SHIFTA REINCARNATION!!!
By Mac’Olonde David
My political eye sees something very disturbing in this sudden emergence and escalation of Al Shabaab activities in Northern Kenya, it’s like the shifta movement is reincarnating.
For non historians; The Shifta War (1963–1967) was a secessionist conflict in which ethnic Somalis in the North Eastern Province, a region that is and has historically been almost exclusively inhabited by ethnic Somalis attempted to join with their fellow Somalis to be part of the Greater Somalia. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shifta_War
Just the way some people took advantage of the sporadic eruption of protests famously known as #2007PEV to instill fear into the unwanted section of the population by burning the displaced persons who had sought shelter within the church, grabbing acres of land from the IDPs etc with an intend to make the rest feel unsafe and thus relocate.
We have seen how teachers and civil servants have been massacred not forgetting the Garissa University students and even Quarry workers amidst those unreported cases.
All this time these devilish acts being attributed to “Terror attacks”. Remember that even Crime against humanity acts of 2007 PEV was done under pretence of protesting an electoral fraud.
Some leaders in the North Eastern are out on a mission, a mission to weed out all non-Somalis and Non-Muslims from Northern Kenya. They camouflage their activities under the “Al Shabaab terror wave”. Are they out to accomplish the unfinished shifta war of secession?
The other day we saw an emergence of MRC in Coast Province with a slogan “Wabara Kwao/upcountry people out”. Is Northern Kenya on the same mission? To get “Outsiders” out of North Eastern?
Are they succeeding? Yes! The teachers and other civil servants are not willing to go back to North Eastern. The Students in various colleges in North are not going back. The response of Businessmen and Quarry workers who survived the various attacks is the same, No going back!
It’s now a fact that for any outsiders to live, do business or work in the Nothern Kenya one needs to either convert to Islam or pay monthly “Protection fees” to this “terror groups”.
Just like the famous vigilante groups ie Matakwei led Sabaot Land Defense Forces, Mungiki or MRC.This group seems to enjoy political blessing and goodwill. That’s why the likes of DUALE & Co. can afford to retreat to Garissa and dare the Interior CS that they owe no one a list even after promising the same.
After spreading fear by eliminating any perceived betrayer. The group is now out to radicalize the youths to join it’s ranks. This is being facilitated by a strong financial muscle built from extortion, piracy and illegal business in Somalia.
Due to instability in Somalia The group is now keen on consolidating its political network, not only in Garissa County and Mandera county but the entire North Eastern province.
Their ultimate goal is to form a strong political party for the Somali community and bargain for a higher post in subsequent governments with a threat to do a Crimea and secede to Somalia.
Duale’s position as Leader of Majority in Parliament has given him on behalf of the group an important platform to mobilise and establish grassroot links throughout the North Eastern region for future political endeavors while shedding crocodile tears after every “successfully executed Massacres”
Will Jubilee just stand and watch as this group holds Kenyan’s lives at ransom?
To act as a lesson to anyone who may take this country for a ride on security matters.
1. The government must #ArrestDuale.
2. The government must not succumb to pressure by Duale and group that the Security incharge personnel in North Eastern must be ‘their own’
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, Kenya-Today News and Analsysis is an OPEN platform for all and sundry to share knowledge with the public/society, you too can send your opinion piece directly onto this website or via our Facebook page.
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