In the Footsteps of the Late Francis Lotodo

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Francis Polise Lotodo, fondly referred to as “Papo” (father) and “Poyon”(Mzee) by the Pokot was not only a respected leader but a hero, supreme leader and a royal institution in the stretches of Pokot land.

The Pokot held him in awe as he was a fiery and fearless leader who gave his all for the people he led.

His death in 2002, evoked feelings of deep sorrow and great loss to the community.

“We will get another MP, but we shall never get another Loile(lion),” mourned Pokot elders.

For them, there were only two people who qualified the coveted title ” Papo”(Father), Former President Daniel Arap Moi, and their beloved Francis Polise Lotodo.

His political clout was so immense in West Pokot that no local politicians dared criticise him. That is why through his influence two MPs from West Pokot,  Christoper Lomada and Samuel Poghisio were elected to Parliament.

However to his critics, the late Lotodo was viewed as a villain,a warmonger and a tribal warlord who fanned hostility against his community’s neighbours.

His reign was marred with controversies, which is why he was jailed twice and expelled from KANU once.

It should be remembered that in 1984,he was accused of financing a private army, whose duties were to terrorise other communities. He was later charged in court and jailed for promoting war-like activities, and was even said to possess a huge arms arsenal,buried in his compound.

He was expelled from KANU in 1989.His problems began when he stood firm during a rally at Kapenguria Stadium before President Moi and supported a statement by the late Anglican Bishop Alexander Muge that people were starving in West Pokot. He criticised the area DC over the famine that had ravaged the area while the local administration kept saying there was no famine in the district.

Lotodo said he was ready to be fired as a Cabinet Minister, but he would not stop defending the rights of the Pokot.

“What is a Cabinet flag after all? I am ready to defend the rights of the Pokot without a flag,” he boldly stated.

In another rally, while defending Pokots who were to be evicted from Trans Nzoia by the then District Commissioner Joseph Mangira Lotodo retorted “Sijawahi ona mtu mpumbavu kama huyu” (I have never seen a stupid person like this one).

The late Pokot Kingpin made enemies because of his sincere nature. Indeed whenever he opened his mouth, he always came up with a memorable quote.

His sincerity and candidness, including taking on President Moi when he felt the Pokot were getting a raw deal, earned him the wrath of the KANU which led to being stripped of his ministerial post and later arrested and jailed.”

However Moi later realised that Lotodo could not be swayed in his resolve to stand by his people and by the time of his death in 2002, they had become very close after being reappointed to the Cabinet.

Lotodo was best described as a straightforward man who would not mince his words, even if it meant putting his life on the line, those who knew him well speak of a brutally honest man and a civil politician. A man who, beneath the gruff and unsmiling exterior, was warm, kind and considerate, a man who would not hurt a fly.

As the new crop of leaders emerge the biggest question being asked is who is likely to follow in the footsteps of the Late Francis Polise Lotodo?

The Pokot Community has been marginalized for many years but leaders should now more than ever give hope to their people and stand by them even when they are being mistreated and ingnored by the Government of the day. The ball is in your court,it is your duty to defend the community the way the Late Papo Lotodo did.