There is no doubt that the people of Nyanza have poised themselves as one of the best English speakers in the country and beyond. Their courage, boldness and charismatic nature has put them at the helm of eloquence when it comes to speaking the Queen’s language.
While members of other communities are afraid of candidly articulating their issues in English in order to hide the shame of poor pronunciation characterised with their natural community accent, the people from Nyanza region have proudly taken advantage of their accent and successfully blended it with English to form what is now commonly referred to as éngluo.’
But where do they draw the inspiration of speaking English easily even without some attending school or classes?
One reason is that they are naturally aggressive and self – determined; they believe that they are born great and ought to behave and conduct themselves as great people. Their lifestyle has to reflect what they believe in and that is why they love expensive cars, spacious and classy houses and generally a boisterous and lavish lifestyle that is also defined by some good and unique communication skills.
Secondly, they are generally well learned and have a good number of academicians and vibrant political figures and orators in the country to look up to. Such leaders have given them the inspiration of greatness and has cultivated the feeling of excellence in different aspects of life.
Most of them for instance, will associate themselves with the bunching grammatical lines of Prof. PLO Lumumba or the composure and academic flamboyance of Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang Nyongó. The majority who cherish politics draw their inspiration from the unbwogable ODM leader and Kenya’s living father of opposition Raila Odinga.
In the legal fraternity, the community is inspired by Senior Counsel and Siaya Senator James Orengo and Rarieda MP Dr. Otiende Amollo who are one of Kenya’s finest legal minds, Orengo has been nicknamed the “walking constitution.”
Other great, bold and eloquent speakers include the tough talking and most controversial lawyer and author Dr. Miguna Miguna, MPs Opiyo Wundanyi, T. J Kajwang, Gladys Wanga, Babu Owino, Senator Moses Kajwang among others.
Historically, the community enjoys the political success of great leaders such as Oginga Odinga, Dr. Robert Ouko and Tom Mboya who were articulative, bold and unshaken. This, has from historical times boasted the confidence of the Luo community in articulating issues using the Queen’s language without fear of making grammatical errors.