THE POISON IN OUR WATERS

“Allah Akbar! My son, time has healed all the wounds of your heart,” my Imam keeps telling me this. Narrating my experience of Kenya’s 2007 post-election violence is hard. I lost family members, friends, and neighbors. Men were killed, young girls and women were raped, and the old were burnt as the world witnessed in horror. Those whom we trusted to protect us had turned against us. We were alone, but Allah was with us.

My name is Mwalimu Khussein. I was born of a Muslim father and a Christian mother. My mom left when I was two years old, and so I never met her since my childhood. I grew up in Bangladesh slum in Changamwe in Mombasa county. Bangladesh slum has people from different tribes and races in Kenya. We lived in peace with Indians, Arabs, the Swahili, and Watu wa Bara. My childhood friends and I would play on garbage heaps, swim in dirty water and gaze at the sky beyond the Indian Ocean. Sometimes I wondered where that water ended.

Violence erupted during the last week of 2012. The tension was high on 29^th December of 2012 in Changamwe. This was a day before the presidential results were announced. It was 6.30 pm when I left madrassa at Masjid Mosque.  On that particular day, it was announced our area had been sealed off to avoid violence. A curfew was declared in the surrounding areas of Makupa, Mikindani, and Bangladesh. I could not go home. The night became darker and horrifying. There were no lights, no movements, and only gunshots could be heard in the distant air. Since I couldn’t go back home, I headed back to Masjid. Many people had come to take cover at the mosque. Christians, Hindu and Muslims, had been united by one thing; care for humanity.

At 10:00 pm Sheikh Musa broke the bad news. Women had been raped, and Children who had taken refuge in a  church in Msambweni had been burnt and that the slum was on fire. The police who had been deployed to the area, could not get there due to fears of being attacked by unknown assailants. The whole country was fighting, and over 1000 people had been killed. It was Kenyans against Kenyans. Our food at the mosque ran out after five days before I hit the road to find my family. I counted over ten bodies rotting on the streets. My home was nowhere. It was in ashes, and none of my family members or friends could be found.

I am now 20 years old. A community leader and founder member of Nipe Sauti Africa, a community outreach group that promotes cohesion and oneness amongst Kenyans. My main objective in life is to clean the poisoned waters that feed the hearts of Kenyan youth. As a youth leader, part of religious groups that call upon the judiciary to prosecute anyone found to be inciting Kenyans against each other. Leaders who preach hatred are the poison in our waters. I call upon all youths around the world to take a step and show an act kindness to others.

 #PEACE #WE_ARE_ONE #JUSTICE

GHOSTS OF RWANDA REVISITING KENYA?

AFTER watching Ghosts of Rwanda , I am taking this opportunity to voice to my lovely society that we are all human and our unique identities should never be exploited for political reasons.

During those moments of fighting, assassination and riots are rampant thus need for a third force that may bring back stability in the country. The area of intelligence is fundamental in containing the tension that may amount in war-stricken areas since fighting groups usually train in bushes or captured regions. My advice to the Kenyan populace as we approach the general election is to be sober in mind and be our brothers’ keeper.

Countries should spearhead in efforts to quell peace to ensure the safety of people. We should not sweep under the carpet mass killing, even one life matters most. No country is small in terms of such emergencies, Kenya needs to revisit the 2007 and 1992 skirmishes that engulfed this beloved home country we call Kenya. Therefore, leaders of neighbouring and other countries should be in the forefront looking for lasting solutions to prevent any country from being destroyed completely.

Targeted killings are common and need be controlled at all costs. Does this show that the opponents are not ready to negotiate and want to take over the country? Even the peacekeepers need protection in case they are overpowered when sent to the mission, do we allow riots and demonstration to continue without surety that no chaos will erupt? Why don’t we educate the public to express their concerns through representatives? Leaders, journalists and humanitarian groups visiting the place need to be assigned sufficient security details to prevent any occurrence that may compromise them leading to potential loss of lives, ever heard of security officers and drivers killed on their way to Kenyan borders? Even journalists suffer.

Where there is no help, refugees become helpless and turn to the least expected people who can help them such as journalists who do not know what to do but just report. Religious institutions and schools become refuge points that are prone to further attacks. Therefore, everyone going to war torn area should be adequately equipped not only to visit but also help in any way.

Sometimes governments help their “own”, not to evacuate “others”. This message is dangerous as it means the residents are left behind to be killed or under the mercies of the strong party in the war. What do you do in the face of evil? Mass saving of people is necessary even when it involves dying of a few individuals? 

STOPPING ETHNIC CONFLICTS IN KENYA WHEN THE WAR IS UNSTOPPABLE

People ought to speak out during genocides, morally you cannot shut up, and it’s your responsibility to talk. This will create an alarm for the need to coexist by realizing that we are one people. It is unfortunate that those who should talk keep quiet, religious institutions should have a say on matters of national security! It is disappointing that they are quiet and whenever they speak they just murmur in their living rooms, Kenya, let’s rise up!

The government of Kenya may also ensure even development to ensure that we, youthful have our energies directed for the development of this country. Negotiations for a ceasefire is necessary that it may lead to stopping the massacre and unnecessary deaths of souls that we need. The leaders of warring sides may be engaged in talks to ensure that peace carries the day, not self-interest as seen in the political class. Political will and intention are necessary according to Kofi Annan, to protect lives. It is the responsibility of everyone and the governments to do so even though it is doubtful that they may do so.

NATUKAE NA UNDUGU, AMANI NA UHURU, RAHA NATUPATE NA USTAWI

Click here to watch>>  Ghosts of Rwanda

Author: Duncan Mnyogha M.