Renowned legal scholar and orator Prof PLO Lumumba walked off a conference stage in Kisumu after organisers asked him to pause his speech to allow Governor Prof Anyang\u2019 Nyong\u2019o to be ushered into the venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The incident took place during the 18th TICH Annual Scientific Conference at the Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre in Kisumu, leaving audience watching in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof Lumumba was delivering a keynote address on Africa\u2019s persistent challenges in accessing vital research and research materials when organisers interrupted him to announce the governor\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And that is part of the African problem,\u201d he told the audience following the interruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I\u2019m now being stopped because the governor is coming. What is important, is it what we are saying or that the governor is coming?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof Lumumba said the interruption illustrated the very problem he had been discussing. “I will stop, but this is the kind of thing that holds Africa back. The governor knew that we had a meeting; he chose to come to interrupt, and we were here celebrating. I\u2019ll stop,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He then stepped away from the microphone and left the stage as the governor was being ushered into the venue and greeted attendees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A short video of the incident has since circulated online, prompting discussion about political protocol and the treatment of intellectual and academic spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The episode has also renewed debate over Kenya\u2019s VIP culture, in which the arrival of senior political figures can sometimes lead to programmes being paused and attention being redirected towards the visiting official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such protocol is common at public events, particularly in Africa, where senior political figures are often formally acknowledged when they arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some observers, Prof Lumumba\u2019s reaction reflects concerns about whether political status should take precedence over proceedings at events focused on academic and scientific discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bennett Owino backed Prof PLO Lumumba\u2019s decision, saying he was right to object to the disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It is now time we stop treating these politicians as gods,\u201d he said. Owino said politicians often arrive at funerals and other public events to find proceedings paused as they are ushered into the venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Prof Lumumba has been blessed with very educative speeches, which should not be stopped just because a politician has been noticed. I totally support him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Jorge Vencedor disagreed, arguing that humility should take precedence over ego.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Humility over ego always. PLO shouldn\u2019t take things so personally. Wouldn\u2019t PLO want the governor to hear his speech?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ondari Bonmax also voiced his support for Prof Lumumba.
\u201cI listen a lot to PLO Lumumba. This guy is among the few Pan-Africanists we have left. On this one, I support him fully. It is time we stopped treating politicians as gods,\u201d he said.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Renowned legal scholar and orator Prof PLO Lumumba walked off a conference stage in Kisumu after organisers asked him to pause his speech to allow Governor Prof Anyang\u2019 Nyong\u2019o to be ushered into the venue. The incident took place during the 18th TICH Annual Scientific Conference at the Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":26481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69,68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n