FRIDAY BULLETIN—Residents of North Eastern Kenya have been advised to shun tribalism and negative ethnicity and instead live in peace and harmony for prosperity.
This plea was made by former Presidential aspirant and peace ambassador Jaffar Issack who noted that the region continues to witness underdevelopment as a result of tribalism and perennial inter-clan clashes adding that it is high time for the communities to come together and dialogue to address various underlying conflicts.
He told the communities not to marginalize themselves by turning against each other but instead embrace peace and unity to promote social-economic development. “Instead of taking advantage of the fruits of devolution, we are busy sowing seeds of discord, tribal and political divisions.
Despicable ethnic clashes in the 21st century must stop,” he said during a farewell dinner for the outgoing Belgium deputy ambassador at Jamia Mosque on Monday.
Jaffar is popularly known for his ‘Walk of My Life’ campaign, a peace initiative against tribalism and negative ethnicity. In 2014 he walked from Mombasa to Nairobi and further to Moyale.
The outgoing Belgium deputy ambassador Pieter Leenknergt who was the chief guest at the event noted that North Eastern region is still reeling from historical negligence and collective punishment citing the Wallaga Massacre of 1984 where an estimated 5,000 Somali men were executed during the Moi regime. “Smaller incidences of collective punishment continue unabatedly.
Burning down market places, bombing entire community’s cattle, how can these ever be an answer to an individual person’s crime” the envoy asked.
The envoy called on the government to implement the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report as a measure of addressing historical injustices.
In his address Lagdera Member of Parliament Muhammad Shidiye decried the increased extrajudicial killings in the region and implored residents and area leaders to speak up against the impediment facing the Muslim community in the country.
“Today Muslims are suffering because of extrajudicial killings. Many children have lost their parents, about 300 Muslims in Coast and Northern Kenya are missing. People are just picked and nobody knows their whereabouts. It is because we the leadership are not saying no to extrajudicial killings, the blame comes squarely to us,” said Shidiye.
In attendance were Belgium deputy head of mission Hilde Van Inthoudt, Swiss deputy ambassador Mirko Giulietti, David Jourdan political attaché in the Norway embassy MP Mandera West Muhammad Haji and Norway embassies, Prof. David Some the CEO of Commission for University Education, RAF University vice chancellor Sheikh Muhammad Osman, Imam of Jamia Mosque Sheikh Swalihu and his deputy Sheikh Juma Amir, Muslim scholars among others.
