In the vast and culturally rich county of Garissa, Kenya, diversity has always been a strength.
Our people come from varied clans, sub-clans, ethnic backgrounds, and traditions — each with a unique contribution to the fabric of our society.
Yet, for far too long, a significant section of this diverse population — the minorities — has been treated as invisible.
Used during elections, discarded afterwards, and consistently denied access to opportunities, representation, and dignity.
It is out of this historical injustice that the Garissa Minority Alliance is born. Not out of bitterness, but out of a firm belief that every community, however small, deserves a seat at the table.
We are organizing to take our rightful place in the political, social, and economic conversations of our county and our nation.
The time for silence is over. The time for tokenism is past. The time for structured inclusion, equality, and justice is now.
Our communities have, for years, faced an insidious form of marginalization. While the Constitution of Kenya promotes equality and the protection of minority groups, the reality on the ground in Garissa tells a different story.
Minority groups are often left out in job opportunities within county offices, marginalized in the issuance of bursaries, excluded in development decision-making, and entirely absent in leadership forums.
What’s worse, during election seasons, minority groups are courted for their votes, made to believe they matter — only to be forgotten once power has been secured.
The cycle is predictable and painful. It not only violates the spirit of inclusive governance but erodes the dignity of many young people from our communities who grow up seeing themselves as second-class citizens in their own homeland.
We recently undertook a census within the minority communities across Garissa.
The findings were both surprising and empowering. We are not as few as we’ve been led to believe. Our numbers — and more importantly, our voting power — can no longer be ignored.
What we lack is not numbers, but unity and coordination. With the Garissa Minority Alliance, we intend to change that.
We are building bridges between communities that have historically been fragmented.
Our unity is not based on clan loyalty, but on a shared struggle and a shared dream: one of dignity, representation, and inclusion.
Our alliance is not a political party—it is a movement for justice. We have come together to champion the rights of historically marginalized communities in Garissa and to push for meaningful inclusion in all spheres of governance and development.
Central to our mission is the pursuit of political representation. We believe minority communities must have a voice in the County Assembly, in executive appointments, and on local boards where decisions that affect our lives are made.
Without such representation, the concerns and aspirations of our people will continue to be ignored.
We are also demanding equitable resource allocation. For years, the distribution of public resources—whether bursaries, employment opportunities, or development projects—has been skewed in favor of the dominant groups.
We are calling for transparency, fairness, and accountability in how county resources are allocated, ensuring that no community is left behind.
Social cohesion is another pillar of our movement. While we seek justice for our people, we are committed to working hand in hand with all communities in Garissa.
Our call for inclusion is not a call for division. We believe that peace and tolerance must go hand in hand with equity. Only through mutual respect can we build a stable and prosperous society.
Leadership development is key to our long-term success. We are determined to mentor and empower young people and women from minority backgrounds, helping them to grow into leaders and changemakers.
Through training, civic education, and grassroots mobilization, we will ensure that the next generation of leaders is diverse and responsive to the needs of all citizens.
To give structure and direction to our movement, we are institutionalizing our efforts through the formation of a Council of Minorities.
This council will coordinate our activities, articulate our agenda, and serve as a formal representative voice at both the county and national levels.
It will be a symbol of unity and a platform for strategic action as we push for a more inclusive and just Garissa.
We recognize that every county is different. In Garissa, politics is often clan-based, and power tends to be concentrated within dominant groups. This has created a winner-takes-all system that locks out those not born into power networks.
But we are not calling for division. We are calling for balance. Inclusion does not mean exclusion of others.
Fairness does not mean favoritism. What we want is a seat at the table — not the whole table.
The Constitution of Kenya, under Article 56, recognizes the rights of minorities and marginalized groups.
Devolution was supposed to help these communities get closer to services and governance. But in practice, devolution in Garissa has not translated into justice for minorities.
This is not just a county issue; it is a national concern. If devolution is to be truly transformative, it must reflect the diversity of the people it serves.
We are open to engagement. We are not enemies of any leader or political party. We want to partner with like-minded leaders who understand that the stability and progress of any society depend on the inclusion of all its people.
We urge current and aspiring leaders to listen, to understand, and to act.
History has shown us that no one gives you power voluntarily. You must organize, you must educate, and you must demand. The Garissa Minority Alliance is doing just that — peacefully, democratically, and strategically.
We are building a platform for the voiceless to speak, for the excluded to participate, and for the forgotten to be remembered.
The Garissa we dream of is one where opportunity is not determined by lineage, where leadership reflects the people, and where every child grows up knowing they belong.
We invite all well-meaning citizens of Garissa and beyond to support this noble cause. Inclusion is not a favor — it is a right. And we are here to claim it.
Mr. Abdullahi Aden is the author of A poisoned chalice and Memoirs of a Father: A legacy, a social commentator known for his bold insights on urban development, governance, and community welfare.