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Member Had No House, But Constituency Was His Home

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Published on Saturday, 02 June 2007 07:26

Owning a "home" is such an integral part of the African culture, especially for leaders, that many were taken aback that former Kitutu Masaba MP George Anyona died without a home in the constituency.Before his burial was stopped by a court order obtained by his elder brother, Mr Stephenson Mageto, it had been delayed to enable the family to construct a house at his Gatuta village home.

When Anyona became MP in 1974, he was popular with the ordinary villagers because he vigorously defended their right to survive outside the economic mainstream, even by such activities as brewing and selling illicit liquor.He frequently confronted chiefs and police officers whom he accused of harassing the people over "petty" village issues like forced harambee collections and crackdowns on illicit brewers and unlicensed hawkers.He may not have owned a house in the village, but he met his constituents frequently to listen to their petitions.

He visited his constituency during weekends and when Parliament was on recess to meet the people and collect details of their problems. He went to market places to demand quality services from local councils to justify their rates.Mr Anyona's constituents saw in him a champion of their rights who could be forgiven for not owning a home. And he fought for the rights and needs of his constituents before thinking of himself and his own family.Before arriving in Kisii Town, he would call his long-time aide, Mr Makori Karamu, to organise appointments for those who wanted to meet the MP. Mr Makori would then ensure that a room at a guest house in Kisii Town was available.

The MP would arrive between 6.30pm and 8pm. After checking into his own room and freshening up, he would hold lengthy briefings with Mr Makori and a few others. Then he would do the rounds of various bars and restaurants to meet groups of constituents. He would be up early the following morning to tour his constituency, driving from one market centre to another to talk with the people. The constituency, as one supporter put it, was his home.