By Mohamed Guleid
| Might. 25, 2023
Latest appointment of Somalis into high-profile positions inside authorities has raised eyebrows amongst some Kenyans.
When the President nominated Noordin Haji as Director Normal of the Nationwide Clever Providers, there was uproar on the social media, significantly from the Kenyan elite who’re overrepresented on Twitter. Lots of them expressed doubt as as to whether Mr Haji is a loyal Kenyan.
Some even raised doubts whether or not he’s a Kenyan. Beforehand, the president appointed a number of different senior Somalis to the safety sector together with the Cupboard Secretary Defence Aden Duale. However, the current appointment of competent and patriotic Kenyans has raised doubts in regards to the Somali group’s loyalty to the nation regardless of their long-standing presence in Kenya.
The Somali group has been half and parcel of the Kenyan nation since time immemorial. The worry by a bit of individuals is principally pushed by prejudice and ignorance.
Since independence in 1963, the Somali group has confronted prejudice and distrust as a result of stereotypes about their loyalty and perceived wealth. The rise within the variety of Somalis who’ve considerably invested in actual property and different financial ventures in Nairobi and different main cities in current previous has raised the extent of resentment and generally envy.
This has fuelled the notion that almost all Somalis have gotten their wealth illegally. Nonetheless, the reality is local weather change has pushed many members of the group to abject poverty. Just a few have turn into profitable by means of laborious work and trustworthy enterprise.
The group has confronted challenges, together with armed clashes, unfair detentions and assaults from terrorists. Regardless of these, the Somali group has maintained its conventional way of life, with camel meat being readily eaten by nomadic pastoralists and people in city centres.
The distrust of Somalis ought to be understood not solely within the modern context but additionally by means of the lens of an extended legacy of colonial and post-colonial relations between neighbouring international locations in addition to between Kenya and its ethnic Somali inhabitants. The nation shares a protracted border with its neighbour, Somalia, with Somalis dwelling on either side of the border.
Somali Kenyans and Somalis from Somalia have the identical faith and tradition. To distinguish the 2, these in Kenya confer with themselves as Kenyan Somalis however folks appear to have an issue with that – how then do you differentiate the 2. In USA as an example, you hear of Indian American, Latin American, African American, Asian American – it’s only a defining level.
In conclusion, the Somali group in Kenya has confronted challenges, together with prejudice and distrust, armed clashes, and restricted entry to training. Nonetheless, the group has maintained its conventional way of life and has the potential to turn into essentially the most organised ethnic group in Africa. If we understood our delicate variations, we’d admire our similarities extra.
-Mr Guleid is coordinator, North East Growth Initiative
