The Kenyan national Anthem says, “May we dwell in Unity, Peace and Liberty” And these are three values that have been ignored by many in the society. It is sad when I watch from thousands of miles away from home how my Kenyan brothers of Somali descent are being treated. Over the past week or so I have sat in my room and thought about the things that are happening to the country that I proudly call my Homeland.
Let me update you, due to the recent terrorism problems that my country has been facing, the country’s security department
looks, is something that should not have been allowed. Don’t get me wrong though, because my main problem is not with the police but all those who victimize Kenyans of the Somali descent. In fact I think instead of referring to them as such I should just say Kenyans.
Think about like this, imagine you are walking downtown and everyone keeps looking at you like you are some danger to them yet you have never even been successful in catching a fly. I read an article earlier in the week by a young man (my age) named Osman who gave an example of his friend going to a restaurant to watch a soccer game only to be asked for an Identification card by the waitress to prove that he is Kenyan. First of all she has no right to do that, secondly is that really Liberty as stated in the National Anthem? Can’t someone just sit peacefully in a restaurant and watch a game of European Soccer without being victimized?
This is not only happening to only one group of people but it is happening to many Kenyans from different places and of different economic and social class.Be it due to security reasons or any other social issue that Kenya aces that is generalized and falsely put to describe a certain tribe or community of people.
For the country to move forward we cannot keep judging people based on their appearance because at the end of the day it is the nation that loses. Let the nation stand up as one and look at each other as Kenyans and live in harmony. Unity is one value that makes a nation move forward. Please get this straight, even after dealing with the external threat of terrorism and insecurity (Which I know we will), it will be no use if Kenya is not a united nation with people who love one another. Because if there is no love and togetherness there cannot be peace.
Again I echo the words of the National Anthem ” May we dwell in Unity, Peace and Liberty”s