Road Opening - Kendu Bay July 24, 2009

An unexpected opportunity - We were given the opportunity to see the President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki and the Prime Minister, Rialia Odinga. The day began with breakfast with Chairman Okundi. During breakfast he mentioned that he was on his way to witness the opening of a road construction project in Kendu Bay, about 30 minutes up the road. He told us that both the President and Prime Minister were going to be present, and asked if we wanted come along. We all jumped at the chance and piled into various cars to head to the ceremonies. Because we were with the Chairman, we got the VIP treatment, and were able to be right in the front row for the ceremonies.

The helicopters flew in and the President and PM arrived in separate limos with the crowds waiting along the side of the road. (President Kibaki is the man with the blue tie in the center of the photo. Prime Minister Odinga is walking to his right - white shirt/no tie). We were told that it is quite unusual to see the two of them together, as there are still deep lingering resentments from the election, which many of the people of this region believe was stolen by Kibaki from Odinga. Their coalition government is an uneasy alliance, but the peace seems to be holding for now. Western Kenya, where we are doing our work, is largely Luo - Odinga's tribe. The Luo have been the minority in government ever since independence in 1966, while Kibaki's tribe - the Kikuyu, have been in power. The crowds responded with enthusiasm to Odinga and with a lukewarm courtesy to Kibaki.


This ceremony marked the initiation of a road project that will pave the road that leads from Kisumu to the towns and villages long the edge of Lake Victoria. We were told that this project actually began 28 years ago, and is only now getting the necessary funds to complete, in part as elements in the compromise after the post election violence in 2007.


After the road grater lumbered down the road to signal the beginning of the project, the ceremony moved to a big grassy field and we heard speeches, listened to the band, and watched traditional dances in honor of the event. These dancers are called Kochia Dancers (named after the region). Like some of our Native American ceremonial regalia, the ostrich feathers in these headdresses are only allowed to be worn by these traditional dancers. The man on the left is blowing on a kudu horn to call the dancers in.