Just like many countries in Africa, Kenya is made up of numerous distinct tribes living in clusters with unique cultures and norms. In the pre-colonial days, these tribes lived side by side peacefully with occasional rise of disputes normally calmed by elders. During the infamous period ruthlessly labelled scramble and partition of Africa, the white conquerors turned communities against each other conspiring with one group against another. As a strategic means to enlarge their portion of the pie, the Englishman adopted divide and rule policy. They focused on creating tension and rift between the local communities. At this point, drawing boundaries between the communities has become the golden standard in resolving disputes- a measure that will only work to the advantage of the new umbrella power. The The role of elders as peace makers was largely replaced by the colonialist’s policy.
The elders will only resort to the white power each time there is a disagreement over tribal boarders. When the colonial force handed sovereignty to Kenya, it left a power vacuum - one that the now sovereign government has never been able to fill. In essence, communal boundary mentality has found a very deep place in the minds and hearts of the Kenyan Somali in the northern region of the country. It is so bad to the point that an innocent traveler from a neighboring tribe is considered trespasser and is at risk for been hacked to death.
Armed tribal groups protecting their communal land have evolved over time to become a microcosm of military force protecting its national boundary. It is mini-countries within a country. This forms the core of tribal conflicts we see in post colonial Africa and specifically in Kenya. Tribal wars in Northern Kenya are undoubtedly perfect breed, intentional or otherwise, of the colonial legacy. But an unresoved questions remain; What is the government's stance? Is the government's ambivalence and timid approach fueling these wars in Northern Kenya? Consider the unyielding Gare-Murule war.
The tribal conflicts between Gare and Murule communities of Mandera has been the most persistent and well sustained conflicts in the last few decades albeit temporary breaks. The short breaks from conflicts are breathers and time for regrouping and refueling for the next bout of attacks. The conflicts have progressively become bigger, more widespread and much more sophisticated in weaponry and political engagement. In the early decades, weaponry was so rudimentary that pelting stones, shooting poisoned arrows and use of bayonet were the best weapons. Today, tribal fighters use very sophisticated and complex weapons that are capable of unprecedented death and destruction. Much like military might contest between enemy nations, each group tends to acquire the latest and most destructive weapons they can get into their hands. You wonder who the financiers are? Individual contributions, businessmen and political predators are intimately involved and have their foot-prints all over the place - from contribution to coordination to execution. When the conflict stretches their pockets and drains their energy, they start talking to the media, publicly condemning the other and even ready for a table talk.
The talk then leads to a resolution document. The resolution is written by a select group of leaders in order to create peace and understanding between feuding tribes. Much is usually not drawn from previous resolutions and very little of it is remembered. Committee members are usually new and may not even know of the existence of previous resolutions. Financiers, organizers and coordinators of the fighters appoint peace resolution committees and this has been a confounding factor. If i appoint you, you are an ideologue and my ideals are your ideals - That is the modus operandi. It is then uncontestable that committee members pledge allegiance to safe guard the interest of their cronies and tribesmen without explicit promulgation. Is it reasonable to presume that great majority of leaders are not committed to genuine accomplshment of true and long-lasting peace?
The fundamental step towards curing an illness is to pinpoint and understand its root cause. If this is not the case, then we must expect chronic recurrence of the illness - in this case the northern clan violence.
Kenyan Somalis grim experiences with the military and government reaches as far back as the days of independence. Government reactionary machines in response to clan wars in the northerners are seen as disingenuous, in deeply entrenched. , Military and police engagement conjures fear, hatred, anger and and . about Military or police engagement has only escalated the Mandera tribal crisis in terms of harm brought to the community. Derogatory and despicable activities like raping nursing mothers and young girls as recently inflicted by the Kenya army on the communities of Mandera is something commonly abhorred by fighting tribal groups. It is unbearable when several rape victims narrating their accounts of rape and torture by military perpetrators are simply dismissed as false by those same leaders and government entrusted with protection of the public. Is the military given a blank check to conduct its operations in the most ruthless and primitive manner? Are the leaders speaking on behalf of criminals passing as military? Have they been asked to preside over maiming and raping of innocent women, children and elderly? Given the irresponsible and negligent dismissive statements by the government, the answer to these questions remains yes by default.
It is known that local leaders are bent on with-holding factual and evidential information that would otherwise help in the capture and prosecution of individual criminals. When an individual belonging to a particular tribe attacks another causing severe injuries or even murder, that individual is a criminal. The crime was not one of a whole tribe or clan as it is always passed in that context. No group, clan or otherwise must bare the burden of an individual’s crime. A criminal must carry his/her own cross and be put through the legal process for his/her crimes without broad-brush painting. No group, clan or otherwise should pay money for murderers and rapists. No amount of compensation can substitute for the trauma caused by rape or live lost. The nearest to doing justice is to apprehend the individual perpetrator and putting him or her behind bars – exactly where they belong.
Let us assume for a moment that the angels whispered in the ears of a resolution team and they become determined to achieving long-term peace. Succinctly clear implementation plan for resolution document is never known to have been either discussed or compiled. Perhabs, our leaders believe a written document will have the magic power to create peace or their foresight is sincerely limited. If the former is true, we are doomed and if the later is true, we need to do soul searching for better leadership.
Do we need to spend so much time, effort and money on a document that will never see the light of day? Certainly not. We must first have goals and objectives when drawing a resolution. And the first line should read the most ideal scenario; That each person must see the other as a Kenyan and that no land belongs to a group or clan or tribe. That all land other than private property such as your residence or business is public land. That all kenyans have equal right to the use of public land and that no person has more right over another for any reason. These are three key intertwind statements that each person must take to heart.
A proper enforcement of the resolution, non-violent engagement of government machinery and united political leadership committed to a genuine roadmap is the only force that can break the violence cycle in Northern Kenya. The road map should spell out non-negotiable apprehension process for any individual found to engage in or proven to have links to tribal conflicts. Such a process should not favor any suspect - from the goat herder to the wealthy and influential to the persons vested with power in government. Anything short of that will be a disservice, gross failure on the part of the government and betrayal by the political elitists.
The next obvious step is constitution of resolution enforcement team or committee over an extended period of time. Such committee will oversee the implementation of the resolution and ensure that criminals and violators will be identified and apprehended with the full backing of the government as well as the local and national leadership. Thus, with adoption of a methodology to sustain conflict resolution enforcement, the embrace of an everlasting peace and good neighborliness will be an inevitable force.
Military
Kenyan Somalis grim experiences with the military and government reaches as far back as the days of independence. Government reactionary machines in response to clan wars in the north is seen as disingenuous and at the very least an aggressor whose agenda is deeply entrenched in shredding an already flailed spirit. Military and police engagement conjures fear, hatred and brewing anger teetering at shoe throwing distaste.
An objective view point will almost endorse the analysis behind the peoples distrust of the government. Military or police engagement has only escalated the Mandera tribal crisis in terms of harm brought to the community. Derogatory and despicable activities like raping nursing mothers and young girls as recently inflicted by the Kenya army on the communities of Mandera is something commonly abhorred by fighting tribal groups. It is unbearable when several rape victims narrating their accounts of rape and torture by military perpetrators are simply dismissed as false by those same leaders and government entrusted with protection of the public. Is the military given a blank check to conduct its operations in the most ruthless and primitive manner? Are the leaders speaking on behalf of criminals passing as military? Have they been asked to preside over maiming and raping of innocent women, children and elderly? Given the irresponsible and negligent dismissive statements by the government, the answer to these questions remains yes by default.
