DAR AL HARB

Kenya is a model of kindness offering hospitality to her neighbors, so crossing in and out of the boarders is easy. Children from the other side walk in during the mornings to come schooling in Kenya. They freely leave when they go back home to lunch or evening after school.  One neighboring country is unstable with war, though there is still some form of livelihood. They have variety sources of income despite everything that goes on. The conflict in the neighboring state has affected the relatives and families on the other side too. The community has been divided such that clans never see eye to eye in politics to other social avenues. If you stand outside the customs office looking at the no-man’s land into Somalia you will notice a black flag dancing. The Al-qaeda terrorist affiliate group Al-shabaab has set up base at the fence on guard. They do not scare the residents, in fact they do not fight neither ask of those going out or coming in. In fact they make sure that things run smoothly. Their worst enemy is the African Union AISOM which is made up of soldiers from A.U Communities teaming with Somali fighters; who mostly come fro Ethiopia through Kenya.       

The fact that a group or individual wants to control an area and its resources, clashes have turned into war while these ‘soldiers’ or ‘heroes’ have become terrorists. These terrorists have a goal to spread fear and disintegrate the society. Let’s face it they are human beings like you who have let anger, greed and selfishness consume them. They were not born with dark hearts neither do evil spirits manifest in them, No; they have chosen to shake the earth. The same air, food, toilet or transport system you use so do they.  Kenya has border patrol officers working round to man the gates, don’t confuse the boarder to the U.S.A. one that is seen in the movies. There is no 11 feet electric fence, no surveillance cameras, no frisking gadgets and no dogs.  All you have to do is show your identification if you are not a regular, or give out some ‘fee’ if you look suspicious.

Just like many African communities, beliefs and culture influence norms to the society. There are elders appointed to make sure that virtues are practiced and discipline is enforced. Many people from that side wish to leave the strict quietness behind and trade it for better luxuries or illusions for the city life.  Some intelligent individuals have become brokers to make dreams of these upcountry wannabes come true. There are Government offices responsible to give national identification cards or birth certificates. Some of those who were not born in Kenya can get these identification cards or birth certificates by paying for them. To acquire a valid travelling passport everybody travels to Nairobi, done by bus. You all know the neighboring E.A.C countries think of Kenya as a free state which is close to the American dream; Mandera is a great link. Everyone wants the best education, nice living quarters, good security and medical attention. We also know that Government officials are the cause of corruption. It starts with aiding illegal immigrants get services which some are supposed to be free, but at a higher price. Most of them will pay a substantial fee for the officers to look the other way for waiver of their professional codes, be it in medicine, education, security or law. In return other items become expensive since a chain has been formed.

Tickets are acquired from the buses’ booking offices, where you give out your identification card and your name is recorded in the ticketing book. Before leaving Mandera the vehicles are inspected by police officers: First, everyone alights down with their identification documents. Second, the police with dogs go inside and do their thing. Third, the travellers will go back in the bus showing their identification where their photo is compared to their images. If all is well, the bus is left to go. But if you have been through this you will agree that those found with irregularities, they bribe the officers to let them go. It is a long journey to Nairobi and after about eight hours, the bus stops in Wajir. After a short rest, the next stop is Garissa, where before the bus leaves, the bus and travellers are inspected; sadly the routine is the same. And the bus gets to make stops in different police barriers which do not take a lot of time in inspection but they accept the generous donations from the driver or conductors. The story tells how expensive it is to get to Nairobi. People hustle and save a lot for the journey. Money is paid to the brokers and security officers. It is quite true that funds are poured into terrorists activities. These police officers and administrators help themselves into getting richer quickly when they accept bribes but the larger multitude pays dearly from the outcome. If a great electric fence was built or many dogs made to work it will not solve anything: it is all up to the relevant counter terrorism officers and administrators to work diligently. Those authorities secretly keeping more than two bank accounts or accounts from different banks with accumulations of hundreds of thousands even millions should be fired. Salary accounts showing a credit balance of negative overdrafts or loans just to cover their tracks because huge amounts of dirty money are concealed elsewhere. Every individual regardless of their position in the society should make an effort to stop those savages from terrorizing Kenyans. The members of the country need a total attitude adjustment. Greed, selfishness and corruption are holding the world hostage worse than the terrorists. Anti-terrorism has efforts have been heightened, or it could be for a short while then it goes back to ‘normal business as usual’. It should be confirmed that those illegal nationals being chased from Nairobi and Mombasa are really sent out of Kenya for them never to return. What about the other areas in Kenya where they have set camp, like in Rongai? Dar Al-Harb, this may be Kenya, a hub for catastrophes.