HIV/AIDS: The ShockingStatistics.

June - August 2011 BREAKING THE SILENCE ISSUE NO. 6

newsletterkshs 30/=Wajir Live

t’s about 10 am in the morning. We meet Hagar (name withheld for fear of victimization) at one of

the lodges in town. It is a pre-plannedmeeting that took us about two weeks tomake it a success. Many questionsabounded: How does the person we goingto meet looks like? Given the fact it wasour first instance to meet a self-confessedHIV infected person, withered andscrawny person was the picture in mind.How audacious that he accepted to talkto us? Are we going to succeed gettingthe information we want from him?Contrastingly, Hagar wore a cheerfulsmile. He offers his hand forward for ahandshake. And we did not disappoint.We headed to the purposely bookedroom silently lest we raise any suspicion.Utmost privacy is vital, we observe.“Who are you and what do you want?”he curiously asks.

I

Hagar will not divulge anything not untilhe “probes” who we are. We cleverlyintroduce ourselves assuring himmaximum confidentiality of whatever heconfides in us. Finally, Hagar is at ease.Then the core mission begins albeitsuspicious.

“I contracted the virus in 2006” hepensively says, guessing at the ceiling.

“I married a divorcee while oblivious ofher HIV status” he narrates.

BY: ADOW MOHAMED ANDMOHAMED ALI

He would come to know his wife died ofHIV/Aids. As expected he was diagnosedwith the killer disease too.

“Three years later she developedsymptoms and later passed away” hesays.

Continue on page 4

Wajir Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre Photo/Mohamed Ali

Truth Commission’s

capacity questioned.

“It was in 1967 when contingents ofarmed military invaded the villages inWajir town .They beat women andgang raped them in turn. Men werebundled into Lorries and assembledat different destinations. Some weretied at the neck and towed at the backof a moving vehicle until their body iscut into pieces,” said Mrs. AbdiaWarmoge, when she gave hertestimonies to the Kenya’s Truth,Justice and Reconciliationcommission (TJRC) recently.

Continue on page 4

By Adow Mohamed

INSIDE THIS ISSUELeadership and Gover-nance The CountyHeadache.It is an open secret thatevery county is expectedto manage its affairs andWajir County is noexception.

Farming in Wajir: Cutacross the grain

Find out how a young AbdiMohamed is meeting all oddsto make a living in where allmay not dare engage inWajir:Farming.

Page 2 Page 3

TJRC IN NEP: A PR GimmickOr Justice in the Offing?

The commision held agonisinghearing in NEP but will itdeliver the ever elusive justicethe people here rightly deserveor is just anotherhoodwink?Find out more.

Page 11

Page 2 EDITORIAL & COMMENT ARY June - August 2011/Wajir Live

Leadership and Governance -The County Headache.

Allow me to explore a specificissue enshrined in theconstitution-the countygovernments. It is an opensecret that every county isexpected to manage its affairsand Wajir County is noexception. This is where myproblem analysis begins.

This Herculean task requiresindividuals that have displayedexemplary leadership in theirrespective areas of concern, Asa society we should separatethe chaff from the grain, gaugethe performance of theseindividuals aspiring to lead-theirtrack record. One cannot claimto be good all of a sudden; weknow all these people and theirinput to society prior to the timeof declaring interest ingovernance and leadership.

What is required are individualsthat have quality education,observe high moral as well asethical values and are consciousof the task, duties, rights,responsibilities and challengesappertaining to leading theCounty to prosperity.

should shed off their pessimism.I believe if we elect competentand just leaders that areaccountable to the people,nothing can stop us fromachieving our dream ofprosperity and peace that hasbeen illusive for close to half acentury.However, societal interest

overruns that of the individual.We should acknowledge thatthe journey ahead of us is rough,we are literally starting from thescratch owing to discriminativepolicies and neglect bysuccessive political regimes andwe are expected to favourablycompete with counties thathave strong,

There is no problem in declaringinterest.infact; nothing can stopone from vying for a positionprovided he or she meets therequirements set by theconstitution.

Oblivious of the opportunitiesat stake, several individualshave declared their interests invying for local positions at thecounty level. New faces areendorsed in five star hotels inNairobi and in informal setupssuch as under acacia treescocooned by their ethnicchieftains. Interestingly, the listof contenders continues tosurge by the day-professionals,civil service retirees, youth andpoliticians that cut across ageand gender.

However, this is not an easy taskbecause majority of theresidents do not know theirrights. It is inevitable, therefore,that vigorous andcomprehensive civic educationbe availed to the people.

on the actions and performanceof the leadership.

This task is upon me and youto ensure that our peopleunderstand they don’t need tosell their votes in exchange forthose dirty few shillings thatpoliticians flood with theenvironments and instead thinkabout the future of theirchildren which is at stake.

Let’s all shun negative ethnicity,embark on the serious businessof nation building. I have a dramof witnessing a vibrant,productive and developedWajir County that is devoid ofpoor leadership. Together wecan achieve this dream throughunity, commitment andselflessness.INSHALLAH

Those who get elected shouldrealise that their positions arean embodiment of the will andmandate of the people. Theymust at all times uphold theiroath of commitment tounbiased quality servicedelivery. Patron-client politicshas no place in the modernWajir County that we all aspireto witness.

Their clan, physical orientation,or gender doesn’t matterprovided they pass theimpartiality test.

The electorate too has a roleto play. It should activelyparticipate in the politicalprocess by regularly checking

well established structures, anetwork of roads and otherinfrastructure, higher naturaland human resourceendowment.

By: Ahmed Alas Daud

he funfair and glamourthat characterised thepromulgation of the

new constitution is over. Noweveryone is minding theirbusiness. The uphill task ofimplementing the constitution iswhat we are in.

T

Those who subscribe to theschool of thought that believe aprosperous and united NorthEastern Province is unrealistic

Their clan, physical orientation, or genderdoesn’t matter provided they pass the

impartiality test.

Much has happened in the last

three months. Drought and

hunger has gripped the County

and the April rains were not

adequate. However, in this issue

we chose to address a less talked

about subject in our midst: HIV/

Aids. The scourge is now a

reality! The statistics are

appalling!

With the perennial drought

causing havoc annually, young

Abdi is scaling the heights in

farming and he won’t stop.

The deplorable infrastructure in

Eastleigh is under the spotlight

despite being the commercial

hub and paying millions in tax

to the government. Is it a

deliberate government attempt

to sabotage the gainful ventures

by the Somalis or just failed

leadership?

Greetings to all!Greetings to all!Greetings to all!Greetings to all!Greetings to all! It’s our

profound pleasure once more to

release the 6th edition of your

favorite newsletter–WAJIR LIVE.

TJRC have come and gone. What

are we expecting of them? Is it a

gimmick to hoodwink the people

of NEP or justice is finally in the

offing for the victims of historical

injustices in the region?

They say pictures speak morethan a thousand words. WajirLive has captured the unnoticedglamour and the fun that was theinter-school drama competitionand the pictures are amazinglystunning!

THE TEAM

Adow

WAJIR LIVE is a Publication ofWajir Live Initiative Group - AVoluntary Youth Organization.

wajirlive@neponline.netwww.neponline.net

Editor: Adow MohamedContent Editor: Mohamed Ali

Design &Layout: Mohamed AliWriters: Mohamed Abdullahi,

Ahmed Alas, Farhiya Isaack, FuadAbdirashid.

It is a great pleasure to convey

our cordial appreciation to our

readers in NEP and beyond. Your

whole-hearted effort, sincerity

and dedication have ensured

that the provision of information

to our people becomes a success.

Enjoy!!!!

June - August 2011/Wajir Live FEATURE Page 3

Farming in Wajir: A Cut across the grain

Abdi Mohamed in his farm during the interview Photo/Adow Mohamed

His late dad Mohamed Ibrahimstarted the venture it in 1997when Abdi was still in primaryschool. He took over themantle of keeping his father’sdreams alive and he neverdisappointed him.

The farm, about 5 kilometerswest of the town of Wajir islocated in rare scenery given thearid and often-leaflessvegetation the region ischaracterized with.

'Ship of the dessert'

hundreds of livestock includingcamels, which are oftendescribed as 'ship of the desert',and tens of the long-hornedcattle. In 1994 a devastatingdrought in Wajir swept almostall the animals the old Mr.Mohamed owned.

“Then the idea of seeking analternative livelihood dawnedon my dad,” says Abdi. “Tillingthe dusty and desiccated soilwas not an easy thing but hewas determined. I had toaccompany him to the farmevery morning to help him withthe work,” he continues. Sometime later the 2-acre piece ofland was full with different cropsincluding pawpaw, bananas,cotton, kale, spinach andmaize.

Wajir market

products to local salesman andthe general public. “There is nosurplus of crops, therefore weare not processing the food,” hesays.Many buyers place theirorders in advance and come tothe market to pick their goods.Payment may not be immediateas it can sometimes take untilthe following week to pay forthe goods.

To boost crop productivityAbdi uses compost and ma-nure, mainly cow dung andgoat droppings that are widelyknown to contain crop-enrich-ing nutrients.

“I prefer manure because it islocally available,” he says.“Crop pests are sometimes achallenge but we use pesticideto keep them at bay. Thepesticide is however, costly.”

Abdi's dad has lived most of hislife as a nomad. He owned

Abdi sells his farm harvest atthe Wajir market, whereproducers from the neighboringcounties are offering their

With such produce, why depend on relief food? Photo/Adow Continue on page 10

arming in the dry landsof Wajir inNorthern Kenya is not

for the faint-hearted. It requiresdetermination and hard work.Agricultural entrepreneur AbdiMohamed is setting theexample. “Competition is not aproblem as many here have notyet invested in agriculture,”Abdi says with a smile on hisface.

F

1994 a devastatingdrought swept almost

all the animals

By: Adow Mohamed

Page 4 NEWS June - August 2011/Wajir Live

“I felt terribly bad” he articulates, wipinghis face with a turban.

“But later I had to recollect myself andface the reality” Hagar says.

“This did not deter me from seekingmedical attention. I made constant visitto Voluntary Counseling and testing(VCT) center to receive Anti-retroviraldrugs” he says.

North Eastern province comprises ofpastoral communities that are highlyconventional with a firm Muslim faith. Inthe past HIV/AIDS was seen as a curse,a disease that only affects non-Muslimsand the immoral. But with an increase inawareness efforts and the coming out ofa number of people living with the virus,people are beginning to accept the factthat the disease is real and anyone can beinfected.

A graphical analysis of HIV/AIDS prevelance in Kenya Courtesy: IHAC

Continued from page 1

There are about 1.5 million persons livingwith HIV/AIDS in Kenya, 460,000 areon ARV’s including 60,000 children.

"Unless something is done urgently tocurb new infections the prevalence ratecan go up to five percent in the next fiveyears" Says Mr. Yusuf.

According to Kenya Demographic andHealth Survey, 2003 the HIV/AIDSprevalence rate in Wajir district stood at0.3% and it rose to 1% in 2007 as perthe Kenya Aids Indicator Survey.

Religious leaders attributed the rise ofHIV/AIDs in Wajir to promiscuity andweak spiritual faith but this notion hasraised differences among healthpractitioners. Clerics have arguedabstinence as the only deterrent measureof the killer disease.There are other universally identifiedpreventive measure dubbed ABC(Abstain, Be faithful and use Condom).

HIV/AIDS infected persons face stigmaand humiliation in the society. Somebelieve sharing beddings, shaking handsor eating food together with infectedperson can transmit the disease from oneperson to another.

Hagar* has fronted the establishment ofPeople Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHWA)in Wajir and it act a mouthpiece forinfected people.

North Eastern Province has a populationof more than one million people, themajority of whom are rooted in a nomadicor semi-nomadic way of life. Just 42percent of people here have access tomodern health care services. Fertility rateis disproportionately high as women givebirth to as high as nine children. Thoughthe prevalence of HIV stands at 2.3percent, far much below the nationalaverage, statistics show it hastremendously increased in past years.

This can partly be attributed to improvedsecurity and the enhanced commerce andmovements across the region.

Poverty and ignorance has alsocompounded the situation as many herecannot seek medical attention.

Health practitioners have also raised thealarm over the increasing prevalence oftuberculosis in the region and itssnowballing link with HIV/Aids.

The disease has left many orphans anddestitute children. Many dropped out ofschool when their parents passed away.

Shockingly, the scourge has most affectedthe youth at the ages of 24 to 34, majoritybeing women.

In Wajir County there are about 300patients who are on HIV/Aids careincluding 22 children but the numbermaybe higher than this given thoseunaware of their HIV/AIDs status.

“In North-eastern province theprevalence rate is 2% and it’s increasing,the number of persons on care is around2000 persons, 1200 are on ARV’s” SaysMr. Yusuf, the Wajir District Aids and STICo-coordinator (DASCO).

Sixty percent of new infections arecohabiting married couples and this ringsthe alarm bells. Unfaithful partner is even

a death knell in the household.

But the latter is normally seen as a tabooamong the conventional Somalis as manyshy away from using it as the Mombasamaxim “kwa nini nile perende na

karatasi yake?” come into play. Someeven invented a theory that the lubricatingfluids in the condom sheath contain thevirus.

The number of patients whoare on HIV/Aids careincluding 22 children

300

June - August 2011/Wajir Live SPECIAL REPORT Page 5

Continued from page 1

It was against such backdrop the com-mission was formed in Kenya to lead aninquiry into gross human rights violationsand other historical injustices in Kenyabetween 12 December 1963 and 28 Feb-ruary 2008.

But the burning issue is whether the com-mission is equal to the task.

“I did not attend any meeting related toorganizing the Wagalla massacre. I hadjust arrived from London and, as the For-eign Affairs Permanent Secretary; the af-fair was not in my docket. The NationalSecurity Council meeting which I attendedwas a briefing and not an operationalmeeting and did not involve decisions atthe district level,” he said during an inter-view with the Nairobi-based Star news-paper.

It is widely understood it was in the saidmeeting the execution of the massacrewas deliberated.

Further, a prominent Kenyan foreign af-fairs minister Robert Ouko was assassi-nated when Kiplagat was the lateminister’s Permanent secretary.

“I do not know who killed the Late HonOuko. I appeared before the Ouko mur-der inquiry and spoke openly as a friendof the deceased. No claim has ever beenmade linking me to the assassination. Infact the family of the Late Ouko has ap-pointed me as Patron of the Ouko Me-morial Library. They clearly would nothave done so if they believed I was in-volved with his murder” he says. While still defiant to quit amid the mount-ing pressure, the deputy chair of the

commission, lawyer Betty Murungi, re-signed saying that she found it difficult todischarge her duties given the accusationsfacing the commission’s leader, Mr.Kiplagat. He later succumbed to the pressure andstepped aside.

Wagalla massacre survivors demonstrated how they were treated in February1984 Photo/Mohamed Ali Continue on page 10

A tribunal was later constituted byKenya’s Chief Justice Evan Gicheru inOctober last year to probe the past con-duct of Kiplagat as a Kenyan civil ser-vant.

From the onset TJRC has suffered cred-ibility crises. Some argued that the thenchairman of the commission AmbassadorBethwell Kiplagat was the Foreign AffairsPermanent Secretary at the time whensome human right abuses were commit-ted and therefore belongs to the “witnessbox”. Critics, including former politicaldetainees and human rights activists havequestioned his credibility to chair the com-mission due to his perceived involvementwith the former president Moi’s regimewhich is accused of gross human right vio-lations. But Kiplagat says he is innocent.Critics, for instance, believe that he at-tended a Wajir district security meetingprior to the infamous Wagalla killings.

Tears flowing: Mothers who witnessed the gruesome killing couldn't hold back their tearsas they narrated the massacre during interview with Wajir Live. Photo/Mohamed Ali

CRYING FOR JUSTICE

Page 6 June - August 2011/Wajir LiveLetters

We get leaders we deserve.

Youth suffer from lack ofemployment. Many die ofhunger and thirst. Hospitals areill-equipped. Students performdismally in the national finalexams.

They chose to live in their poshsuburbs in Nairobi oblivious ofthe agony their constituents gothrough.

The electorates too have theirshare of blame. They electleaders on the basis of tribalaffiliations and whose pocketis “deep” enough to cater ofhandouts. Truly people get theleaders they deserve.

I

The youth are the most ef-fected in this perennial neglectby the people in power. Buthow long can the youth cryfoul? Don’t you think it is timeto hold the bull by the horn andsay enough is enough? Isn’ttime to seek elective postsrather than wait to be spoon-fed? Problems of bad infra-structure and poor leadershipsare all products of our collec-tive failures.

Fuad AbdirashidKLB

Sale representative

Abdirahman SugowTeacher

The deplorable stateof road both duringdry and wet seasons

in Nep.

WWhat are the problems thatbedevil us one may ask? Pa-thetic road network, poorstates of health facilities, hun-ger and starvation, poor edu-cation and what have you.How can we address this then?The answer lies somewhere;if at all the youths will standfirm and remain focused andunited.

In every five years we electmembers of Parliament topresent their electorates. Butthey forgot their primarypurpose of serving the peoplethey represent.

They pay their loyalty toauthorities who are of higherrank or power forgetting theirelectorate who are living inabject poverty

It is seemingly insignificant forWajir MPs to consider theteething troubles of theirpeople.

Send your Ar ticles, Opinionsand Letters

towajirlive@gmail.com/livewajir@yahoo.com

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June - August 2011/Wajir Live Readers Forum Page 7

Education is a fundamentalhuman right as enshrined inconstitutions all over theworld. The millenniumdevelopment ratified in 2000considers provision of basiceducation as one of thedevelopment parameters thathas to be achieved by 2015.Kenya is among the few Sub-Saharan countries that are oncourse to achieve this targetthanks to the inception of freeprimary education by thegovernment in 2003. When weensure that children haveaccess to quality educationthat is rooted in gender equity,their future is enhanced. Theprovision of free primaryeducation has been dogged by

The onset of menstrual periodis a time when all hells breakloose for ladies. Lack ofsanitary pads or rather theirinability to procure them leadsto lack of attendance of allscheduled classes andactivities, which on average is4 days in every 28 days,

In primary school girls in class6-8 [3 years] she loses 18accademic weeks out of 108weeks, in the years in highschool, the same girl loses 156learning days which isequivalent to 24 weeks out of144 weeks in high school,realities as you may infer,suggest that the girl childunable to access sanitary padsis already a drop out while inschool not to mention herparticipation in extracurricularactivities such as sports.

primary schools and over 15secondary schools however,there is low enrolment rates,the dropout rates are highestin both primary and secondaryschools. Almost 30% of thegirls drops out school everyyear. This has to becontextualized within theenrolment of about 7% of thegirls who should be insecondary school.Poverty is also a feature duethe recurring nature ofdroughts; that results infrequent loss of large herds oflivestock, in the latest event2008/2009 it is estimated thatlost 90% of animals are lostforcing many families to shiftto sedentary lifestyle whichhas in effect increased thepopulations of the peri-urbanpoor in Wajir town and othersimilar settlements in thedistrict.

Given these contexts, itbecomes clear, that thedecimation of the primarysources of livelihood, there isno budgetary allocation toprovide for non-food itemsrequired by the households; assuch the girls in higher primaryand secondary school will haveto miss school when thebiological clocks run onschedule.

The issues discussed here arejust the tip of the ice berg andmany other underlying issuesalso are cited as among themyriad of problems bedevillingthe education systems. It isimportant that educationofficials and other stakeholders will consider the raftof issues discussed here.

Farhiya Isaack Abdi

or 13 learning days equivalentto 2 weeks in every schoolterm, in a school year, forinstant 9 months the girl loses39 learning days equivalent to6 weeks of learning time.

controversies pitting donorsand the government amongother logistical and technicalhitches. The girls child in NorthEastern in addition to facingthese national problems is alsofaced with a unique problem:the management of theirmenstrual cycles.

Like all other pastoralistsdistricts in Kenya, Wajirdistrict has about more than 70

The onset of menstrual period is a timewhen all hells break loose for ladies.

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Why Girl Child Eduction isstill a mirage in NEP

This column give thereaders a forum to

express their personalstories. send your story

tolivewajir@yahoo.com

Page 8 June-August 2011/Wajir Live

INTER SCHOOL DRAMA PICTORIALThe recent inter-school drama competition went unnoticed. This event

could have rocked the entire County and “sold” the young talented

upcoming actors/musicians. Wajir Live has captured the event held at

Wajir Girls Secondary School: PhotPhotPhotPhotPhoto/Mohamed Alo/Mohamed Alo/Mohamed Alo/Mohamed Alo/Mohamed Ali and Ai and Ai and Ai and Ai and Adddddooooow Mohamedw Mohamedw Mohamedw Mohamedw Mohamed.....

1. Students clad in traditionalattir e dance during the event.2.Focused!A boy acts as awoman. The effects of thescorching sun was evident as hesweated profusely.3.Audience follow the event.4.Stdents in Action.Showcasing cultural dynamicsin the society.5.Creative! “Bearded” boyentertains the attendants.

Thr ough the Lens of Wajir Live

1

2 3

4 5

June-August 2011/Wajir Live Page 9

6.Headteachers too were not left behinds as they watchedattentively.7.Students play the role of “wife and husband” to emphasize theimpotance of coherent family.8.Awarding the best! Adjudicators consult during the event.9.The host school Wajir Girls in action.10.Mobile phone was in handy as this boy tries to capture the event.

Thr ough the Lens of Wajir Live

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10

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8

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Page 10 FEATURE June - August 2011/Wajir Live

Abdi is building slowly butsurely on his gainful venture toearn a living. “Some peoplethink you are crazy to be afarmer in this area, but I willprove them wrong.”

The venture has notestablished an environmentalmanagement system but ‘weare responsible towards theenvironment,’ he says. Abdi’sfarm is registered with thedepartment of social servicesin the ministry of Home Affairs.

‘Responsible towardsenvironment’

“Sometime we offer somefinancial help to those whocannot buy the prescribedmedicines that are onlyavailable in private clinics andpharmacies,” articulates Abdi.

The farm owner boasts to putfood on many tables as he hasthree employees. Their farmduties include weeding andirrigate the land by using smallmotors that pump water fromdeep underground wells. Thepeople working at the farmsustain their families from thesmall income they get fromworking at the farm.Abdi saysanyone of his staff is free tojoin any labor organization ofhis or her choice. “Also we donot employ underage childrenin line with the laws ofKenya,” Abdi says.

Food on the table

Continued from page 3

The farmer states that publichealth care is a primary needfor everyone in Kenya and thefarm workers are not anydif ferent. “We don’tspecifically provide medicalcare but any member of thestaff can be given permissionto seek treatment at the Wajirdistrict hospital” says Abdi.

“We sometime collect plasticand dump it at designated sitesand this helps to keep theenvironment safe and plasticfree.”

But Abdia Warmoge is hope-ful, though.“We demand official apologyand compensation from thegovernment” says Abdia. “Wewant the killers of our husbandsand sons confess the crimesthey committed” She contin-ued.The Commission is expectedto present its final report toPresident Mwai Kibaki inNovember 2011.

Continued from page 5 are still holders of influentialgovernment positions,” saysMrs. Habiba Shiekh Abshirowwho lost many of her familymembers in the Wagalla mas-sacre.

“We do not expect much fromTJRC because the perpetra-tors

But some disagree.

have affected this regions(Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo,Marsabit, Mandela andMoyale) include torture, eco-nomic crimes, land issues, ex-tra judicial killings, sexual vio-lence, serious injuries, pro-longed detention among oth-ers and the Commission iscommitted to guaranteeing theparticipation of women, chil-dren, persons with disabilitiesand other vulnerable groupsfrom this region in the publichearings,” said Namachanja.

“Some of the injustices which

the commission on an actingcapacity. Mrs. Namachanjasaid the Commission decidedto launch the public hearingsin Northern Kenya becausethe region has suffered gravehuman right abuses and eco-nomic marginalization.

The commission started itspublic hearing on April 11,2011 in Northern EasternKenya.Mrs. Tecla Namachanja wasafterwards appointed as vice-chair and at the same timetook over the chairmanship of

Women hold placards during the 27th anniversary of Wagalla Massacre.

Orange fruits at thefarm and inset iscotton wool. photo/Adow Mohamed.

June - August 2011/Wajir Live Page 11

TJRC IN NEP: A PR Gimmick Or Justice in the Offing?BY MOHAMED ABDULLAHI

he truth, justice andreconciliationcommission was

established by an act ofparliament (truth, justice andreconciliation commission actno 6 of 2008) to investigategross human right violationand other historical injusticesin Kenya between 12th Dec1963 and February 28 2008.Its part of the accountabilitycomponent of the Agenda 4 ofthe national accord signed in2008.However, the initial daysof the commission was marredby frequent wrangles pityingthe chairman Bethuel Kiplagatand members of the civilsociety. The civil society,religious groups and institutionsfrom different facets of lifevoiced questions on thecredibility of Mr. Kiplagat asthe chair of the commission.Kiplagat is accused of hisaffiliation to the former regimewhere he once served as thepermanent secretary in theministry of foreign affairs. Theperiod between 1963 and2008 is considered as Kenya'sdark period when manyassassinations including that ofpolitician J.M Kariuki andTrade Unionist Tom Mboya,Wagalla massacre and manyundocumented injustices tookplace. The national accordsigned in 2008 ended the postelection Debacle that almostdegenerated the country intocivil strife and considersinvestigation and reconciliationof past injustices as a majorissue.

T

The northern region has bornethe brunt of successive Kenyanregimes and it has become

synonymous with poor roads,inter-ethnic clashes andvirtually high level of childmortality due to poor healthservices.

In the civil service, the regionis considered as disciplinaryarea where errant officers aredeployed ostensibly to‘discipline them’. Theeducation system has nothingto write about and allindications are a systematicorchestrated plot toexterminate

horrendous deaths that areshrouded in mystery andguarded by the state. Forinstance, the 1984 Wagallamassacre and subsequentclamp down on innocentKenyans are still guarded bywell connected people in thegovernment. The most savageact by any humane governmentis to deny any wrong doing inan act that it has executed withsuch precision and secrecy.

the entire northern population.The north eastern provinceinhabited by the dominantpastoralist Somali communityto be specific has been theepicenter of bizarregovernment operations aimedat destroying the livelihood ofthe region. The postindependent Kenyangovernment propelled thewheels of injustices left by thecolonial masters with frequentraids, detention and Continue on page 12

The recent sittings by the Commission where they heard tesmonies of historical injustices in Kenya. Photo/AhmedHaji

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Page 12 June - August 2011/Wajir Live

The truth justice andreconciliation commissionseems to have recovered fromthe controversies thatbedeviled them and have hitthe ground running. In therecent past, they have pitchedcamp in different parts of theprovince to get firsthandaccount of the survivors anddependents of victims of pastkillings. The reception from thelocals who thronged the hallsand gave chilling accounts ofhow their loved ones weresilenced by brutal bullets fromtheir 'would be protectors'only attest to the urgency of thejustice the region yearns for.Footage of mothers givingvivid account of how trigger-happy military officersexecuted their husbands andraped them in turn reflected themagnitude of the pain inflictedon them.

Continued from page 11

As the mothers and the elderlygave distressing account of theentire episode, many heldback tears while others wereleft with questions on whetherthe perpetrators had a humanblood flowing in their veins.Many were executed whileothers were condemned to alife of misery after their breadwinners were felled bygovernment bullets.

The action by the commissionto commence public accountof past injustices have beenhailed as a major step towardsunraveling what actuallytranspired during those darkdays.

Many of the atrocities theTJRC is trying to unearth wereactually committed during thereigns of President JomoKenyatta and that of DanielArab Moi. During its sittingsin north eastern province,many powerful individualsamong them Bethuel Kiplagat,David Mwiraria, JosephKibwana were adversely

Widowed mothers are to thisday toiling hard to single-handedly bring up theorphaned sons and daughtersas they await for the day thewheels of justice will finallyroll.

However, skeptics are raisingthe Red flag on whether thiswill actually deliver justice tothe victims or whether it willgo down as another ‘cashminting’ commission.

The commission may notdeliver any tangible results dueto the following:

mentioned to have beenaccomplices in the variousatrocities particularly theWagalla massacre of 1984.The commission had soughtexplanation from thosementioned but had declined.The commission may notachieve much from theseindividuals because they arepowerful and well connectedfigures in both the present andpast governments. Forinstance, Bethuel Kiplagat isknown to have been a former

1963 and 2008 is considered as

Kenya’s dark period

Continue on page 13

Mzee Bishar Ismail (second fom right) who was the Wagalla chief during the massacre confides with commissinerSyle at the Wagalla airstrip. photo/Ahmed Haji.

A section of women who attended the hearing at Wajir redcross hall.

June - August 2011/Wajir Live FEATURE Page 13

Those implicated to haveparticipated in those heinouscrimes will come out in fullforce to frustrate and derail theentire process. In the daysahead, we might be treated toa spectacle where theperpetrators will Marshall thebest brains in the legal circlesin an attempt to exoneratethemselves from the blame. Inessence, considering thepartisan and the compromisedjudiciary in Kenya, theperpetrators might be leavingthe courts scot free while thevictims continue to languish inthe nightmare of the killingspree they experienced.

In a nut shell, the victims of thepast atrocities have aired theirunwavering account of whattranspired and as thecommission continuesreceiving views from thepublic, it is our hope and beliefthat political will to act on therecommendation of thecommission will be abundantfor the victims, we share yourgrief and firmly believe that thewheels of justice will roll andjustice will be delivered.

powerful permanent secretaryin moi's regime and is now theChancellor Egerton University.Others are Joseph kibwanawho was the chief of Generalstaff and David Mwiraria whoserved in different cabinetportfolios. These individualswill not yield much to thecommission due to theirposition and influence indifferent circles within thegovernment.

Continued from page 12

We firmly believe thatthe wheels of justicewill roll and justicewill be delivered.

The area is swiftly growing andinvestors have found it an ap-propriate destination for theirmoney. Hundreds of buildingsare under construction, otherssuperbly furnished.Commercialists mainly of theSomali ethnic community haveenthusiastically dominated theestate in its entirety.However, going round the es-tate reveals an appalling infra-structure. During the dry spell,dust makes the busy streetsunfeasible and when it rainsstinking mud and pools of wa-ter complicate smooth floor oftraffic in the estate.

Complains about the patheticstate of affairs in Eastleigh hasremained constant and onewould have imagined things tohave improved by now.Enthusiastic and determinedshoppers steer their wayaround rotten mountains ofheaped rubbish, jumping overopen sewer lines and pools offilthy water.

They have to contend withconstant power cuts and theunreliability of water supplies.Pedestrians have to wadethrough mucky burst sewerlines while motorists areforced to live with huge pot-holes that make driving night-marish.Residents sight police harass-ment as a major setback topotential investors in Eastleigh.“They demand bribes as anexchange for their freedom”says a resident who opted toremain anonymous.

Moreover, despite the troublemet by the Kenyan-Somalisand Somalis in Kenya, theyendeavor to engage in an ex-ceptional profitable and pro-ductive commerce.

BY ADOW MOHAMED

The police regularly conductunplanned swoop in the arearounding up people they claimare illegal immigrants. Duringsuch exercises even Kenyancitizens of Somali ethnicity arecaught their possession of thenationality cards notwithstand-ing.

Continue on page 14

all it “the city within acity,” “Mogadishundogo (Small

Mogadishu)” or whatevername, Eastleigh district ofNairobi is without doubt themost vibrant and buddingcommercial hub in East Africa,generating millions of shillingsin taxes remittance to the localand central governments ofKenya daily.

C

Neglected Eastleigh underthe spotlight

Superbly furnished business premises is what makes Eastleigh anattractive destination for many. photos/Mohamed Ali.

Page 14 June - August 2011/Wajir Live

Continued from page 13

“It is true that there are manySomalis who escaped from theturmoil in Somalia to seek ref-uge in Kenya but terming themas beneficiaries of piracy isuntrue” he continues.

“Eastleigh has earned thereputation as a safe haven forpirates’ money ostensibly dueto its speedy growth” saysIbrahim Hussein a resident ofEastleigh.

Safe haven

Insecurity also threatens toscare away business people.Entrepreneurs normally fallvictim of daytime robberywhile the security agenciesappear less concerned. Manywere killed at the doorstep oftheir business premises by un-known assailants.Due to the dominance by theethnic Somali community,Eastleigh is seen by many as asanctuary for Somali piratesand Islamist extremists like AlShabaab and other Al-Qaedaaffiliated groups. Many havethe notion that monies receivedduring hijacking of ships at theSomali coast finds its way hereas commercial investment.

elicited sharp reactions fromboth the business communityand local leaders in Eastleigh.They argued the article waswarped and dishonest.

The media both local andinternational have not beenfriendly in covering Eastleighissues either. Very biasedindeed! For instance, a storyheaded “Piracy money findshome in Kenya” by theKenyan Standard newspaper

The Seattle Times publishedin Washington carried a storytitled ‘Kenya Awash in SomaliPirates’ cash’ detailing howresidents of Eastleigh arebeneficiaries of the illegal piracybusiness along the lawlessSomalia waters.

“Somali Pirates Take theMoney and Run to Kenya” bywriter Nick Wadhams of Na-tional Public Radio in theUnited States is another not sotruthful story. Very misguided!“In the neighboring Kenya,new buildings are rising, theirconstruction fuelled by piracymoney in Nairobi’s Eastleighneighborhood, where manySomali immigrants live. Kenyais seen as a good place for thepirates because it is a relativelystable country. Yet, at the sametime, its legal system is lax andcorruption is high. That meansthat it’s easy to bring illicitmoney in and out of the coun-try without much notice” statedthe damning article in thewebsite.Whatever the case, Eastleighremains vivacious and the resi-dent here remain industrious.

‘Little Mogadishu’: Paradisefor shoppers or pirates?” waspublished by the BBC onDecember 10 2010.

Residents endeavor to engage

in an exceptional profitable

and productive commerce.

Poor state of roads has hampered business success.

June - August 2011/Wajir Live Page15

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