Have They Met the Standards?
There is an urgent and ‘unusual’ call from Luo leaders, among them politicians, that their males should go quickly for circumcision on the suggestion that it can help reduce HIV/AIDS by 40% in the province. An open debate about the issue has been conducted and attended by Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga and Luo Council of Elders Chairman, Meshack Riaga Ogallo to get the approval and ‘blessing’ of the principals. But the question remains: have they met good standards, or is it just trial and error.
Ever since the disease became a disaster, many trials have been seen to help reduce or get rid of it, but in vain. The Luos have been basically blamed for their cultures. Unlike most cultures here in Kenya where circumcision is viewed as a means or order of initiation – from childhood to adulthood, - the Luos place their culture in juxtaposition to those of the Jews but here it differ from them. To the Luos, removal of six lower teeth was their order of initiation and this practise vanished in the 1950s, a good sign of change in a meaningless custom. Instead of mitigating some outdated cultures like wife inheritance, that has widely spread the disease, they lapse from the accepted standards and venture into worthless practises. Why? Because the pandemic knows no barriers, even cutting off the foreskin. Using circumcision as a tool, in turn has its consequences. Some just ‘cut’ young boys, and have taken advantage to ‘poach’ the uncut in villages and do the deed in the open, but how unsterile are the instruments? Are they not themselves spreading the disease, given that they do not first test these people for HIV/AIDS?
While we have a look at the Bible, as some of the advocates do to justify it (Genesis 17), we find that this was a sign of ratification of the promise between Abraham, his descendants and God. And it was just a cut in their flesh and no mention of the spiritual being (verses 7,9-13). We Luos are therefore not descendants of Abraham according to the flesh. All peoples are justified by faith and not circumcision (Romans 3:7-9). Now whatever their claim that we live in a diaspora like Jews and are persecuted, that cannot mean that we have blood relations with the Jews. In fact, the leaders should have preached a complete change in our morals especially sexual conduct. Nyanza province (equivalent to an English ‘shire’), the main domain of the Luos, is rated as amongst the worst hit by AIDS/HIV due to its climate and cultural practices.
Nevertheless, our respected and educated leaders should come up with good measures that could entice our people but not for political gain. Previously, other communities who practise circumcision amongst their males had a proverb that Luos are unworthy to lead the nation because they were uncircumcised. Perhaps this is why they are embracing circumcision – to fit them for national leadership! I wonder!
Bro Lawrence K’owiti (Latito, Kenya)
