Drop unfair Somalia labels, warns team
The Ministry of Justice has decried the blanket condemnation of some Kenyans as sympathisers of Al-Shabaab militia.
National Cohesion department secretary in the ministry Michael Ndungu said sections of the society had unfairly condemned their fellow countrymen from the Somali community as well as Muslims as either sympathisers or members of the militia group.
He promised that such racial and religious discrimination will end following the completion of the National Cohesion and Integration Policy expected to be in place early next year.
He said by the fact that people are either Muslims or Somalis, it does not mean that they belong to Al-Shabaab. “Anybody can be Al-Shabaab, we have people like Ndung’u, Mwangi, Wanyonyi and Bwire.
“Some sections of Kenyans feel that a certain religion is being subjected to uncomfortable situations, they think that it is Somalis involved in these activities, which is not the case,” he said in Nyeri during a public forum on the policy.
He implored on the government to ensure that the operation in Eastleigh, Nairobi, does not target people from a specific ethnic group.
“People who are closing their businesses in Eastleigh for fear of being attacked on suspicion they could be members of the group should not do so because up to now there is no one who has been threatened.
The government is interested in Al-Shabaab adherents and not Somalis or anyone doing genuine business,” he said.
Issues threatening peace
The policy which will be ready in January will address issues threatening peace and stability in the country.
During the deliberations, residents of Nyeri County demanded that the government addresses the neglect of the boy-child. Various National Cohesion groups are moving across the country in the second phase of the policy framework.
Views have been received from counties in Lower Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western. The last forum will be held in Nairobi late this month after which the ministry will capture issues which may not be captured in the forums.
