By Anderson Ojwang

For decades, the fear of loans in Nyanza has undermined the region’s economic growth and investment in business opportunities. Residents have often likened securing bank or Sacco loans to inviting auctioneers to their homes.

While other communities have taken risks and secured bank and Sacco loans to boost their businesses, Nyanza residents have for eons given a wide berth to these services. This partly explains why most businesses in the region have been dominated by people from other regions, while locals have largely remained consumers.

However, the practice is fast changing, with residents now opting for bank and Sacco loans to boost their businesses. This shift explains the increasing number of businesses owned by local residents.

In Siaya County, Chaoba Sacco has been at the forefront of rewriting the community’s business narrative. In the seven years since its inception, it has many success stories to tell and document.

Currently, Chaoba Sacco has over 3,200 members drawn from all sub-counties of Siaya—Gem, Bondo, Ugunja, Ugenya, and Rarieda. The membership is drawn from different segments of the economy.

For Dorine Adhiambo, a businesswoman based at Uhuru Bar, Agulu Trading Centre in Gem, joining the Sacco in 2021 was a turning point after a friend introduced her to the organisation.

“I wanted to expand my business and urgently respond to constant challenges such as low cash flow and unreliable transport services,” she says.

Dorine secured a motorbike loan from Chaoba Sacco, which she repaid within a year. This helped improve her business by providing reliable transport.

That was just the beginning of her success story. She later secured Sh100,000 to boost her business and within a short span graduated her loan uptake to Sh150,000, then Sh200,000, and now Sh500,000.

“Chaoba Sacco currently gives a maximum loan of Sh500,000, and that is where I am now. When I look back nine years before I joined Chaoba Sacco, it is incomparable. The journey has been worth it,” she said.

She noted that financial discipline and stringent planning are key to successful loan repayment and business growth.

“On the first day of every month, I repay my loan. Every single day, I save a certain amount towards loan repayment, which makes it easier. I have followed the training and rules given by the Sacco management, and I can’t complain,” she said.

Dorine has become one of the leading influential educators in the region and has introduced many of her business friends to Chaoba Sacco, who have benefited from business loans.

For Patrick Abiero, his entry into business coincided with the formation of Chaoba Sacco in 2019. The two have grown together like Siamese twins.

“I decided to try my hand at business. I started small because I was cash-strapped. I feared seeking bank loans due to lack of security and tough conditions,” he said.

“But hope was not lost. I was introduced to Chaoba as it was starting operations. I became one of the first members and have no regrets,” he added.

Abiero expanded his business and ventured into commercial farming, which transformed his fortunes.

“I have purchased several parcels of land, ventured into commercial farming, constructed a modern house, and own a vehicle. This is purely from my partnership with Chaoba Sacco. It has been a successful journey,” he said.

He explained that the Sacco’s interest rates are lower than those of banks. For instance, if one secures a Sh100,000 loan, they repay it with an interest of Sh20,000 per year.

For Carolyne Atieno Onyango from Sega, her story is fulfilling and inspiring. Through Sacco loans, she has educated her children while running her business successfully.

“I started with a small loan of Sh10,000 and graduated to Sh150,000. Currently, I have a loan of Sh100,000, which I am servicing. I have been able to educate my children through these loans,” she said.

Dr Dan Adino, the Chairman and Founder of Chaoba Sacco, said there was initially fear among residents over securing loans due to concerns about auctioneers.

“People feared that if they took loans and failed to repay, their homes and properties would be auctioned. Through training and capacity building, we changed this mindset, which explains the growth in membership,” he said.

Adino noted that the Sacco recently held its seventh Annual General Meeting and draws members from all sub-counties in Siaya County.

He said the Sacco’s main objective is to support the business community by providing access to loans that enable business growth and local ownership.

“We have not experienced any incident of auctioning members’ property. Members have been punctual in loan repayment. We issue loans based on business size and needs,” he explained.

He added that members are encouraged to take loans they can comfortably repay and gradually graduate as their businesses grow.

“We give loans as low as Sh10,000 and up to a maximum of Sh500,000, and this will increase with time. We hope to expand to other parts of Nyanza,” he said.

Dr Adino urged the community to embrace the Sacco movement as a vehicle for economic growth and prosperity, just as seen in regions such as Nandi, Kericho, and Murang’a.

By Anderson Ojwang

The self-declared and besieged “adopted son” of the enigma, the late Raila Odinga, Oketch Salah, finds himself on the cross and now has more questions on his identity and intent than he had bargained for.

Winnie Odinga, in a Citizen TV interview, said he was a stranger and should either be taken to Mathari Hospital or the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for interrogation.

“I have met Oketch Salah, but I would like to believe nobody really knows him. I also feel sad for him. My father died, and that was a traumatic experience for me. At least he died with somebody he knew loved him, and people need to take care of their loved ones.

When you leave here and take Thika Road, you have two options: you either turn right as if you are going to Mathari or to DCI, because a flat lie that you were there at the time of my father’s death — when you were not — and talking about things that did not occur is quite dangerous and makes me question a lot of things. What would be those intentions?

He should be rushed to either Mathari or DCI with immediate effect,” she said.

Oketch recently claimed on his social media platforms that he is Raila’s adopted son and that he was with him at his deathbed and when he first fell ill.

“I was with Baba Raila Odinga from the time he first fell ill until his final moments on earth. That is a fact. I do not say this for sympathy, relevance, or political mileage; I say it because it is the truth.

I was with Baba throughout his pain. I know what it felt like. There were moments I genuinely thought I was losing him — moments when it was only me and one security guard present, holding Baba, trying to steady him, trying to help him through the pain. This is not a story.

This is lived experience.

For the record, that security officer was not Maurice Ogetta.

During that period, Baba and I had extensive conversations — personal, political, and strategic — many of which he chose to have with me privately. Out of respect for him and his family, I will not disclose those discussions. Silence should never be mistaken for fear or falsehood.

I have never claimed to replace Baba’s family, nor have I ever disrespected Mama Ida or his children. Any suggestion that I insulted, sidelined, or spoke ill of them is false and malicious. I reject it completely.

I am not afraid of scrutiny. I am ready and willing to be interviewed publicly on these matters at any time, on any credible platform. Truth does not fear examination.

What I will not accept is being turned into a convenient villain so others can fight internal battles or rewrite lived history. I did not force myself into anyone’s life. I was present because Baba allowed me to be present — consistently and knowingly.

So, bwana wacheni. You do not understand. Hamuelewi. Wallahi.

Some things are not for noise, timelines, or propaganda. Pain deserves dignity, not spectacle.

I know where I stood. I know what I did. And I know what Baba entrusted me with. Those facts do not change because of online mobs or political theatrics. I stand firmly by this truth and will not be dragged into manufactured outrage or distractions.

I want to clear something up: the security officer who was with me that night was not Maurice Ogetta. That incident happened late at night, and Ogetta was already off duty. I was with another member of Baba’s security detail, who is also his relative, Francis Ogolla.

That evening at Baba’s Karen residence, we had just finished watching the Manchester City vs Arsenal match. I was escorting Baba so he could go and rest. As we walked, I noticed something wasn’t right. He suddenly became weak and was close to passing out.

I quickly moved to support him, and he fell onto my chest. I called out to Francis to bring a chair, and while he rushed for it, I held Baba carefully and helped him sit. In those few moments, with Baba leaning on me, I honestly thought things would take a different turn that night. It was a heavy moment — confusing, frightening, and painful to witness.

By God’s mercy, Baba regained consciousness shortly after.

I also want to say this clearly: Maurice Ogetta served Baba faithfully for many years. We went through a lot together while caring for him. Ogetta was with Baba in India, all the way to the very end. What he did for Baba is something only God can truly reward.

Thank you, Maurice. Your dedication will never be forgotten,” he wrote.

Oketch Salah has, all of a sudden, become the new kid on the block, meeting with President William Ruto, ODM party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga, and appearing frequently at ODM rallies.

Salah is currently a top crusader of President Ruto’s re-election and was recently hosted by Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor at his Kisumu home.

“Paid a courtesy visit to Hon. Aduma Owuor, the MP for Nyakach. We held a candid conversation on strengthening our party structures and reconnecting with the grassroots across the Nyanza region. These discussions matter because a strong party is built from the ground up with a solid, people-centered, and united foundation. I appreciate Hon. Aduma for the warm reception and honest engagement,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

Salah also recently met with a former President and current presidential candidate of Somalia.

He wrote on his Facebook page: “This evening, I had the honor of hosting former President and current presidential candidate of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, for dinner at my residence. We engaged in thoughtful and far-reaching discussions on global geopolitics, regional stability, and the importance of strengthening diplomatic, economic, and people-to-people relations between Kenya and Somalia. Strong neighbors build a stronger region.”

He wrote again: “Today, I held a consultative meeting with the President of Puntland, Said Abdullahi Deni. We had a productive discussion on strengthening trade and economic cooperation between Kenya and Puntland. Our focus was on practical partnerships, regional stability, and opening up opportunities that directly benefit our people. Strong regional cooperation builds strong economies and lasting relationships.”

By Anderson Ojwang

Nyanza is not poor but has for decades failed to utilise the vast economic potential to jumpstart its economy.

Similarly, for decades of marginalisation by successive governments, Nyanza has remained a sleeping giant whose economic potential is yet to be reawakened.

Nyanza has over 350,000 acres of irrigation infrastructure potential, yet only about 17,000 acres are currently utilised. This is not a land or climate problem; it is a coordination, policy, and execution challenge that the region must solve together.

Within this vast potential lies the opportunity to transform livelihoods through strategic, scalable value chains — rice, sunflower, soya beans, and cotton — crops that can anchor agro-industrial growth, create jobs, and generate sustainable wealth.

Financial expert, Mr Martin Ogindo, argued that Nyanza is witnessing a momentous moment and that it is the right time to reshape the region’s economy.

Ogindo, former Rangwe MP, said currently the Luo community is walking out from the shadow of the late Raila Odinga, providing the region with the opportunity for the community to strategically redefine itself and the economic agenda for prosperity.

“The community must now define its strategic interests that need to be addressed by both county governments, which include individual and collective interests, and those to be addressed by the national government.

Until we define and document those economic strategies, that is when we will have realised our economic infrastructure,” he said.

Clear framework

Ogindo said for the community to jumpstart its economy, there was a need to develop a clear framework for engagement, both within the community and with other stakeholders.

He said for decades the region has faced structural challenges that have undermined its economic progression and must be tackled for the region to develop and grow economically.

Nyanza must now move to secure its equitable share of national resources after being marginalised for over six decades.

“The Luo community accounts for 12 per cent of the country’s population. The community must demand its 12 per cent share of national resources in terms of employment, business opportunities, and budgetary allocation for development,” he said.

He said the community was yet to set up strategic economic interests but instead has been pursuing political agendas that have often undermined economic growth.

Opposition politics

For the last six decades, the community’s brand of politics has been opposition, and this has denied it the opportunity to participate in the politics of running and managing the country.

“We have been removed from the table of the national government where economic and development policies are discussed. This is where discussions on national resources take place, and our absence is to blame for the marginalisation,” he said.

Population enabler to economic growth

The Luo community has failed to understand the economic strength in its population, both in Nyanza and the diaspora, which could account for over seven million people.

The huge population is an economic enabler capable of providing a market for everything ranging from labour to capital.

“We have not exploited the huge community population to redesign and strategically align our economy.

Nyanza is strategically located within the counties along the Lake Victoria basin and East Africa, which provide a huge market for intra- and cross-border trade,” Ogindo said.

The blue economy, agriculture

Ogindo said the failure to explore and exploit the blue economy potential in Lake Victoria to be a true pillar of the region’s economy has undermined growth and development in the region.

Similarly, former Alego MP Sammy Weya said that in addition, Nyanza and the wider Lake Victoria basin have strong potential for cocoa and palm oil, particularly where rainfall patterns, soils, and aggregation models allow.

These long-term, high-value crops can support agro-processing, exports, and intergenerational wealth creation.

Coffee farming

Weya said the region also has the ecological capacity to produce premium Arabica coffee, especially SL28 and Ruiru 11 varieties, which command high prices globally. With proper aggregation, processing, and market access, coffee can once again become a pillar of rural prosperity.

“As we expand irrigation and agriculture, we must also commit to protecting our rivers that flow into Lake Victoria. Protecting riverbanks, stopping encroachment, and reafforesting our river catchments is not an environmental slogan; it is an economic necessity.

Without our rivers, we lose irrigation, fisheries, and future production.

We cannot transform agriculture without financial sovereignty. That is why the establishment of a community-owned bank and a community-owned insurance company, spearheaded jointly by our four counties, is critical,” he argued.

Governance

The 2010 Constitution provided Nyanza with an opportunity to showcase its potential in governance and administration of regional resources, but greed and corruption have undermined the objective.

Ogindo said the leadership has excelled in plundering resources meant for service delivery and development.

“The monolithic political system in the region encouraged corruption instead of development. It incubated and bred corruption and is to blame for low economic growth,” he said.

By Anderson Ojwang

Mama Ida Odinga has termed her nomination by President William Ruto to be Kenya’s Envoy to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as an honour.

Ida said she was very happy with the appointment and thanked all those who had sent her congratulatory messages.

Canon Ida, speaking at a church service, said:
“Thank you very much to all those who have congratulated me on this new appointment. To me, it is an honour and I am happy about it. But of late, I have been going through some challenges. I lost my husband about three months ago.

Before that, every time I stood here, people would introduce me and say she is the wife of… but these days I have been given another baptism — that of a widow. I still carry that name with pride.”

Canon Ida becomes the second high-profile Luo widow to be appointed to such a position, after former President Daniel arap Moi appointed Pamela Mboya in the 1980s. Pamela Mboya was the widow of freedom fighter and former KANU Secretary General, the late Tom Mboya.

The late Ambassador Dr Joseph Odero Jowi played a critical role in bringing the UNEP headquarters to Africa, and specifically to Nairobi, Kenya, during his tenure as Kenya’s Ambassador to the United Nations in New York.

Last Friday, President William Ruto nominated Ida Odinga as the country’s Envoy to UNEP and transmitted her name to Parliament for vetting.

The Friday nomination of Mama Ida by President Ruto, coming after the demise of Raila Amolo Odinga and amid the high-octane politics in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over a pre-election pact with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has left tongues wagging.

The Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, issued a communiqué stating that the President had formally transmitted the nomination of Mama Ida Odinga to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, in line with constitutional requirements governing appointments to the Foreign Service.

He described Mama Ida as a distinguished educationist, civic leader, and advocate for social justice and gender equity.

Koskei noted in the communiqué that she began her career as a graduate teacher at Highway Secondary School in Nairobi before later teaching at Kenya High School, where she spent more than a decade in the classroom.

The communiqué further stated that Mama Ida’s life’s work has been marked by a commitment to advancing women’s education and empowerment, standing against authoritarianism and injustice, promoting freedom of expression, and championing gender equity.

“In the early 1990s, amid the national clamour to transition from a single-party State to a multiparty democracy, she played a key role in advancing calls for change and democratic reform as the founding Chairperson of the League of Kenya Women Voters. Since then, she has consistently championed initiatives that improve the lives of women, children, the youth, and vulnerable communities.”

Her appointment to the role, subject to parliamentary approval, is expected to amplify Kenya’s voice on environmental issues and further reinforce the country’s longstanding leadership in environmental diplomacy, as well as its pivotal role as host of the UN’s principal environmental authority.

Retirement in the Public Interest

In the mid-1980s, during Kenya’s one-party rule under KANU, Ida Odinga was retired from her teaching position at Kenya High School under what was termed “public interest.” Her only crime was being the wife of a man who refused to bow to dictatorship.

At the time, Raila Odinga, son of Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, had been detained without trial for his alleged role in the 1982 coup attempt.

Barely weeks after his arrest, his wife was dismissed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), her termination delivered coldly through an official letter dated September 12. The letter instructed her to vacate the school premises immediately and surrender all property belonging to the institution.

By the time of her retirement, Ida Odinga had served diligently as a teacher for 15 years. However, she did not despair in the face of the new challenge brought to her doorstep by the Moi administration.

“I had lost a husband, a job, and a home. What should one do? They will chase me away, and I will have no home,” she told reporters as her household goods were loaded onto two lorries.

At the time of her retirement, Ida Odinga received no warning and no explanation — only a curt message informing her that she would receive her final dues after handing over her clearance forms.