By Admasu Simeso
This is a personal appeal and plea to the Kenyan political leaders, specifically to Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga; the religious and community leaders of Kenya; and the people of Kenya at large, to save their country from destructions and the image of Africa.
I do not have any political clout or influence whatsoever. But I am appealing to you as a concerned African, an individual and human being deeply saddened by the violence and destructions that are taking place.
What are being shown from the news clips are already bad enough scene and disturbing. But one can imagine all those gruesome acts that have not been captured by media, besides the psychological trauma the helpless people are going through.
As a good neighbor and an African, I have special love for Kenya and the Kenyan people. Like so many people, I did travel to and also passed through (transit) Kenya so my times. I had Kenyan friends and colleagues. I even believed and expressed to many people that I was indebted to Kenya as I enjoyed more freedom of travel to and out of Kenya, even more than my own country. Because at that time my country required exist visas for all citizens which was a hustle to obtain. Kenya was the only country where I could go in and out without a hustle, which may sound simple but you only know and understand if you have gone through.
I know Mr. Annan’s effort and that of many Kenyans and other concerned Africans working behind the scene, (hopefully) to seek solutions and spare Kenya from further destructions and the unnecessary suffering of the thousands of innocent Kenyans: the young, too young to understand what is going on, the elderly too old to do anything; to save the beauty of Kenya, the animals and plants; the poisoned air by hatred. The ordinary people of Kenya do not deserve this.
Kenya used to be the pride of Africa, as an example of stability and peace. Nairobi used to be and still is, what I always felt the peace capital of Africa. It is home to the All African Conference of Churches, AACC.
It was in Nairobi that the hundreds of meetings were held to consult, and deliberate on the problems of the neighboring countries: specifically Somalia and Sudan. Kenya provided venues for the Somalis peace talk where the Somalis talked face to face, deliberated their differences for more than two years, and formed the Transitional Governments for Somalia, (whether it is working as hoped for or not is a different story). It was in Naivasha, which is burning at this moment that the Sudan peace accord signed between Southern Sudan and the North. Many of the current Kenyan leaders were involved (I remember the role of the Kenyan Foreign Minister of the time) in bringing the warring parties together to talk the language of peace instead of war and hatred. I am sure that the Kenyan leaders pleaded with the Sudanese and the Somalis about peace. Now we are forced to ask, did they genuinely believe in peace, as their conviction and fundamental principal or were those just outward display for convenience, because it was easy to talk to other people to make peace?
Nairobi was also the center from where hundreds of humanitarian interventions for South Sudan, Rwanda and Somalia operated, including Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) and the Somalia UN Operations.
It was in December 2003, just before Christmas day, that this writer wrote the following in the Horn of Africa Bulletin, under the title; Good Will and Peace in the Region, for Life and Peace Institute, Horn of Africa Program, which was by the way one of the Humanitarian NGOs based in Nairobi, mainly focusing on advocacy for Peace. The piece was to remind us of the Christmas message, “Peace on earth and good will among people”.
“Another brighter ray of hope is shining in the region. This is Kenya, and with an apparently improved human rights concern, culture of democracy, and political climate in the country. One is encouraged to see how the Kenyan people express their views without the fear of that infamous security persons would trail them to their homes or knock at their doors in the wee-hours of the morning. In this regard, Kenya offers a good example for the entire African continent and the Horn of Africa region in particular to learn from.”
At that time I lived and worked in Nairobi for 5 months and I really considered that Kenya was on a right track to build a true multi-ethnic, multi-religious tolerant democratic culture. I was sincere and truly believed in what I was writing. May be it was a perception and I did not know what was simmering underneath.But I still would like to believe that what I wrote then was accurate observation. Are Kenyans left with some Good Will to save the country and the suffering of the ordinary people?
Human beings’ problems emanate from arrogance, stubbornness, rigidity, greed and vengeance which lead to all sorts of extremism. But only good will can overcome them. Look at the life of one of the greatest African leaders of all time, former President Mandela. Just by his way of life and overcoming bitterness he humbled many.
One last but not least consideration that I plead with you is, right now at present, an outstanding young leader, who is tracing his background to Kenya is running for the highest and most powerful office in the world. As he was speaking yesterday, people watching and listening to him from all over the world, his grand-mother’s home village or even home were going up in smoke. I am sure the current Kenyan leaders may be of the same age and time with his father. A man who is the son of Kenya by blood is inspiring and moving the people of America, while his ancestor’s homeland is being destroyed. He is building bridges and not destroying, he is providing hope not despair. Please revisit your acts, pause and think of what messages you are sending out from Kenya.
I do not know why but I feel, deep down I strongly believe, if Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga put aside their stubbornness, rigidity and unholy pride and come out together and declare peace and tell the hardliners and the extremists to stop the violence, I really believe they can do so. Then they will emerge as great leaders both now and in the future Kenyan history. But for that to happen they have to have good will. It is my plea to you as an individual voice, and also my prayer for the people of Kenya during this tragic and difficult time.
This humble plea is also in support of Mr. Annan’s effort, urging the Kenyan political, religious and community leaders to realize before it is too late to swallow their pride and save their country and the image of Africa. The alternative does not guarantee that one group triumphing over the other but perishing all together. Please act responsibly!
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Admasu Simeso can be reached at [email protected]