Kiama Kiama. So, who are the true Kiama Kiama? In fact, there are very wise old men in most villages who are not part of the council of elders because they don't have estates, big businesses, big bellies and don't clad sharp, tailored suits. Where is the dignity of the respected traditional council of elders who could not be insensitive to their harmonious integrity in the community?  

When Raila Odinga and Ruto's political relationship was on its honeymoon, a faction of Luo elders recognised William Ruto as a Luo elder. That was in 2005 when ODM was was teething. The controversial old men of the land of the legendary elephant of wisdom and epic Gor Mahia decided a man from the region of the legendary Koitalel Arap Samoei could as well find place in the sitting of kong'o drinking, pocket sated, overjoyed,  wisdom exuding Luo elders. Well, not that I have a problem with a Kalenjin sitting in the Luo council of elders. Both tribes are Kalenjin, they can do what they want. 

In May 2015, a faction of the Njuri Ncheke council of elders in Meru County placed a curse on former Education Cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi.The elder's Secretary General Josephat Murangiri claimed that the CS had disregarded their leadership after he ignored them and instead recognised the former Njuri Ncheke leaders at a rally.  The infuriated group cursed that Kaimenyi should never identify himself as an elder of Njuri Ncheke, greet any Njuri Ncheke elder or set foot at any Njuri Ncheke shrine until he is cleansed as reported by Benjamin Muriuki in Kenyans.co.ke blog.

Later, the other faction of Nchuri Ncheke defended the CS and challenged their rivals by dismissing the curse saying that Nchuri Ncheke has barely cursed anyone since 1800s and instead uses negotiations to find solutions not invoking curses. Probably, the cursing faction wanted to blackmail the CS into having an appointment of an "appeasing" ceremony with them. He was later "uncursed" in July 2015.but was cursed again in July 2017. 

Now, are these the elders our young people look up to? Elders who are greedy of money, who fight to be photographed with the political heavyweights in a similar way to their granddaughters and even great granddaughters now regarding themselves slayqueens? 

It's so sad. So very sad that some of the drivers of our communities are just as drunk, greedy, corrupt, careless, impatient and lack insight as their grandchildren drivers in the  matatu industry who oftenly cause dangerous killer accidents along Kenyan roads. 

 May the wisdom of the true and credible elders prevail over the former's foolishness and corruption.

✒️Gitau Wa Kung'u.