How poverty compels us to believe that Luos are fun lovers

In Kenya, the Luo community has been dragged into a lot of things; stone throwers, pride and extravagance. Don’t be offended if you're one. When you talk about class, our brothers and sisters from lake side are way ahead, it also not lost in me, that Luo men are the most romantic men in Kenya. To confirm this ask any lady who has dated Otieno, Ouma or Ochieng' from Alego.

Luos have been known for their close affinity to pleasures of this world. Talk of latest and expensive cars, visiting of high end places on this earth like Bahamas, Dubai, just to name a few. Even a friend once told me that being a Luo is a calling.

This illusion is what we hold in our everyday life. It has been catalysed by the media. We believe that other communities like Kikuyu, Luhya, Kamba, Kalenjin among many are immune to enjoying the pleasures of this world. How many stories have we heard of men and women from other communities spending money as if they own central bank?

It is not lost on me that some Kalenjin men, after selling maize to NCPB, vanish in thin air, to Mombasa or just in Eldoret Town, squander the money on prostitutes and later retreat back home hoping that their wives and children will be remorseful to him.

Talk of also Kitale town, a cosmopolitan town where during this month rumour has it that commercial sex workers are thronging, for obvious reasons- they want to entertain the men. Talk of Luhya in Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga and Busia Counties where some men have been vanishing in thin air after receiving sugar cane pay outs.

For instance one man in Busia County, after being paid by Mumias Sugar Company booked a room in one of the hotels in Busia Town. During day time he could spend at home and in the evening he would board a matatu to Busia town. He did this for a week, emptied his pockets and went back to his broke life.

It is funny, how in Kenya poverty has been the cause of all these. Everyone wants to have fun, but poverty has never made that possible. So instead of pointing fingers at our brothers from the lakeside let’s embark on rooting out poverty.