On Easter Sunday in 2022, a man seeking an electoral position visited my village and requested that I join his campaign. He found me sitting with my then 85-year-old mother, who listened to our discussion.

After he and his team departed, my mother remarked, “Nyathina, nga’no to osomo nyaka kanye? An dak ago kura ni ng’at makosoma. Mana to fahadali ago kura ni an a won (How far is the man educated? Me, I can’t vote for an uneducated man. Then, I would rather vote for myself).”

In 1995, at the Railways Club, I observed my late uncle, Prof Odera Oruka, along with three other professors from the University of Nairobi, confronting Raila regarding a statement that was carries in the Daily Nation newspaper. It was a dramatic scene, with each of them waving a copy of the Daily Nation in front of him.

“How could you make such a substandard statement? Shame on you…?” and so forth.

Once, I had the opportunity to hear Prof Hastings Winston Opinya Okoth-Ogendo deliver a speech in Taifa Hall of the University of Nairobi regarding colonial land policy. Rather than simply stating, “The policy of confining Africans to specific territories,” he referred to it as “The policy of territorial fixity.”

I have a Kikuyu friend who purchases damaged vehicles and restores them for resale. He has been relying on a Luo mechanic who, in his words, is “obsessed with perfection.”

What am I attempting to convey? The Luo community, which both uneducated ones in rural areas, such as my mother and distinguished professors in academic institutions, has always aimed for excellence; and excellence has been consistently celebrated while mediocrity is categorically denounced without exception.

This has been the primary assurance of the Luo advancement despite historical marginalisation. Since independence, our leading figures have been individuals of high calibre; in Kenya’s inaugural cabinet, we had Oginga, Achieng Oneko, Tom Mboya, Argwings Kodhek and Onyango Oyodo, all of whom were exceptionally qualified to assume the presidency. (However, most of these people are not necessarily Luo although they speak their language. A standout figure is Tom Mboya – a Suba, who are of Luhyia background).

Starting in 2013, we began to notice the rise of mediocrity being elected to parliament from Luo Nyanza. This pattern continued into 2017 and 2022. Nevertheless, this did not result in a decline in the community’s national political status, primarily due to Raila Odinga’s formidable iron doom.

As Baba’s life drew to a close, even his strong iron doom could not mask the signs of mediocrity within the Luo political class. Vulgarity, ethnicity and the Tutam (Two Term) chorus started to supplant principles during political rallies.

Makamu, a primary school dropout known for his crude language, became the most sought-after “political consultant” among many senior politicians in Luo Nyanza.

The political leadership of the Luo community is the ineptest ever since the fight for independence is the Linda Ground group.

Under the low-energy Oburu, whose sole ambition appears to be to enjoy power and influence akin to that of his late brother, yet without the effort of fighting for it, instead opting to beg for it. He is perplexed as to why diplomats, senior civil servants and businessmen are not visiting his Riverside office as they once did at Capital Hill.

His right-hand man in the plan to transfer ODM to Ruto by May is the low ‘IQ Wandayi’ – whose feelings of inferiority lead him to believe that the only way to demonstrate his productivity as a cabinet secretary is by being present in every village where the last mile electricity connections are being made, while corrupt dealings are being orchestrated in his office.

It is no surprise that he was unaware of the type of crude oil for which Kenyans will be scammed for in Turkana. Additionally, there are the angry and aggressive John Mbadi (a Suba), heckler Gladys Wanga and swindler of agents’ funds Mohammed Junet, among others.

The senior civil servants from the Luo community are just as inadequate as their political leaders. The PS of Health, Olunga, had the audacity to post on his Facebook, “Tutam is a reality,” simply because Ruto visited his home, while never mentioning the failing SHA and the dismal health system. Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo is either funding thugs or has failed to prevent them. In either case, he has is failing.

These have even hired many intellectuals, not to guide them (that’s Mukamu’s job) but to defend their mediocrity. The only defence possible is to appeal to our worst instincts. Bloggers are spreading articles saying, Luos should stop attacking fellow Luos.

At a time when Prsidnt William Ruto and Rigathi Gachagua are shellacking each other to ground, the largest political party at present, can only shout “Tutam” for which they dream to get Pawa.

Instead of ODM emerging assertively to demonstrate leadership as a credible alternative power centre, one faction is begging for deputy presidency. No political party in the world can assign party leadership to an individual who cannot be its presidential or prime ministerial candidate in upcoming or future elections.

Oburu’s ODM is now a junior party of UDA: no DP, no zoning. Western, Kisii, Nairobi, Coast are all gone.

The new generation of Kenya leaders are coming up very fast. Galatians 6:7-8talks of reaping what you sow.

The Luhya nation is growing the likes of Edwin Sifuna, George Natembeya, Geoffrey Osotsi, and Caleb Amisi. In central, you see the growth of the likes of Ndindi Nyoro unhindered. In Luo Nyanza, we treat Babu Owino as a wild crop that should be uprooted. Dr Oburu Odinga and his team are selling us garbage. WANTAM (One Term) is written in the stars. And even the diplomatic corps know it.

• A Tell Media report / By Ranginya / Courtesy of Wafula Buke