Paper long abstract:

The Luo nation has had an uneasy relationship with state independence . In the perception of many Luo citizens, the Independence era has witnessed an inexorable decline in the academic, intellectual, political and social fortunes of the Luo, to the extent therefore that her elevated status during the colonial period is something to be wistful about, and the source of genuine soul searching. This is particularly the case during the anxious months of January when the results of the public examinations are normally released by the state: the refrain of being perennially near the bottom of the meritocratic pyramid is cause for many sleepless nights. The 'standard narrative', in the words of Lisa Morrison is that there is a conspiracy to keep the Luo out of the academic running, itself a symptom of the deeper malaise that affects Luo society. This 'standard narrative' often defies reason by appealing to the victimhood that the Luo nation receives in large doses from their nemesis the Kikuyu, who are seen to monopolize political power and opportunity, and who act to prevent Luo society from taking charge of its own destiny. In part this paper seeks to redress this equation by asking the Luo nation to take up her own burdens and bear its own cross in the uncertain world epitomized by the unspoken challenges of an HIV/AIDS -ridden world.