Nakuru Luo Community Makes Major Unity Declaration

By Suleiman Mbatiah

The Luo community in Nakuru County has pledged to strengthen internal unity and promote peaceful coexistence after elders and leaders endorsed a new grassroots mobilization strategy centered on clan leadership and countywide engagement.

The resolution was reached during a consultative meeting convened by the Luo Council of Elders, bringing together leaders and representatives from across Nakuru County to chart a common agenda focused on socio-economic empowerment, political organization and community cohesion.

Leaders said the new framework would reorganize the community through traditional clan structures, enabling coordinated engagement across all 11 sub-counties while strengthening communication, participation and collective decision-making on matters affecting Luo residents in the county.

The meeting also emphasized peaceful coexistence with other communities, saying the renewed unity drive would focus on development, inclusion and dialogue while creating stronger platforms to address challenges facing women, youth, widows and persons with disabilities.

“We have unanimously agreed that everybody must go back and register with their clan chairman. We are going to use our clans as the unit of operation. Secondly, when we call our meetings, we will be coming as the clan members,” said Nakuru County CEC for Sports, Youth, Gender and Social Services Madam Elgar Riaga.

Riaga credited the Luo Council of Elders, led by Dr. Moses Okech, Dr. Omondi Ogada and Mr. Ouko, for spearheading reconciliation efforts, saying longstanding divisions had weakened the community despite members sharing common heritage and aspirations.

She said the mobilization would bring together Luo families originating from Homa Bay, Kisumu, Migori and Siaya counties under their respective clan leadership while ensuring wealth, social status and background would not determine participation in community affairs.

The county executive said leaders would embark on a series of meetings across Nakuru’s 11 sub-counties to strengthen grassroots engagement, reaffirming that the community remained committed to promoting peace and accepting the guidance of the elders.

The renewed unity campaign comes as communities increasingly reorganize ahead of the 2027 General Election, with leaders seeking stronger bargaining power on socio-economic development, equitable resource allocation, employment opportunities and political representation through coordinated grassroots mobilization.

“As you realize, we are about, in terms of voting, we are about 250,000 votes. And we have to make a decision on what to do with that votes. We are disadvantaged, even in terms of representation in both national and the county levels, in employment and any other sector,” said Luo Council of Elders Secretary Dr. Omondi Ogada.

Ogada said many Luo residents had lived, worked and raised families in Nakuru for generations, arguing they should be recognized as integral stakeholders in the county rather than being viewed as outsiders during appointments, nominations and public participation.

He said the council had brought together representatives from Olenguruone, Molo, Elburgon, Njoro, Naivasha and Rongai, agreeing on an action plan to advance empowerment programmes while positioning the elders’ forum as the community’s official engagement platform.

Nakuru County Luo Council of Elders chairman Moses Okech said the council would continue holding regular meetings to address challenges affecting the community while promoting development initiatives, maintaining unity and ensuring collective participation in programmes aimed at improving livelihoods and expanding opportunities across Nakuru County.

“We are together today to look at the issues of empowering our community in terms of development, particularly women, youth development, youth unemployment and factors adversely affecting the education of our youth,” said Oketch.