The Radicalization Kenya Somali Youth ...

Two month ago the Kenyan public joined the Kenya police and security agencies in lynching, mob justice, shooting and stoning peaceful Somali demonstrators in front of Jamia Mosque. A number of innocent Somalis were killed and injured. This was the turning point for Somali Kenyan youth who were patriotic Kenyan until that day. It suddenly dawn to them after all this years they were only considered a second class citizen like their parents and forefathers before them . It was painful to watch this scene unravelling in front of our eyes which has been captured vividly in YouTube. The Butchers at the council market joined the police in chasing and harassing this Innocent Somali Kenya who were demonstrating rightly or wrongly on issue that they thought touched them personally.

The issue of Somali Kenyans has now been rekindled and this incident which should never have happed in modern day Kenya has reminded them where they belong the second class citizen. It is clear that they are not considered like other Kenyans and this ripple effect have been felt world wide by Somalis of all walk of life. Who are now preparing for plan B.

Since Kenya's independence Somalis have been targeted for economic ,political and social discrimination. There province has been divided and large chunks annexed to Kenyas Eastern province . Their area is least developed in the country with ravaging drought that has brought the nomadic life to a stand still. NFD or North Eastern which is the second largest province in Kenya has no single university or referral hospital. The Education system is neglected as number of teachers per student has declined since independence. The recent result of Secondary school examination KCPE is clear indicator how this expanse province and population is treated. The first candidate in this vast province was not equal to the last candidate of the whole other provinces combined.

The recent census which had placed the population of North Eastern 3 million has been suppressed by the authorities who are now doctoring the census. The Kenya authorities will not believe that the population of Somalis has increased by 140%. This act by the government which is discriminatory will not go unchallenged in any democracy or emerging democracies. Thanks to the poor calibre of Members of parliament produced by North Eastern who are busy lining there pocket than looking at the bigger picture of developing and fighting for the right of their people. This Mps do not contribute to their respective constituencies leave alone debating national issue on the floor of parliament.

No single Mp in present and past Parliament is capable of being compared to the legendary and fearless the late Hon. Abdi Sirat Khalif who fought for the rights of his people. The present Somali Mps in th Kenya parliament who are 14 plus have not raised a finger to the open discriminatory acts caused by the Kenya against its population and land. Late Abdi Sirat Khalif fought tooth and nail with Kenyatta administration who in the end silenced him by rigging him out.

The North Eastern province has been under emergency laws for the last 46 years.The government have always dealt ruthless with population whom one time politician requested that all the well of this nomads in the province to be poisoned to wipe out the Somali population an advice that made President Kenyatta angry to the point of reprimanding that politician by telling him if he were to kill the population of North Eastern he will be left with no one to rule.

When I was young and I remember vividly during the 1977 Ogaden War all Somalis in Kenya were hounded and detained in large camps in Schools for over 3days without food and water. It is a bitter memory that stays with me till today. The harassment caused to my people is beyond imagination. I have buried it in me till the recent indiscriminate attack on Somali by Kenya security forces and the Kenyan public.

The memories Wagalla, Malka Mari,Garrisa 1984 massacre are fresh in our minds. Thousand of Somalis were massacred by the Kenya security forces without any reason. The reason was flimsy and it is that Kenya government has carried systematic genocide against people it claims to be its own citizen. No one come to Somalis aid.

Recently George Kinuthia Saitoti went to Israel and asked the Israeli security forces to help and train their Kenyan counterpart to fight Somali terrorism which is about to overtake Kenya. Yes the Kenya government now want to use Israelis to kill and maim more Somalis. What do you expect from us??? To watch when you prepare to kill our women and children? NO No No enough is enough we will no longer be bound by the rule of ballots. It is time we also took lead and armed ourselves. For me today I will prepare to lead our people to our journey that will lead to self determination a right that is enshrine n the universal declaration of human rights. I will fight to defend my people. Brutal force should equally be met with Brutal force. The Israelis will look after its interest of not antagonizing the Somali population in Kenya.

The process of radicalization is irreversible and has been triggered by the recent attack of Somalis by the Kenya security forces with help of it citizens. We will not accept second class citizen. If you do not want to recognize us as your equals then it is high time we parted ways.

~ by Sadia Ahmed - Monday, March 15, 2010

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