In a country where the last name is a major qualification in some settings, isolation is expected. Watching the documentary Pillars of Terror arouses emotions and bitterness. What mistake did the Somalis do to deserve isolation, mistreat and contempt?
A historic recount of this story runs across all the regimes in the country dorm the Shifta Menace in 1969 (Kenyatta era), Wagala Massacre in February 1984 (Moi era),the Kibaki era slightly launched the fire for isolation of the Somali people in the following era since the Alshabaab attacks that are associated with the people of the Somali decent has led to the demonizing of the entire community in the Uhuru era as the documentary film points out in the interviews of the Somali people.
Apart from the leadership, the media has been blamed as the main incitement tool by use of words that are sensational in nature in reference to the the alleged Alshabaab terrorists. Words such as and aliens are discriminative and without ignoring the power of the Media,the stereotype of the Somalis as terrorists has been reinforced by the media. Proper and appropriate reporting has to be called for and as Mercy Kandie (a journalist) states that the experience is new to Kenya and the reporters are learning more on how to deal with such kind of reporting, she however asserts that the media practitioners should try their best to report objectively as she also hints that before airing the reports the news items have to go through various editors who determine what exactly to post for public consumption.
As the interviews reveal,the mistreatment of the Somalis range from being handled with suspicion and even the innocent people are subjected to isolation and as suspects of terror attacks. As one Mama Rukia accounts, she was thought to have caused an explosion which she equally had no idea about.
Victims of circumstances, the Sheikh Osman Mohammed says that Somalis should be tolerant and misinterpretation of Jihad as something wrong ought to be corrected. He further calls for fair treatment of the Somalis.
One of the most conspicuous affairs that disgusted the Somalis was when the were taken to Kasarani in search of terrorists, as much as the major numbers of alleged terrorists are from the community, exposing the whole community to the search was termed unfair and trends on social media of I am not a terrorist were viral.
Experts featured in the documentary include Professor Kembo Sure, Bishop Korir and Dr. Mbogo. They are of the opinion that language perceptions have an effect on the way people are treated. They all agree that the media, political leadership and the people should be fair in addressing issues especially among ethnic groups to curb animosity. Bishop Korir and Sheikh Osman have similar opinions that the perpetrators should be dealt with without necessarily affecting the entire community.
In conclusion, the community should be given fair treatment but also it should be responsible to expose any suspected terror agents who might be amongst themselves in order to win the confidence of the entire nation. However, the nation should also be fair not judge the Somalis as a community, rather as individuals. Kenya remains hopeful and as the words of the nation anthem state, may we dwell in unity,peace and liberty... Justice be our shield and defender.
Gichimu Njeri.
A historic recount of this story runs across all the regimes in the country dorm the Shifta Menace in 1969 (Kenyatta era), Wagala Massacre in February 1984 (Moi era),the Kibaki era slightly launched the fire for isolation of the Somali people in the following era since the Alshabaab attacks that are associated with the people of the Somali decent has led to the demonizing of the entire community in the Uhuru era as the documentary film points out in the interviews of the Somali people.
Apart from the leadership, the media has been blamed as the main incitement tool by use of words that are sensational in nature in reference to the the alleged Alshabaab terrorists. Words such as and aliens are discriminative and without ignoring the power of the Media,the stereotype of the Somalis as terrorists has been reinforced by the media. Proper and appropriate reporting has to be called for and as Mercy Kandie (a journalist) states that the experience is new to Kenya and the reporters are learning more on how to deal with such kind of reporting, she however asserts that the media practitioners should try their best to report objectively as she also hints that before airing the reports the news items have to go through various editors who determine what exactly to post for public consumption.
As the interviews reveal,the mistreatment of the Somalis range from being handled with suspicion and even the innocent people are subjected to isolation and as suspects of terror attacks. As one Mama Rukia accounts, she was thought to have caused an explosion which she equally had no idea about.
Victims of circumstances, the Sheikh Osman Mohammed says that Somalis should be tolerant and misinterpretation of Jihad as something wrong ought to be corrected. He further calls for fair treatment of the Somalis.
One of the most conspicuous affairs that disgusted the Somalis was when the were taken to Kasarani in search of terrorists, as much as the major numbers of alleged terrorists are from the community, exposing the whole community to the search was termed unfair and trends on social media of I am not a terrorist were viral.
Experts featured in the documentary include Professor Kembo Sure, Bishop Korir and Dr. Mbogo. They are of the opinion that language perceptions have an effect on the way people are treated. They all agree that the media, political leadership and the people should be fair in addressing issues especially among ethnic groups to curb animosity. Bishop Korir and Sheikh Osman have similar opinions that the perpetrators should be dealt with without necessarily affecting the entire community.
In conclusion, the community should be given fair treatment but also it should be responsible to expose any suspected terror agents who might be amongst themselves in order to win the confidence of the entire nation. However, the nation should also be fair not judge the Somalis as a community, rather as individuals. Kenya remains hopeful and as the words of the nation anthem state, may we dwell in unity,peace and liberty... Justice be our shield and defender.
Gichimu Njeri.
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