Peace please for the orphaned region?

By Adan W. Kabelo, Isiolo, Northern Kenya

24. April 2006

Monday April 10^th will go into the calendar of Kenyans but more so into the diary of the pastoralists who usually name seasons after events. This will go into the annals of their account as the year when all the Boran, Gabra and Rendille leaders perished.

But when their children who now don’t understand will come of age and ask how it happened, it will have to start from the chronology of raids and counter raids between the three tribes, then the Turbi massacre will need a mention and how a Minister in the ‘then’ NARC government struggled to bring the leaders who cant greet each other to board the same plane (I heard reluctantly) to persuade their folks that they would like to give peace a chance. The weather was so bad that the pilot missed the airstrip and crashed at the foot of Marsabit hills.

That was times gone by but the Country, communities and the families have to move on. As we do that, the surviving members of the three feuding communities have to rethink their actions and relation deeply. Surely the agony is immense for the community and the country. We did not only loose politicians who were unfortunately at the centre of the bad blood but the crush nipped in the bud sparkling life of very innocent Kenyans and those of our other first-class sons like the only remaining Bishop from the community and the only East African legislator from the region.

I wish one had knowledge of how many more should die before we get peace so that we hurry up this peace. My hope is that the peace that has eluded us in the life of our leaders will now come with their death. On that fateful day, we were not crying in turns any more but we all wept together and many of us shed tears in pain and shame.

Pain because our friends, relatives and allies were gone and shame since we have made many other innocent brilliant young Kenyans die for something they have no idea about. While their fathers and husbands died serving this nation, many questions will remain in the minds of the little orphans and widows from Kiambu, Busia, Kwale, Nakuru etc who wished their father or husband did not go there in the first place.

Why would a poor community like Gabra, Borana and Rendille perpetually fight while they will at the end of the day starve from hunger and wait for relief whether it rains or not! Maize relief comes from those who keep peace! Soon the world will be tired of feeding warring people.

Indeed our leaders and many other innocent Kenyans should not have perished in such a devastating manner if we are sensible. No one has become rich, victorious or a hero from the endless wars that we all allowed it to happen in different ways. My nervousness is if the price we have already paid is not enough, then these communities will be decimated sooner than later. We have enough orphans to take care of so let’s not add to this number.

Thinking about this expansive region, it is hurting to see the extent of neglect by successive regimes. Clearly no one and I mean no one has interest of developing that region. We have to put aside our difference and demand our share. I lost count how many times we have been promised that the Isiolo-Moyale road will be tarmacked. Soon it will be promised in the forth-coming by-elections. You should know that is a plain lie. Truth will only prevail if we ourselves stood together and demand for what is rightfully ours. This road is our right it’s not a privilege.

Let the replacement of the departed leaders be geared to purposely unite the warring communities. Legacy is a very crucial gift leaders bequeath his people. Let us dream a peaceful legacy for our children.