​ Open Letter to the President: A cry of a Turkana - request to spare Hon. John Munyes Kiyonga from the looming cabinet reshuffle.

President Uhuru Kenyatta in past event (Courtesy)

SUMMARY

Through the successive Governments, Turkana community has remained in periphery of any Government development or appointments.

The first President of Kenya, was once a resident in Turkana, where he served his jail term in Lodwar and Lokitaung respectively.

Dear your Excellency,

I take this opportunity to thank God for your election and re-election in 2013 and 2017 respectfully. It is a good sign from God and the people of Kenya that, they have trust in your leadership. 

It is with this Noble trust that, I would like to request your Excellency, to listen to a cry of a Turkana in the message below by pardoning and sparing Hon. John Munyes Kiyonga, the CS for Petroleum and Mining from any axe that will befall any CS in the looming Cabinet Reshuffle.

Your Excellency, Turkana has been marginalized since time in memorial. The colonial government, didn't want Turkana people to be involved in any form. Whether in Government or any developmental agenda. This became public through a policy session paper No. 10 of 1965, which indicated that, "Non interference and non involvement of Turkana in the Government".

It is with this Noble trust that, I would like to request your Excellency, to listen to a cry of a Turkana in the message below by pardoning and sparing Hon. John Munyes Kiyonga, the CS for Petroleum and Mining from any axe that will befall any CS in the looming Cabinet Reshuffle.

Your Excellency, Turkana has been marginalized since time in memorial. The colonial government, didn't want Turkana people to be involved in any form. Whether in Government or any developmental agenda. This became public through a policy session paper No. 10 of 1965, which indicated that, "Non interference and non involvement of Turkana in the Government".

​Through the successive Governments, Turkana community has remained in periphery of any Government

Excellency Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, became Kenya's first Prime Minister and subsequently the first President of the Republic of Kenya. Even after seeing how Turkana remained marginalized, he chose not to step into Turkana soil again and forgot the existence of Turkana.

The Turkana people, saw light of the day, through arrival of the Catholic Missionaries of St. Patrick Kiltegan. Schools, Hospitals, Water and Rehabilitation projects, were the core of the Catholic Missionaries, to uplift the suffering of Turkana People.

A second chance, through God, came to Turkana through, President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi (famously known by Turkana people as, "LOBOYEL"). Moi connected Turkana to the rest of Kenya in 1982 by opening the Kapenguria - Lodwar road. Before that, the Turkana people and their barter traders used Uganda route, via Lokiriama to Amudat in Uganda, to Kacheliba in Kenya, then to Kitale. 

That is why the Turkana call the rest of the country, "Kenya" while talking to Kenyans from other regions. Turkana MPs were given mere handouts and Assistant ministerial positions without portfolio. 

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In 1997, the Turkana community of North and Central Constituencies, saw that, unless we change the the KANU leadership in Turkana, the Turana people would remain marginalized, underprivileged, underrepresented and poor in the Kenyan Government. Through opposition ticket of Ford Kenya, Hon. John Munyes Kiyonga and Ekwee Ethuro were overwhelmingly elected, beating the then KANU powerful District Chairman and MPs respectively. 

Since then, Turkana begun to see light at end of the Tunnel. In 2005, the then President Mwai Kibaki, did the unthinkable. He appointed Hon. John Munyes Kiyonga, Minister for Special Programmes.

This was ever, the only powerful docket, a Turkana man, had seen and realized in his lifetime. He was later moved to ministry of Labour. In 2013, Dr. Richard Ekai was appointed by your Excellency President Uhuru Kenya to Thailand as an Ambassador. Same year, Hon. Ekwee Ethuro was elected, Speaker of the Senate through your blessings. God had realized and came to the rescue of Turkana Community.

In 2013, devolution became another God given opportunity. Turkana is realizing the fruits of devolution, since there was none to talk about, unlike other counties in Kenya.

It is from the above enumerated problems that I felt honoured to address this piece to your Excellency, to pardon and spare, Hon. John Munyes Kiyonga from the axe of the looming cabinet reshuffle. If you sack our only son, the Turkana Community would have no one to represent them, in you Cabinet and Government.

It is said that, if you sack one common Turkana from job, you would have killed 100 people who are dependent on him/her. If you lay off Hon. Munyes from his position, you would have rendered 1/4 (250,000 people) of Turkana community, helpless.

Thanks your Excellency, for giving me audience and hid to a cry of a Turkana. God will bless you abundantly, as you ponder on the looming cabinet reshuffle.

Thanks in Advance.

Peter Moru Lokuruka

Resident of Lokichoggio, Turkana County

Contact No. 0724175860

Email: morupeter@gmail.com