The Luo are bona fide Kenyans

The Luo are bona fide Kenyans

Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s assertion Migingo is in Kenya but the water is Uganda’s is baffling.

Worse are his threats to the Luo not to fish in ‘Uganda’ waters or face arrest.

What is surprising is that just a day before Museveni made these remarks, a joint survey team had launched the verification exercise of the disputed island that is going to cost Sh140 million.

Are the maps which will be used for the survey Luo maps or Kenyan maps? Calling Luos mad because they are protecting Kenyan territory is an insult to all Kenyans.

Museveni must avoid uttering words that stir anger, and he must apologise to Kenyans.

{Concerned Kenyan, via e-mail}

The remarks by Museveni concerning the ownership of Migingo Island are treacherous and in bad faith.

For the Ugandan leader to go on record that the island is on Kenyan soil but the water belongs to Uganda is ridiculous.

These sentiments obscure the reason why Kenya and Uganda mandated a committee to establish the real owner of the island in the first place.

Apparently, Museveni has all along harboured pre-conceived ideas about the issue, and is hell-bent on capturing the island at all costs.

According to him, Kenya can have the island but not the Nile Perch. However, we are watching you and we definitely won’t take it lying down.

{George Kwach, Mbagathi}

Museveni has no respect for the President of Kenya, Kenya’s sovereignty or the Luo community.

By pre-empting the outcome of the survey team, which has started work, and admitting that Migingo is in Kenya means the survey should be stopped.

Why does Museveni have problems with all his neighbours? Why should he single out the Luo community for abuse?

I think it is high time President Kibaki broke his silence and responded.

{Isedorius Agola, Mombasa}

Museveni’s sentiments are outrageous and illogical.

It is unfortunate that a leader who should know better can appear in the international media only to utter tribal-laced vitriol.

Museveni should understand that the people living on the island are Kenyans, not Luos.

It is time the Kenyan Government accepted the fact that Museveni is flexing his muscles and stop conducting business as usual.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s claims this week that the dispute over Migingo was not about the ‘rock’ but fish indicates that the Government has all along been aware of Uganda’s machinations.

{Shadrack Mbaka, Nairobi}

For Museveni to threaten the Luos that they may not in future fish in Lake Victoria makes one wonder if there is more to this saga than meets the eye.

The Kenyan Government must demand an explanation and apology from Uganda for the contempt and scorn poured on Kenyans.

Failing this, we should break off diplomatic relations with our neighbour.

{Philip Mbindyo, Sawagongo}

****

Museveni out to cause regional instability

The snide remarks by Uganda President Yoweri Museveni during an interview with the BBC contravenes the spirit of a united East African Community.

It’s unfortunate he refused to wait for the joint Kenya-Uganda survey to resolve the territorial boundaries dispute.

It is in bad taste for such sentiments to come from a leader whose government has in the past weeks accused Kenyan Government officials of incitement.

It seems to have finally dawned on him that his dream of becoming the President of East Africa cannot be realised, hence he has opted to cause instability.

He is the kind of leader who will import ethnicity and tyranny into EAC. Why can’t he emulate President Kibaki who has maintained calm over the issue?

{Joab Apollo, Eldoret}

Museveni is an example of those African leaders who have stubbornly refused to progress to the 21st century way of thinking.

He thought he could exploit the political antagonism in Kenya by trying to divide the nation along tribal lines and use it to encroach our borders.

Apparently, President Kibaki has refused to play ball and Museveni knows the survey that is currently underway will expose his evil machinations. This has finally forced him to pre-empt the exercise by conceding that Migingo is indeed in Kenya.

Museveni has taken the low road, and this should be a pointer to what kind of individual we are dealing with — an egocentric, myopic and delusional schemer.

It is time for this despot to be brought back down to earth and put in his place.

{Onyango Ohingo, Kisumu}

There is now ample evidence that President Museveni is doing his utmost to foster discontent under the guise of ‘nationalism’.

His latest off-the-cuff sentiments in a BBC interview not only fly in the face of the diplomatic efforts embraced by Kenya and Uganda, but are testimony to his recurrent and restless gigantic expansionist appetite.

Museveni should be told that neither his insults nor his poisonous untruths shall sway us from getting to the truth.

History is rife with nations that have suffered needlessly courtesy of the egoistic tendencies of leaders like him.

{Francis Tome, Kapenguria}