KENYA'S 'ECONOMIC' GENOCIDE

The president, pictured right acted too late, too little. Will the images of starving Children and Kenyans awake our leadership?

Northern communities, and pastoralist communities have long been marginalised by successive governments. The British decided that the Northern Frontier Districts were 'ungovernable' long before independence. Successive independent Kenyan governments have continued with the process of ethnic marginalisation and economic genocide of the region. Infrasructure is non-existent, educational standards have been alarming(just so you may know, fewer than ten girls have made it to the university from the entire NEP province since reintroduction of 8-4-4 system); insecurity has made people lives miserable. A few months ago, children were massacred in Marsabit without the slightest responsefrom government

The continued marginalisation of the Northern Frontier Districts is immoral and outright wrong. The inhabitants of NFD have long been treated as second class citizens. They encounter numerous obstacles in their quest for simple constitutionally guarranteed rights,such as right to life, ownership of property, security, etc.

We cannot and should not discriminate against our own citizens, 42 years after independence. Yet, as i write now, Northern Districts remain 'closed districts' and hardship posts. The entire area has less than 11 km of tarmacked roads. The main economic mainstay for the communities was closed a decade ago(the Kenya meat commission). Without a market for the huge livestock economy, the residents of Northern Kenya will continue to suffer. The livestock industry, has never been incorporated into the main Kenyan economy. The pastroralists communities have been abandoned to the greed of middlemen. The enviroment is arid and their is no subistitute for these residents.

It hurts, yet the scenario gets replayed every other year. Its upon the government, to stop the economic marginalization of the region and have equity in distribution of resources. Northern communities need to be incorporated into our economy. They pay taxes too.

I also wish to commend Kenyans of all walks of life for their generosity in helping the victims of neglect.

I believe the 'famine' here is artificial, and a little shift in priorities would have saved lives

Once again i am dissapointed in our past and present leadership

MAY GOD BLESS THE DEAD AND HEAL THE STARVING