The humiliation that comes with being a Somali in Kenya

Sunrise...Sunset....Sunrise....Sunset. 

From our vantage point, time moves forward linearly but the status of Somalis in Kenya is stuck in place.

Google Searches for the terms "Somali" "War" and "Terror" in Kenya Since 2010

I decided to look up the relative aggregate search popularity of the terms "Somali","War" and "Terror" in Kenya.

Here is the Graphic

Kenyan Somalis at Risk of Xenophobic Attacks

Apparently people are shocked that the constant vilification of Somalis on TV, Social Media and Parliament could lead to reprisal attacks against them. Some of us are on the record stating the obvious long before this war.

The distrust of Somalis will always hurt national cohesion more than it will harm actual Somalis living in Kenya. To the extent that there is a significant portion of the Kenyan populace that is somaliphobic, I think that emanates from trade envy and a failure to understand the significant role we played in this country's history. Historical revisionism has edited out the vital role Somalis hold in this nation and our contribution to the remarkable success of the Kenyan economy in the past decade.

It doesn't help either that we have brain-dead leaders who continue to feed upon our disenfranchisement rather than unity. The unintended consequence of  this conflation of Somalis with Al-Shabab might be the unification of all Somalis living in Kenya.

Let me get to the point of this post.. which is this assessment offered by the head of NCIC regarding Somali Kenyans.

The continued branding of Kenyan Somalis as Al-Shabaab sympathisers could fuel xenophobic attacks against them, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission has warned.

NCIC also criticised Friday’s attack on presidential hopeful Raphael Tuju who was on a campaign tour in Kisumu, which it described as the "apex in the country’s pyramid of intolerance".

On the hate propaganda targeted at Kenyan Somali community, chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia said this was being propagated through social media, broadcasts and SMS text messages.

“These include one that advises Kenyans to alight from matatus if they get on board. This outrightly amounts to fear mongering and is likely to fuel xenophobic attacks against the community. We shall not allow this to happen,” said Mr Kibunjia at the Commission’s Delta House headquarters in Nairobi Saturday.

“People become Al-Shabaab or any militia group on their individual capacity and not as an ethnic group or race,” he said citing Elgiva Bwire Oliacha, the self-confessed terrorist, who pleaded guilty to the grenade attacks in Nairobi last month.

Finally, I received an e-mail, yesterday, from a friend asking me to make a distinction between Somali Kenyans and Somali refugees so (non-Somali) readers can know who I'm referring to. I refuse to do so mainly because those who hate us for being Somali generally hate us without making any such distinction. I don't think selling out my refugee brethren would make them accept me for the Kenyan that I am anymore.

A Glowing Profile of Yusuf Hassan By Saturday Nation

 

                   
The Saturday Nation's Billy Muiru penned a glowing profile of Kamukunji's newly minted MP, Yusuf Hassan, in which any substantive policy discussion was conspicuously absent.

Not to be parsimonious with praise myself but having read the article twice, I'm still at a loss to understand what the thesis was.

My intention is not to dismiss the profile as a fluff piece but questioning the writers journalistic talents is warranted and justified.

Instead of taking Kamukunji's only ever MP to possess a measurable sense of intellectual gravitas to task about his plans for the constituency, especially Eastleigh's business community, the writer focuses on the trivialities of the election battle and the personality quirks of Mr. Yusuf.

Some of the poignant questions that should have been addressed in the article include:

•  The civil injunction issued against the collection of taxes by city council  from Eastleigh based businesses

• The desperately malfunctioning sewerage system in Eastleigh

• Alien Registration for the thousands of Somali Refugees doing business in Eastleigh and paying tax to both local and central government apparatuses.   
• Police over reach and antagonism towards Somalis.

• Muslim Profiling

• Infrastructure that is begging for a serious re-investment.

Mega crap Saturday Nation! Sometimes I just have to say no thanks. Why point out the guys political outlook instead of offering us the chance to derive such conclusions from his answers. 

That Said, this profile will be useful to those looking to fill their knowledge gaps about the MP's biography. If you have the patience to go through the whole thing, it will most definitely shed light on some of those shadowy zones in his background. 

Here is an excerpt of the profile as it appeared on today's paper.

Who is this young man of Arabic or Somali descent on air? 

That is what former Voice of Kenya head James Kangwana asked when he first heard young Yusuf Hassan on radio on a hot weekend in the early 1970s.

Hassan had been selected for a part-time job as a presenter, and would present the popular Dunia Wiki Hii when journalists failed to show up on time after binging on Friday.

Kangwana had noticed the soft but firm voice. Little did he know the Kenyan Somali man he had also described as “thin but intelligent” would rise to international echelons and work for both BBC and Voice of America.

Fast forward to 2011. Hassan is the new Kamukunji MP, representing a constituency whose parliamentary elections have been marred by controversy never seen in Kenya’s history.

In 2007, vote counting and tallying was violently stopped by angry youth, and it was only after eight months that the then Electoral Commission of Kenya would declare Samuel Mbugua the winner.

Did not enjoy his salary

He did not enjoy his salary for long. Loser Ibrahim Ahmed lodged a petition at the High Court and the election was nullified in January this year.

In May, the ensuing by-election was stopped again only two days before polling after another loser filed a court case to stop it, arguing the nominations discriminated against him.

So when the ill-fated election was finally concluded two weeks ago and Hassan declared the winner, he heaved a sigh of relief.

“I felt like a new born baby. For all the battles I have fought, even at international level, I derived a lot of joy in this win,” said Hassan. He polled 19,030 votes against closest rival Ibrahim Ahmed’s (Johnnie ) 15, 476 votes.

Yusuf cuts a figure of a man who cannot harm a fly beneath his seemingly elderly demeanour.

A glimpse into his personal life, career exploits and political views reveals a personality that you cannot entirely brand as a journalist, human rights activist or a politician. He is all of them.

Human deprivation

Perhaps the easy way in which Hassan carries his affairs is a result of all the wars and human deprivation he has witnessed since his childhood through to his adulthood.

To read full profile, go here
 

Kamukunji Goes To Yusuf Hassan

On behalf of Garissa and its residents, this blog congratulates Mr. Yusuf Hassan on his victory. May Allah grant him the wisdom of Prophet Suleiman and the Leadership of Prophet Mohammad (SAW).

Martha Karua turns to Ageism to disparage Yussuf Hassan

The Kamkunji by-election is turning out to be a crash course in all the vile things Kenya's politics is capable of. We've seen everything from racism to religious discrimination to tribal politics to violent intimidation and now comes the only other form of discrimination xenophobes could think of: Ageism.

In a much  publicized confrontation, Martha Karua turned to her natural talent of discriminating against non-kikuyus/sycophants to drum support for her minion (Brian weke), but this time round her excuse was the age of Yussuf Hassan.

In a belligerent display of ageism, Karua claimed that Yussuf Hassan's age disqualifies him from holding public office. Remember, this very woman in what is becoming characteristic, referred to Somalis as "refugees" and also refused to ask her puppet, Weke, to apologize for his outlandishly racist campaign tone.

Leave it to Yussuf to muzzle the Gichugu witch with a zany zinger that went something like this:

“If it is about age and voting for young people then may be my sister (Ms Karua) here should also drop her quest to be president because we are the same age,”

BURN!!!!



Read full story here.

Racism rears its ugly head in Kamkunji polls

 Given how freaked out everyone is about the issue of tribalism, you'd think rabble-rousing, former Matatu tout, Brian Weke of Narc Kenya, would think twice before he tastelessly referred to Somalis as "outsiders". Most reasonable people with access to the internet and Google, know Somalis were in Eastleigh long before Luhya's ever crossed the Congo River.

In an interview, the failed Matatu tout is quoted to have said;

“It will be a clear race between the people who were born in Kamukunji and others who have come    later.”

Who can blame him. He is the product of the bland and unimaginative Matatu industry and was probably hounded out of it by the constant bullying from Mungiki. The one problems is, this guy thinks he is electable. Mouthing such racist epithets is his way of solidifying his political bona fides with the Somaliphobes in Kamkunji. Sadly, this won't work for him since Somalis dominate Kamkunji economically and numerically (Even the daily nation admits to this).

Both ODM and PNU have condemned the racism laden statements. Now its you, the reader's, time to stuff Ms. Martha Karua's inbox with angry reactions and requests for an apology from the man running on her party's ticket. She has an interactive twitter acct @Martha_W_Karua or  http://facebook.com/MarthaKarua.

Real Full Story here.

Two Somalis Face-Off for Kamkunji Seat. Windbag Simon Mbugua loses to Yussuf Hassan for PNU Ticket

 Former Matatu tout and all-round blowhard, Simon Mbugua, lost to Yussuf Hassan for the Kamkunji PNU ticket thus ensuring a Somali face-off for the Kamkunji seat.

To Simon Mbugua, we say Good riddance!

The Nairobi Star Reports:

Yusuf Hassan Abdi is the PNU alliance candidate for Kamukunji after trouncing former MP Simon Mbugua in primaries held yesterday. Yusuf garnered 460 votes against Mbugua's 345 in a peaceful election held under tight security.
Returning officer Titus Ibui declared Yusuf the winnner at 4.30pm amid jubilation from his supporters who had thronged the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi.
An elated Yusuf could not hide is joy as this has accorded him the opportunity to seek a seat he lost to Mbugua in 2007.“I want to invite by rival Simon Mbugua to join me in the campaigns for the PNU allaince to clinch this seat,” Yusuf said.
On Wednesday, the primaries were put off after Mbugua led his supporers in disrupting the exercise while demanding the electoral college to adopt acclamation.
However, yesterday a contingent of over 300 regular and APs led by Lang'ata OCPD Rono Bunei manned the exercise, effectively ensuring no interruption. The PNU candidate will face ODM's Ibrahim Ahmed aka 'Johny' and Narc Kenya's Brian Weke.
After the results were announced, Mbugua left the tallying centre silently without uttering a word and it was not clear if he had conceded defeat.
Yesterday, Yusuf expresed confidence of capturing the Kamukunji by-election on May 23 saying he represented change in development strategies."I intend to fight a good fight and win and I want to thank all the supporters and people of Kamkunji for nominating me," he said.
The use of the electoral college system yesterday was a milestone for PNU since this is the fisrt time such method has been applied. Returning officer Titus Ibui plauded the method saying that its is the most transparent system devoid of any rigging or anomalies.
All parties participating in the by-election were supposed to complete their nominations yesterday, and return their nomination papers to the IIEC by April 26.
The win by Yusuf, is likely to make the by election an interesting as main parties ODM, PNU and Narc Kenya flex their muscles once again.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Gichugu MP Martha Karua will lead the campaigns for the three parties respectively.

Nairobi Star: Yussuf Haji Opens Madina Mall

The rapidly evolving face of Eastleigh is now host to one of Nairobi's newest commercial buildings as Madina Mall opens its doors. The modern multipurpose building will be officially opened for business tomorrow by the Minister for Defence Yusuf Haji, according to Dr Faisal Guhad of Al-Bushra Properties Ltd.


The building, located along First Avenue Eastleigh, consists of a supermarket in the basement, a 99-room modern hotel which will occupy several floors, a hospital facility with maternity, dental and in-patient and out-patient wards, offices and shop stalls.


The shops occupy the ground floor while the offices, internet café, and a restaurant sit on the first floor. The mall also hosts a conference hall, a mosque and gym facility on the fifth floor.


          [Post Aggregated from Nairobi Star]

Sullying Kenya's Good Name

By Mark T Jones


  As one of Africa’s most ethnically diverse cities, Nairobi is a magnet for those seeking a better life. Kenya’s capital exudes an entrepreneurial spirit that helps ensure the nation remains a place of innovation and creativity. Education is valued and the vast majority of people are eager to make the most of a generally outward looking country, one eager to be the dynamo of the region. That said, to those prepared to look as well as see there are also a number of disquieting features that indicate serious weaknesses that have the potential to gnaw away at the heart of the Kenyan dream.

Recent events in Eastleigh are in many ways symptomatic of these weaknesses. When the Police and Armed Forces consciously set out to round up individuals like cattle in the name of a so-called security operation, then we are aware that the State has contempt for the rights of the individual. No amount of sophistry, semantics or half truths will mask the fact that arrests have been indiscriminate and that innocent people have suffered on the Orders of the State; for the Police and Armed Forces do not move without the blessing or say-so of the powers that be. The Authorities excuse their actions claiming that such action is necessary to deal with those who are in the country illegally, or may be subversive elements intent on perpetrating acts of terror. If this is the case why are the same Authorities not arresting individuals, owners of companies and prestigious institutions and dare I say it Heads of Government Departments and Ministers who employ and take advantage of individuals who may be in the country illegally?

Before action can be taken there needs to be proof. The Police and Security Forces make mention of an attack, before a proper investigation has taken place to prove it was precisely that. In these challenging times it is far too convenient to blame every explosion or incident on the likes of al Shabab. The vast majority of people in Kenya of Somali heritage are law abiding individuals and yet all too often the Somali community and those from other countries in the Horn of Africa are stigmatised. Derogatory remarks are made about ‘the Goat People’ and if Kenya is truly to live up to its democratic and pluralist aspirations such racism and xenophobia must end.

The arrest of some 400 individuals has been defended by the likes of Anthony Kibuci, Nairobi’s Provincial Police Chief; yet what has actually been taking place is an extensive trawling exercises that would appear to have an ulterior motive. People including women, children and the elderly have been held in conditions which in a time of war would be deemed a contravention of the Geneva Convention – with in many cases no food, limited or no access to water etc. As if this were not bad enough, there are reports of individual’s families having to buy their freedom. Such extortion of Kenyan nationals, foreigners and the vulnerable seems to have become something of a tradition in the run-up to Christmas. These modern day fishers of men, women and children sully the good name of Kenya.

No one doubts that there are legitimate security concerns throughout the region, but by seeking to demonise Somalis and others is both simplistic and dangerous. In the post 9/11 world it has become far too easy for governments to pander to the fear agenda. 2010 has seen Kenya take a bold step forward by endeavouring to embrace a new constitution; it would be a tragedy indeed if before the ink was really dry those meant to be the guardians of the State were allowed to undermine social cohesion and trust.

If cast iron evidence can be found for genuine wrong doing then let the Law follow its course, not as an instrument of Government, but as its pure impartial self. As for the people of Eastleigh and similar such communities, let us not forget that like Mary, Joseph and Jesus they have found themselves in a neighbouring country due to circumstances beyond their control. All the great faiths speak of charity and neighbourliness, and at this time of year it is all the more important to seek the truth and not rush to judgement. One thing is for certain and that is that Nairobi is a better place for its diversity.

Mark T Jones

London based freelance writer and international advisor on African Affairs

Kenya; The African Mexico, Its Stockholm syndrome and what Somalis can do to change their fortunes

 Kenya is being over-run by drug cartels and narco-hitmen. Its unprofessional and untrained police officers are getting whacked Mafia style right in the heart of Nairobi while they are pre-occupied with explaining their bad fortunes on non existent 'terrorists' and burqa clad femme fatales.

The uptick in clashes between Police and drug traffickers is a sign that Kenya's long running drug problem is coming of age. We have now entered a new phase where drug barons feel powerful enough to take on the weak  and co-opted police force. Kenya's is fast morphing into a Mexico. Its now the equivalent of a Brazilian Favella. Traffickers have heavily embedded themselves deep into every level of society and  are virtually controlling law enforcement on this almost failed state.

Thursday's police killings in Eastleigh and Roysambu was a show of force by the God fathers. Expect a new wave of assassinations carried out by commando-style hitmen. On Thursday, the Police's, or shall we say kenya's ragtag militia's weaknesses were layed out bare for all to see. Instead of cordoning off the place, collecting evidence and re-assuring the public, they went on to allege that  terrorists were behind the heinous act. How could they know in such a short time? They heard it from someone, who heard from someone that saw something. This engagement in rumour mill village policing only heightened the media's hysteria and vilification of Somalis.

To decipher this inexplicable obsession with Somalis, you don't have to look any further than Kenya's two biggest Media houses that are both beholden to their Indian owners and benefactors. These Indians and their allies in Parliament are engaged in wanton destruction of the country's future by plundering its wealth, selling narcotics to its youth and corrupting every public office in the land.

If I may paraphrase Frank Rich in a different context, to understand Kenya's subservience to Indian businesses and their interests, all you have to do is consult Wikipedia's article on "Understanding Stockholm syndrome"." It explains that hostage takers are mostly successful in winning the loyalty of their subjects if they temper their brutality with a bogus show of kindness. Before you know it, the victim will start concentrating on his captor's 'good side' and develop psychological characteristics to please them. 'Dependency,lack of initiative and an inability to think, act or decide."
Kenya's people and media have been under Indian hegemony for so long now that they are fully under spell of Stockholm syndrome. Ever since Somali merchants started to break this foreign strangle hold on business and finance, pro status quo forces have been agitating for a return to the old days of Indian ownership of half Kenya's GDP.
Somalis have to counter this concerted racial attack through a number of means:
(i)   Bleed the media houses financially by suing them through legal apparatus. Forming a legal body that sues them for defamation every time they write a fake story will waste a huge chunk of their profits  on legal fees.
(ii) A blanket boycott on products that are advertised on KTN and NTV. No Somali businesses and affiliates should also advertise on any of these media houses either.
(iii) Buy the services of journalists and columnists. These guys are even more corrupt than the police. A small fee will go a long way in getting you a lot of positive coverage.
(iv) If the media is not giving you a fair shake, start your own media. Frame your own agenda and don't let others brand you names. Aljazeera's success in shaping how the world sees the middle east is prove that it can be done. There must be a few Somali millionaires with the resources and  the will to do so.
(v) Somalis should form lobby groups whose purpose is to forward Somali interests in the legislature. This corrupt Godforsaken place is ruled through the checkbook.
(vi) Somali businesses and companies should also be a force for common good. Giving a little back to the slums that surround Eastleigh and South C will go a long way in dispelling the myths that are propagated by KTN and NTV.
(vii) Our brain dead representatives in Parliament should make some noise about this continued racism on the floor of the house. This might instigate some media self flagellation and reduce the intensity of this sustained racial defamation. To solve this, bellicose reprisals will be necessary but they have to be grounded on pragmatism.
(viii) Finally, as youths we should  take to social media such as Facebook and twitter to defend our brethren. I'll summarize by quoting Edmund Burke, "All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."

Rejoinder to Clerics Vs Young Guns

Greetings to all my blog readers and well wishers,
This is not an entry I was planning on writing but I have been forced to after several unflattering e-mails and the numerous "need-to-talk-to-you" calls I have received since writing the previous one.
First, let it be understood that I'm not writing these things to offend anyone. On the contrary, I do it so that we  can all help each other make sense of what the priorities for our city are. Would you prefer that no one challenge authority and our incipient civil discourse. Would you prefer that clanism and its role in the Pre-2012 political posturing be left 'undebated'?

There is no need to take an opponent's ideas to the very extreme and debate them as though they were the equivalent of "Colonial Northern Frontier District Policy" re-incarnate. Don't let your passions cloud your sense of good judgement and bar you from participating in a civil exchange of ideas grounded on respect and mutual want for our Garissa to be the Kenyan City of the 21st century.

Occasionally I came across some positive reaction to the now infamous entry that make me think as Garissians, we are on the right track. The circus that is the current debate on what the devolution of power (actually devolution of corruption) to local counties means for not only Garissa but the larger Nep is a definite reminder that we Kenyan Somalis have a long way to go. But things are starting to look better. For one, our inchoate civic movements and community activists are getting into the polemic clanism debate more vigorously and the youth are getting inundated with anti-clanism messages so that they don't get pulled into a vortex of political supremacy battles.

The Ulamaa need to use their bully pulpits to promote these implacable advances in eradicating clanism in our region. I am not an Ulamaa basher, never been, never will be but I'll point out when their priorities are misplaced. I want our religious leaders to be more proactive when it comes to holding our elected leaders to account. I'll stand by those who stick their necks out to defend the common person's interest. Lets remember in 2007, Farah Maalim rode to power because of the endorsement (rightly or wrongly) of Eastleigh's Sheikhs. Certainly, the public has a right to demand that the same sheikhs hold Mr. Farah accountable for his actions or inactions. Religious leaders can be a force for far greater good if they choose to use their power and deploy it in areas such as the eradication of drug abuse, clanism and corruption. We Somalis are a religious lot and our ulamaa can root out these problems if they pay attention to them.
Finally on the issue of vices; Clubs, Khat and other hard or soft drugs are bigger evils and pose a bigger threat to our culture and religion that any "un-Islamic" comedy sketches from teenage comics.

PS: For those that had a beef with the picture on the previous post, it was just too charming to not use.

Peace & Love all.

Wayaha Cusub on CNN

Lead Rapper for the Wayaha Cusub band talks to CNN's inside Africa. The group has recently got funding from the US High commission in Kenya to make Anti-Alshabab songs.

The Standard | Online Edition :: Eastleigh's illegal DSTV Business

The Standard | Online Edition :: Two convicted for illegal sale of DSTV signals

Two convicted for illegal sale of DSTV signals

Published on 09/09/2010

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By Wahome Thuku

Police in Nairobi have dismantled a racket involving illegal connection and distribution of signals belonging to a broadcasting firm.

Two men involved in the scheme were on Thursday charged and fined Sh800,000 or face two years in jail. They were convicted after accepting the charges.

The racket, which has been flourishing in several city estates, entails linking numerous homes to a few legally acquired satellite dishes to enable beneficiaries illegally access paid up services.

One satellite dish is illegally connected to more than 200 households at a fee of Sh1,000 per month each.

The two men, Habane Mohammed Abdi and Addirizak Mohammed Gelle were arrested for distributing DSTV signals in Eastleigh area in the outskirts of the city centre and infringing on the copyright of Multichoice Kenya.

They were arrested on Wednesday at Eastleigh Sixth Street, 2nd Avenue where they had linked two satellite dishes to more than seven blocks of residential flats.

Investigators traced numerous cables running from one house to various adjacent premises.

They entered the house and arrested the two men, one of whom was not a Kenyan. They also recovered two satellite dishes, 23 decoders, video disc players, amplifiers, nine modulators, 19 remote controllers, a TV set and other related gadgets.

The two were charged before Principle Magistrate Grace Macharia with two counts of distributing infringed broadcast signals and being in possession of equipment for the transmission, contrary to the Copyright Act.

They pleaded guilty and asked the court for leniency. But Ms Macharia said the offence was serious as the accused were harvesting where they did not sow. She ordered each to pay Sh200,000 for each count.