The crime of ethnicity: The plight of Somalis in Kenya

I am appalled, if not disgusted, by the way our security forces are treating Somalis at the moment. I understand that this crackdown is in a bid to curb the terror menace that our country has been facing. I understand that a crackdown of some sort is necessary for the safety of Kenyans. I understand that a crackdown on Somalis is what would be deemed as the proper channel to use seeing as Al-Shabaab are predominantly Somali .What I don’t understand is the need to denigrate Somalis, to this extent that they are being caged. I saw an image online of an old Somali woman caged and this created a rage in me. I felt so infuriated that another human being is being treated like this. I feel that arresting Somalis, extorting money from them for their freedom and other human rights abuses is just a scapegoat. What they are doing to Somalis is certainly not going to protect Kenyans.

I feel that a summary on Al Shabaab’s history and creation is needed. Just like the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) that has been causing distress and other human rights abuses in parts of Uganda, South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR) and the DRC, Al-Shabaab emerged out of genuine grievances but later evolved into a terror group .When the groups stemmed up, they were indeed soldiers of the same struggle.  They were seeking to liberate their people. LRA came to be to liberate its people from internal circumstances. The people of Northern Uganda felt they were being marginalised. Northern Uganda is known for poverty. Since colonial days, economic power lay in the southern part of the country and so did the key political figures and the military elite. Al shabaab’s emergence was fuelled by patriotic militancy against the abrasive counter-insurgency tactics used by Ethiopian forces against the Islamic Courts Union, which was an upsurge of Islamic fundamentalism. They saw themselves as the liberators from the Western backed Transitional Federal Government. As it is with most groups that come up in this way, they both later started employing terror on people with other acts of violence and use religious fundamentalism as a mobilisation factor. We are all aware that we just need a common belief/ideology to mobilise people for a cause. Well, they have done just that. Used religion to garner troops and have created terror and fear amongst us. And now, in retaliation for Al Shabaab and other group’s acts of terror, our security forces are waging an unjust war against Somalis. The criteria for police screening is their ethnicity; that is their singular offence. I do support an operation that would rid the country of terrorists/criminals. Any sane person would, I mean, we are all tired of terror attacks on our land. What I don’t support is the manner in which it is being conducted. This operation is highly unlikely to rid us of those criminals we seek to sieve out. It is just a means for police to extort money from the criminals and many innocent.               

From the existing stereotype of Somalis, we may feel justified to cluster all Somalis as Shiftas, terrorists and Shabaab but this is wrong. These same Somalis have been terrorised by Al Shabaab in Somalia. These same Somalis are trying to eradicate Al Shabaab because it has a negative effect on their wellbeing, just as it does for all of us. They too are tired and want peace. Not all Somalis are terrorists/Al-Shabaab and we cannot deprive them of their right to be human! Is it that Somalis are perceived to be lesser citizens? Do Somalis have to keep suffering the same fate over and over again? Do we remember the Wagalla massacre in the North Eastern part of Kenya? Let me remind you. Since time immemorial, Somalis have had clan conflicts. This is the one of the main reasons for conflict in Somalia and even in our own North Eastern Kenya. So in 1984, Kenyan troops decided to go there and help diffuse these conflicts. What ensued was blood shed of Kenyans on Kenyan soil. Approximately 5,000 Somalis (the real figures have never been known) were denied water and food for days, raped before they were executed. In my opinion, this isn’t a war against terrorism. It is far from it! The poor Somalis are being taken to the Kasarani Concentration Camps (this term reminds me of the concentration camps that existed during the Holocaust) while Somalis with cash are paying their way out of it. So how do we know if that  person who is able to pay their way out of the concentration camp isn’t a sympathiser of Shabaab/terror groups? By the amount of cash they are willing to give to the security forces? Someone please tell me, how is this then a war against terrorism? If you tell someone you have bundled up into a lorry that if they give you a couple of thousand shillings they will be let free, how is this war against terror? Maybe a war against aliens or poor Somalis or people in limbo without refugee status but what war against terror is this? We are waging war on our own. For those without papers, I am not for this BUT who would want to live in a refugee camp where education doesn’t go beyond high school level? Like is inherent to all humans, they too yearn for a good life. Better than they have lived or their parents and relatives have had. Our borders are porous, not that it is any fault of the people who manage to walk into Kenya, so if they actually got access without any resistance at the border, it is our government that has erred and not those who sneak in. I understand that this too makes it easier for terrorists to come in. BUT if our borders weren’t so porous, then maybe we wouldn’t have Al Shabaab/terrorists infiltrating our country. If our security forces handled incidents like the West Gate attack with as much diligence as they are collecting money from these Somalis, maybe we wouldn’t have people dead. Are we forgetting that we have some Al Shabaab members called Omondi, Kamau, Mutiso, Kibet etc? It is largely Somalis but other people too have become members of this group. I am not pro Shabaab, please don’t get me wrong, but I don’t believe in taking people hostage due to their ethnicity or increased xenophobia and terming them all as terrorists. Being Somali is not a crime. They may be or may not be refugees. They may be or may not be citizens. But what they inherently are is HUMAN. 

Every waking moment, even I am scared of being in public places. When in a mall and lights go off, I feel petrified. But I don’t think it’s fair to blame this on Somalis. Even if some have refugee status, we have refugees all over the world and they are not all terrorists. They have been forced by circumstances to seek asylum elsewhere, somewhere safer. My opinion is that if this practice keeps going on, if people keep getting arrested for being Somali, even if they aren’t radicalised, if they go free, they will have been radicalised by default. Not because they want to, but because they have been forced to. When we demonize Somalis for being Somalis, we are in essence increasing radicalisation and not decreasing it. If that is the end goal that is trying to be achieved, then it may as well be seen as a failure. I mean, if you arrest and punish me for being a thief and I have never stolen in my life, I might as well steal to feel that I deserve such treatment.  Our war on terror is far from over. Not if these are the tactics. You are not beefing up security, you are terrorising people. Kenya needs to up its security tactics. Not by caging humans up at Kasarani “concentration camps" but by finding viable solutions to our security issues.

BONUS: A link to a pamphlet on what you should know when someone is arrested and how police are supposed to treat you.

Of Religion and Terrorism..The Westgate Kenya Tragedy

I don’t usually write about religion as it’s a sensitive issue but the Shabaab story has triggered my mind and evoked emotions in me that triggered this post. This is not written to offend anyone. 

May God rest the Souls of those who perished in the ghastly attack in peace, May those who have been directly affected find solace, peace and redemption in God, May those who have helped in whatever manner be blessed forever and May God Bless and Protect our Beloved KENYA!

The trajectory of the Kenyan and even international news for the past few days has been heart wrenching. Too much sadness engulfed our country and the world at large due to the barbaric and cowardly acts committed by bandits… hooligans and whatever names we would like to call them in the name of Islam, my religion.  In a matter of minutes and probably years of planning, they had shattered the peace in Kenya and in so many of our lives. We were glued to broadcast channels and social media to get an update on the situation, to what was happening to our beloved homeland, Kenya. 

The hooligans justify these acts of terror saying KDF and others invaded their country and attacked Muslims. Well, way before KDF ‘attacked Muslims’, you were already at it Al-shabaab. Killing and torturing your very own Muslims in their own land and now Kenya bears the brunt of your in-sensitivities and ignorance. Killing innocent people isn’t Jihad. Slaughtering babies, raping women and young girls and what have you isn’t Jihad. That is not what Islam preaches. 

Muslims are now portrayed as terrorists, justifiably so, but please take note of the fact that it may be Muslims carrying out these attacks in the name of Islam BUT NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE TERRORISTS. That isn’t Islam. This is not jihad!! This is probably Shabaab relaying their frustrations because KDF and Ras Kamboni have managed to push them out of Kismayo, their economic hub which is now under the control of Ras Kamboni. You’re probably trying to make Kenyan go against Kenyan because of religion. You’re probably trying to make Kenya attack Somalia so that you can act like Kenya is BAD and you are GOOD protecting your people, the same people you commit atrocities to!

Helping each other, regardless of religion or race

I wouldn’t want to comment on the Bible and put it out of context but I believe Holy War is mentioned. We had God making the sun stand still so that Joshua could wage war against the Amorites – non-believers, so that His people could be saved. Islam also speaks about Holy War and PROHIBITS killing innocent people. All religions including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hindu etc. preach peace. So it would be wrong and ignorant to blame this on every Muslim or Somali alive because they too got hurt. They too died. They too helped during this trying time and they too prayed for Kenya. They too watched the news with sadness and they too attended many funerals the next day. They too donated blood and gave donations. As did many Kenyans. And if the Westgate attack is anything to go by, it was a mix of nationalities practising God knows what faith!

Here is where I commend my mother for how she brought me up. She didn’t force the Hijab on me. She made me understand that religion is in one’s heart and that being kind and nice to humanity is what counts. She taught me to respect all religions. After all, my grandmother was Christian and we celebrate Christmas and Easter with the Christian part of my family. We didn’t fight about religion. When my Grandma prayed in the name of Jesus, we said Amen. When she came to my home and people prayed, she respected that. My friends too are Christian but we co-exist so well because we respect each other’s beliefs. After all, they say that in heaven or hell, you are by yourself!

I once had an argument with my friend , Fluffy, on religion, and he told me ‘Lulu, if you were born in India, you would be worshiping cows’. That put everything into perspective.  He didn’t mean it in a derogative manner, he was passing a point across. He was letting me know that it is not right to judge anyone by religion. It’s all about your beliefs and being good to another human. What you practice isn’t what matters, but what you do when on this earth. To me, religion is about being kind to humanity regardless of race, tribe or creed. Religion is what puts everything into perspective. We have a higher power who we can call upon when in distress, who we can say thank you to after success, who we praise when we wake up. Religion gives us hope and direction and helps us refrain from what we deem bad. I don’t believe it calls on us to kill and fight each other because of it. If anything, it should bring us together because the ultimate goal is to get to heaven and not hell, to meet the higher power and atone for our sins. It’s all about the hereafter. So please, Kenya, World…Do not let us be divided because of religion. After all, if I was born in India, I would be worshiping cows.

Coming together to help: Magnitudes of people came together to donate blood for those affected. The blood collected was not separated in terms of race or religion. It was Kenyan helping Kenyan. Human helping human.

BONUS: Please note how God has been used in this piece – it doesn’t refer to the God of Muslims, Hindus, Christians or any religion, He is OUR God. For us all!!

 

Somali Spring : From Bullets to Ballots?

I wish to express my gratitude to all the Speakers at the Nairobi Forum “Somali Spring”, organized by Rift Valley Institute. Thanks for the insights and eye opening talks. May God see Somalia move from bullets to ballots, and may this indeed be a Somali Spring.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a Forum titled ‘Somali Spring’. Well, I found that title quite catchy and that’s probably one of the reasons I attended the forum. Most of the speakers were fast to denounce the title though: they had not coined that term and most seem to have cautious optimism and were not sure if this was a ‘spring’ as such. A probable step in the right direction, but they did express their concerns and fears. Is Somalia headed for some sort of redemption, or will all these politics play out as they did before? Just in case you have no idea on what I’m talking about, let me get you up to speed.  Somalia has been surviving on Transitional governments since 2004. The Transitional Federal Governments are what the international community recognizes as the functioning government in Somalia. Up until 20 August 2012 when they had to elect MPs and subsequently a president. I won’t get into these now; I will speak about the 'Somali Spring'.

When I heard the title Somali Spring, the first thought that came to mind was Arab Spring. The dynamics are definitely different. The Arab spring was a popular uprising against one ruler and this was at the national level and inspired hope of better life, better systems and so on to civilians. In Somalia, it was a fight against multiple people. The power struggles in Somalia are nothing new. We have the warlords, the Islamic radicals and other people who all want to lead Somalia. To Somalis, this time round was still a replay of past events. How many times have they seen people handpicked to rule them (from outside the Country) and not deliver? [One speaker mentioned, on a light note, a newsletter in Somalia had the title: 'Presidential Candidates Leave the Country after Elections']. Since the fall of Siad Barre, they thought it would all get better. 20+ years have gone by and the situation only gets worse. I personally feel that the TFG were not doing anything to better the war ravaged, once beautiful Somalia. They squandered the money, most of which is unaccounted for to date. Most of the money was pocketed by the great leaders of Somalia and never for the development of the country of civilians. TFG in TFG out, they all did the same thing. No institutions, no functioning systems, no peace, just fear and miserable lives. And get this, each time the TFG mandate came to an end and another one came in, they had to start from SCRATCH.

The New man in Somalia this time is a ‘fresher’ so to speak. He has never been involved in politics, he is just an educated elite. A Clean man. Not a previous warlord. Never fired a gun in his life and he became the President of Somalia. Maybe this is a sign that Somalia now wants to move from bullets to ballot boxes. He will face challenges though, owing to the fact that he is a newbie, people do not know him as such and he has no prior experience in politics. There may also be a culture that is unforgiving and harsh in the country. The leader needs to deliver and deliver FAST, or the people will think this is another puppet regime. Poor guy. He gets into power, no institutions in place, has a huge mandate with little capacity. Expectations may be high this time around, maybe this time it’s the REAL liberation. Other challenges that may face this regime include: dispensation of liberation space. Ok, our dear KDF et al. (under AMISOM) are hot on Al-Shabaab’s tail. BIG QUESTION: Who governs the vacuum left after Al-Shabaab disperses? The local community, the new government or the AMISOM peacekeepers? They all have legitimate claims of wanting or needing to govern the particular areas. So what happens? There is also the land dispute problem that has gone unresolved for 3 decades. The question of federalism, piracy and so on. The positive thing here is most of these can be resolved, gradually. There is an interim constitution, will people this time air their grievances democratically and go to the ballots instead of using bullets? Will they use this opportunity to demand for a change of clauses in the constitution, or the whole document altogether? This is not going to be easy, especially since the way of life they have gotten accustomed to is via bullets, but it isn't impossible.

They need to get to the root causes of all these conflicts and fighting. It will take time, but this is a high risk moment which provides an important opportunity that every actor needs to seize. There is a lot of guarded and cautious optimism, but this is the one chance there is to make things right. There is also need to develop a culture of trust among the Somalis. They need to have a sense of ownership. After all, it is their country. The international community needs to have spectator status and clear space for Somalis to do this right. They need to see what solutions they have up their sleeves just this time and work with them. The International Community needs to get this right. Darn, we all need to get this right.

Somalia in essence needs 3 kinds of liberations:

1.  Liberation from Islamic Radicalism and extremism. These Somalis we all equate to radicals and extremists are also tired of the same. They are tired of the draconian punishment they have to put up with. The Al-shabaab problem may have gotten some fixing, their core business hub of Kismayu is now in the hands of AMISOM. But there is the possibility that this problem won’t go away. They may disperse across borders and gain some cognizance there. It is also important to mention that when Al-Shabaab started out, it was out of genuine grievances. There is need to watch out so that other similar groups don’t stem up from these same grievances.
2.  Liberation from the captive State. In Somalia, the politics has been an all or nothing kind of politics. Zero-sum game. Predatory. Corrupt. Some people deem this as being worse than the Islamic Radicalism and extremism.
3. Liberation from perpetual liberation. How many times have Somalis thought they were on the verge of liberation, only to be thrown back to the ground? How many times have they had crushed expectations? Is the transition really over this time?

With this said, all we can do is sit and watch as the NEW man attempts to build a failed state from scratch into something new. He needs all the support he can get from the international Community. This is an uphill task. He will need to take baby steps, with support of course, but it is not impossible. This is a chance for liberation, go Somalia GO!

  

The Intervention :Kenya - Somalia Nexus

The mention of an attack along Moi Avenue, Nairobi (Kenya) and the impulsive thought of blaming Al-Shaabab inspired this post. Thanks to all the people and institutions who give me insight on what's happening, and the news too. The views here are totally personal.

Somalia has been anarchy for like Forever. To me it seems forever coz since I was a child, Somalia has been synonymous with conflict, refugees, war and all those derogatory words. Civil war broke out in 1991 when the former despotic leader of Somalia, Siad Barre was ousted. Somalia seems like a hopeless case and why does it seem so? It is at war with itself, with the region and the international community. Well, the Somalia history and the wars and proxy wars involved it would cost me the whole post so I’ll get into the dynamics another day.

image courtesy of area254.com

The TFG, according to the people, has been imposed on them by the International actors and they are corrupt and useless – If I am allowed to use that term. Al-shabaab was born out of grievances by the people due to economic mismanagement and poor governance. They saw the TFG as a ‘puppet’ regime and the Ethiopian backers as ‘invaders’. The insurrection group has espoused vicious patterns of violence buttressed by spiritual tactics. 

In the news, we heard that Kenya was intervening in Somalia because of the kidnapping of foreigners at the Coast by Al-shabaab. Well, how could it take about 1-2 weeks to prepare for a war of that magnitude? The abductions may have been just but a trigger but definitely not the main reason the otherwise meek Kenyan military could have ventured into the Somali territory. Kenya’s hard power had been a cause for speculation for far too long (even Museveni doubted the Kenyan army could fight) and they were proving their military might by going into Somalia to save it and chase Al Shabaab away, right? Well, It had more to do with protecting Kenya’s interests, mostly economic. The Port of Lamu is a major project to be undertaken but the problem comes in when you think about the proximity to Somalia and the pirates. For any chance of success, Somalia needs to be stable. So probably the government of Kenya had thought of ways they could get into Somalia, have support of the Kenyans and international actors as well and not have questions risen. I mean, we have IDPs languishing in camps and the government wanted to spend money on war, they needed a good excuse. So they went in, with so much pomp and excitement. Kenyans too were excited. All TV stations had live reports on the intervention. Then came the media blackout. All of a sudden, as fast as they had started, they stopped. Was Kenya biting off more than they could chew? Had they really thought this through?

 Kenya was going strong up until they got about 100kms into Somalia. Now they had to maintain the captured towns or else Al-Shabaab would recapture them and they also had to move on. How? They had obviously not thought this through. Kismayu is known to be the economic power of Al-Shabaab. If the intention was to weaken them, they could have gotten there but they haven’t.  Alshabaab are very deceptive and very smart. They can camouflage, they can fit in. They can just adorn themselves with a buibui and niqaab and act like women – only with a gun, a grenade or some sort of weapon beneath the buibui. You can’t tell them apart from their Somali counterparts. War is also very expensive and Kenya has its own economic problems. This war is just not sustainable. They had not set a time period for when they would leave. So they re-hatted and joined the AMISOM forces which would create a source of funds and also some sort of redemption for the Kenyan forces. They were not quitting, they had joined AMISOM. They were trying to tell us that they weren’t defeated but in actual sense, to me, that’s exactly the message I got. The vast support they had started to diminish and this may probably be because of the body bags that started finding its way into the country. Some also speculate that Kenya wants to get rid of Dadaab refugee camp though this is a problem that’s not spoken of too loudly. If the soldiers manage to save Somalia, the Somali inhabitants will make their way back home and Kenya won’t be home to one of the largest refugee camps.  I wait for that to happen.

So now Kenya is stuck between a rock and a hard place. They can’t just up and leave Somalia, after all they wanted to demonstrate their military might. On the other hand, Kenya continues to be seen as an enemy to Al-Shabaab and chances are they will not stop attacking us until we pack up and leave their country. I wait to see what happens.

God protect us!

Proud to be BLACK

I am Black and I am proud.

Just because I am Black, no one should put me down

That is how God wanted me to be.

I am Black and I am proud.

Just because I am Black, people should not exterminate me

I am an equal occupant of this world.

The only thing that makes the world better is diversity. If I have a different skin color,

If I have a different view and opinion, if I practice a different religion, If I think you don’t govern well and I speak out, that still does not give you a right to want exterminate me.

I am suffering. My children are being killed, my wife, mother and sisters are gang raped in front of me then brutally killed. My sons are abducted, and even killed, right in front of my eyes. But Still I stand to tell you, I shall not give up without a fight.

I live in fear, with my family and friends, but still we shall not give up. I hide in caves and mountains, feed on wild plants and fruits, all this spurred by your brutality and heartlessness.  I shall still stand up for what I believe in. I might not be able to change the circumstances, yet. I may not be able to stop you, yet. But I shall not give up.

As you stand by and watch, as you wait for my demise, I am keen to tell you that NO, you cannot finish us all. They tried that in Rwanda, they did not succeed. They tried it in Darfur, they did not succeed. So even now I tell you, you shall not succeed. You cannot finish us all. And among those remaining I stand to tell you that I will fight for our cause.

The Sad Reality

Been working on some research project for a while now. Today I have stared at my computer screen and I could not type a word. My mind just went blank, Sleep Mode. I guess I am just engulfed in my own thoughts and worries. Damn world! Plus I haven’t written in a while.

My research is conflict in the Horn of Africa. I’m focusing on Somalia and all the interventions that have come along with the conflict that has gone on since time immemorial. I never knew how bad this was, until I started ardently reading and getting information on what to write for my research project, and ever since I started working at an NGO.  I guess I have been in my own world. I have always thought that after I get my degree in International Relations and Communication, I can just come in and attempt to change the world.  Oh how I have been disappointed by my findings.

The world seems to have many kind hearts, with genuine intentions of making the world a better place. We sing about it, we talk about, people discuss about it, but it is one of the hardest things to achieve. Our world is realist, I have come to realize. I am not being an academic in this post; I am just relaying my thoughts. In university, I learnt so many theories. But to me, the one that fits this world is Realism.  In a nutshell, Realism says the world is all about Power, Money and such. This is true. We all dream to have money, power, and influence.

So sad is reality. Reality which is no one does anything, unless they have something to gain. It’s all culminating to an inhumane world. Conflicts are not as simple as I made them out to be. I used to think UN, AU and IGAD can just come up and Woooop say for example Somalia is in crisis, there is conflict, Let us send a fact finding mission then a peacekeeping mission, call for disarmament; call for complete cease fire, call for humanitarian intervention and it all folds out that way. Again, how I have been disappointed. I am relentlessly asked to send out letters to the bodies that have a mandate to protect us and "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace and security (UN charter, chapter VII). It all still comes down to, am I gaining something? What is in it for me? We keep organizing meetings with so many high profile bodies. But it all amounts to writing more letters, writing more appeals, sending out the humanitarian situation reports out to show the urgency and need.  I thought all we had to do was say, "Hey, stop killing people!". But it's much more complicated than I ever anticipated. Every actor that can do something will not do it if they have no gaining point. And NOTE: People are dying, raped, displaced and tormented.   Conflict is inevitable. There is never a time that there is no conflict. Why? Because from that conflict, someone else is gaining, selfishly, if I may add. It’s all about power, egoism, and personal interests. Let people die, as long as I am gaining from it. Our world is sadistic. I find that so sad, so mean, so inhumane. I don’t even know how to best put it.

This is not to say that all efforts have failed. The Rwanda case, as much as it came too late, had led to the arrest and trials of prominent figures involved in the 1994 Genocide. Too late because yes, justice is prevailing now, but had the international community intervened then, then not so many people would have died. In my opinion, If Rwanda had oil, maybe they would have intervened sooner. The damage would not have been as gruesome as it was. In Sudan, it has succeeded to some part. I say this because the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed. But still, the international Guarantors  are not holding on to their promises of making sure all is implemented. There is still a lot of conflict in Sudan border areas, that are spilling into South Sudan. Conflict, a huge one, is now looming there. Annnndddd...We are still waiting on the Regional and international bodies to send a fact finding mission, and agree to a ceasefire and push for unimpeded humanitarian access to the area and so on. Annnnnd, people are dying, hungry,they cannot cultivate meaning there will be , or there already is famine, women are being raped, kids are being bombed around. But what to do but wait for the resolutions to be passed as the powerful ones take their time in making decisions sipping on their cups of tea and coffee, expensive vodkas and smoking cigars in their peaceful homes. Maybe if they were in such a vulnerable position, they would understand.They would understand how it feels to watch your kid, wife, mother, relative die. Not die, but killed, murdered, bombed, shot at, raped, right infront of your eyes. And you cannot do anything about that fact. Maybe then, they would understand. But they are comfortable, they do not FULLY know what is happening, they may not even care, but they are the ones we are waiting on so that something can be done. Sigh.

Anyway, I shall not stop dreaming of a free peaceful world. I shall not stop dreaming that the world will be full of Anuradha Koiralas and Narayanan Krishnans. I will not stop dreaming of a world where children will sleep and play peacefully and grow up well, without fear. They do deserve that. I may just be dreaming, but as long as it makes me sleep better at night, and as long as I am trying to make it that way, then I shall not stop dreaming. Besides, I feel that we dream for something and go for it, not matter how difficult it may be. So I shall continue to dream.

I guess this is how the NGO world works, so this too shall be my motto and my mindset, because I am not giving up for the sake of Humanity!

I cannot allow these people to die, people who have come to me for help
with death staring them in the eyes. Whatever punishment may be
imposed on me, I know I should follow my conscience.

-- Chiune (Sempo) Sugihara 

                     There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice,

but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.

-- Elie Wiesel

Tell Me Why

I guess I rant a bit too much. But who can blame me if that's what I feel? Don't get me wrong, I am not a bitter person, nor am I so negative. I guess I just feel disappointed by so many things in life. I stumbled across a song by Declan Galbraith. He's quite young in the song, 'Tell me Why', I'm guessing he is now around 20+. But just the fact that a kid like him can be so troubled and puzzled about how our world is makes me love the song even more.

Nazi Germany

He says that in his dream, children sing a song of love for every boy and girl. Laughter is the language of the world. But  what  does he have to do to be a man. Does he have to stand and fight to prove to everybody who he is. I'm quoting this from his song. Literally, he is wondering why but figuratively he is speaking to us all. He doesnt understand why the world has to be like this.Why don't people give a helping hand to the people who need it. People might give a helping hand, but then again it might not get to those who need it.If we can get aid for free education in kenya and suddenly a HUGE chunk 'goes missing'? My guess is someone BIG was involved. But (s)he already has more than enough why deny those who need it?

Nazi Germany

This song always has the power to make me feel weak inside. Makes me want to cry. Makes me so sad and angry. But as people say 'the world in chaos is bigger business than a world in peace'. This statement, as sad as it is, is so real. Its always problem after another. Nazi Germany.Why? Coz they felt that the other races are impure and wanted to cleanse the country ethnically. Rwandan Genocide. Why? Coz of problems carried forward from time immemorial. Then what? Let's kill the other tribe so that we can take over everything. They are left scarred for life, both emotionally and physically. Why?

Scarred from Rwanda genocide

War in Iraq, not war but occupation. Why? Coz President Bush felt he wanted the oil more than the people of that land. Weapons of mass destruction my foot. Women of Iraq were being raped. Not just women, small, young girls! The soldiers would go into people's homes and just torment them. Kill my parents infront of me, who cares? Rape me infront of my parents and my brothers, rape my mother infront of me!!They could no longer live in peace. The Abu Ghraib prison where so many were ashamed, humiliated, tortured by the US army. Why?

 

Kenya, Post election violence 2007. Why? One party/One tribe feels that it is better than all the rest.  So let us kill them, instill fear in them then we can take power. That may not be the sole reason for the PEV, but as usual, it is about power! But WHY? So many were killed, so many are still displaced.

Now our people die of hunger. In my opinion, the MPs don't give a shit. In my opinion, the only reason that the 212 or is it 214 MPs (whatever the number) gave 6 million Kshs is because of the shame they felt when Kenyans gave so much for their people. You tell me, they benefit from OUR money (taxes), which they dont have the shame to pay because they think the cost of living is high, then they cant even give abit more to feed our dying Kenyans? Weren't those images on TV bad enough? Weren't they heart breaking?

 Then they go on to say no records of dying kenyans have been put forward to them. SO WHAT? If it is Somalis in the refugee camps here, SO WHAT? Aren't they humans too? Aren't they hungry? Aren't they dying? But seeing the selfish nature of humans, as long as they have full tummies when they sleep, then who cares? TAXES!! Cost of living is high my foot! Waheshimiwas pocket so much but cannot pay taxes. People who earn much less pay for your salaries and your trips to the hague to support people suspected of murdering and causing so much pain to Kenyans. To support your own you say. Well if you can support those accused of such atrocties, which to me are paramount to crimes against humanity, then why can't you support those dying of hunger?

South Sudan. Why? Other people feel they are much better and they deserve it all. The black people might as well be slaves. Who cares? Let your forces kill them and rape their women. Let the government send the armed forces to kill them, bomb them, then deny that any civilians are being targeted. You bomb civilian population. Then you deny that the people of Sudan are being murdered! Well, technology shows us body bags and mass graves. Let them not farm. They may as well die. They cannot even go to church, because the places where people feel safest are being targeted. No outside assistance being let in yet these people cannot farm because you bomb them.Mass starvation might just be the logical next. Humanitarian assistance not allowed. Fine, African soultions to African problems. We have time and time again proven that this notion is hard to sustain. In my opinion, if the international community would not intervene in so many situations, e.g Sudan, it would have been catastrophic. If there had been foreign internvention in Rwanda, the amount of dead people would not have been that high. Millions dead? Is this really the way to treat human beings? What happened to humanity? I could go on and on, there is the case of blood diamonds in Sierra Leone, there is Palestine, but I'm sure you've gotten the drift!

Question of foreign intervention raises many questions, which I will opinionate another time. May be good, May not be good. But foreign intervention created the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where I have worked and seen powerful people such as the then Prime Minister of Rwanda (and other leaders from Rwanda) being charged and imprisoned for the genocide in Rwanda. Yes it shall not bring the dead  back, but again, it's Justice. They leave the court room all meek and humble, makes me feel sad for them especially after their sentencing. But if they can treat another human being in that manner, for whatever reasons, then well they deserve it. No impunity for them!

I could go on and on but my rantings have lost direction. I might not be heard but putting my thoughts down gives me a satisfaction I cannot explain. It makes me feel like a heavy load has been lifted off my chest. This kid singing wonders why. Where has the face of humanity gone to? Why is it that those who care can make little change and those who are supposed to be helping us don't give a damn? Why do we have to hurt and kill each other? Why?

All in all, I have lost faith in our leaders. I feel that queuing up to tick against one of those images of the leaders or to be leaders is a waste of time. Why? Coz most never live up to their promises. They lie and cheat and make false promises that never benefit us. Actually, they leave us in worse states. Money to help the youth, they pocket. Money for constituency development, they pocket. Food to aid those in need, they convert it into money which they pocket. Fees to help the children who cannot afford to get an education, they pocket. I still dont understand how they do that. Greed? Selfishness? Why are they so shameless? If I could meet them up and ask one question, it would just be 'Tell me Why'!