Open letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta

By Hussein Ali Korow:
Dear Mr. President, on behalf of the youths in this part of the world (North Eastern Kenya Counties) I welcome you to Garissa County with open hands, extending to you the respect and recognition you constitutionally and universally deserve first as a leader, and second as the legitimate president of the republic of Kenya.
Mr. President if my conscience doesn’t lie to me this is your first visit to NEP counties as a president since you took office nearly four years ago. This letter may or may not reach you personally, however it’s my hope and prayer that it does get to you even if it’s a slice of it’s content and message. This letter is a dedication to every youth in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera who would wish to have a bit of your attention for them to find answers to their half a century long old questions.
Mr. President, I believe you went into office seeking to be the president of all Kenyans regardless of their origin, background, race or religious beliefs and affiliations. As I am writing this letter, am torn apart by mixed feeling, I feel disappointed as a Kenyan youth of a Somali origin, not because you have denied me of my rights as a citizen but because of the pure reason of neglect and injustices subjected to me as a youth by those who represent you before the citizens.
Mr. President there’s traces of tears in the face of every youth in this part of the country you are proud to be its president. As much as we all know, we are Kenyans by rights and virtue and not through the favors of anyone whatsoever. Understandably, those rights seems to be having meaning only on papers and in political rallies acting as a slogan for politicians to woo votes from the electorates. They barely have any meaning nor interpretation when it comes to addressing the plights and needs of the innocent youths in NEP counties.
Mr. President, four years now since you came to office and promised us of a government that will protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens, over thousand youths are still locked up in silent rooms and in solitary confinements because the government that vowed to protect their rights have denied them the simple rights to have the national identity cards. Whether it’s a deliberate and ill intended walls erected to lock out the NEP youths from enjoying their constitutional rights, the reality on the ground is the government you lead has put potential youths from NEP into abject depression and dissatisfaction.
Mr. President, on Saturday 21st May, 2016. given a chance over five thousand youths will be waiting you as their president for answers on the whereabouts of their identity cards, same number of youths who were born and schooled in Kenya are in the dark not knowing their fate and which country they will be repatriated to since the very own country Kenya , which they were born in and called home has started denouncing them and vowed to deport them to the jaws of a common enemy.
Mr. President, you are the last hope for the young boy in Garissa and Wajir orphaned by the misjudged bullet of either the wrong officer under your jurisdiction or that of the devil terror menace. Mr. President you are the hope of the thousand unemployed youths in NEP region who became victims of disgruntled leaders who care less about the citizen’s interests. It’s only the wearer of the shoe who understands which part of the shoe pinches most, as youths from this region, there are so many things we expected our national government to do for us, we don’t need mega hundred million contract to feel part of the government nor bigger positions. All we need are those basic constitutional rights that every other citizen in this country enjoys without necessarily going through those ‘strict and exclusive vetting that’s only practical when it’s the light skinned or fair haired citizen(read the Somalis) who is seeking the services.
Your Excellency, Somalis have nothing to do with political parties or battles to seek perfect political score boards. They are in support of any individual leader who respects their rights as bona fide citizens of Kenya and make them part of the developmental goals and agendas in the country. They need answers to the injustices they are being subjected to by their own governments.
As the son of the late Johnstone Kamau, I don’t have any doubt that you make the best president for all, the truth is you are the only president in the history of this country that can go out from your comfort zone and enjoy a cup of porridge with the baby class kid in the kindergarten. The biggest reason why NEP counties are missing in your developmental agendas is the information you get from the ground which in many ways is far from the real truth.
Mr. President there are so many wrongs that were made by others who don’t have the interest of the Kenyans of Somali origin. The wrongs of others can never be a reason why a whole generation of Kenyans get locked up in permanent concentration camps just because they have the same color and physical appearance with those doing the wrong. Your Excellency no one loves this country more than we the Somalis do, we are naturally nationalistic beings who value brotherhood and patriotism in equal measure contrary what the media tells.
Mr. President, in your first year in office your government has closed down the only immigration office in Garissa county, as if we are less Kenyans to Muthoni’s and Wanjiku’s of this world, our last census population results has been rated as a subject of an argument and contention in the courts of law. Today our very own government has taken us to court, fighting our numbers instead of encouraging and supporting us as its citizens like the ones in central and Nyanza. As if your government is against our mere existence, we have had our brothers and sisters killed, kidnapped, maimed and jailed in the name of terror sympathizers when in the real sense they have nothing to do with it. Your excellency we have every right to get fair prosecution, today a handful of our men and women are missing and no one knows what their fate is, leaving their loved ones in unending psychological traumas and depression. We want answers of the whereabouts of our youths missing in the name of terror suspects. Mr. President, we are all equal before the law and Somalis are not less important to other Kenyans. We want to know where our boys and girls are, we want to know the fate of the missing loved ones. Mr. President we are not second class citizens as the government is trying to depict us, we are Kenyans that you need their support and presence in your search for political supremacy and in taking this country to greater heights. No one needs the votes of over five thousand youths whose identity cards are pending or deliberately pocketed by those in the registrar of persons’ offices than you your Excellency because to lead this country and achieve the dreams of our forefathers you need numbers, numbers to battle it out for you in the raging political storms. As much as it is an oath of office you were sworn in to protect, again it is an opportunity that has literally presented itself and no one is in a better position to take advantage of it than you Mr. President.
Finally Mr. president I hope and believe your visit will solve the puzzle that’s the plight, disappointments, dissatisfaction and dejection of our people especially the youths, that this visit will not only be about launching the ‘goodies’ ahead of the general elections but be a mile storm that removes the ill intended walls meant to lock out Kenyans of Somali origins.
Mr. President the key to this future is transparency, openness, democracy according to people’s culture and beliefs. A system that supports good governance, zero tolerance to corruption, discrimination injustices, ethnic profiling. Promotes youth’s participation in policy making; creates unlimited employment.
With all these on board there is no doubt a better and all-inclusive Kenya will be achievable. All the best in your tour.
Karibu Garissa Mr. President.
Concerned Garissa County youth.
Hussein Ali Korow – Hkorow5@gmail.com