Ruto, Museveni Honored as Luo elders in Siaya Cultural Event

Presidents William Ruto of Kenya and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda were honoured as Luo elders during the Piny Luo cultural festival held in Siaya.

The three-day festival concluded on Thursday and featured a ceremony in which Ker Odungi Randa officiated the installation of the two leaders. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was also in attendance. During the event, President Museveni presented the newly honoured Luo elders with historical photographs from the tenure of Kenya's founding President, Jomo Kenyatta.

These images, taken on June 3, 1963, captured a pivotal meeting in Nairobi attended by notable leaders, including Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere, and Milton Obote, who collectively expressed their intent to establish a Federation of East Africa. Museveni highlighted that despite subsequent hesitations from some leaders, the photographs represent a lasting vision of regional unity.

In a show of political solidarity, Museveni endorsed Raila Odinga's candidacy for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC). He acknowledged Odinga's capabilities in organizing and generating ideas but noted that ultimate authority lies with current state leaders. President Ruto supported this assertion, emphasizing that Odinga’s candidacy symbolizes the East African region and has received the approval of African heads of state, positioning him as the most suitable candidate for the role.

"We are supporting the candidature of Raila for the chairmanship of the African Union. He will help us do some mobilization and brainstorming. The real power is with us here. We are in charge of these states. We are the ones who can say we move and we move. For him, he can talk but the people with power are the ones in charge of these governments," he said.

Raila expressed his appreciation for the presence of both presidents, remarking that their attendance lent significant honour to the Piny Luo festival. He recognized their roles in promoting and preserving Luo culture, reinforcing the festival's importance in fostering unity and cultural pride.

"Piny Luo Cultural Festival is today honoured to host H.E President William Ruto and H.E President Yoweri Museveni at Got Ramogi. We thank them for creating time to celebrate our culture."