Do not be afraid of the Somalis, Kenyans told

“I boarded a matatu number 48 to Kileleshwa at Odeon Cinema stage in the city centre. The matatu had seven other non-Somali passengers. They all alighted calling me a terrorists. I felt very embarrassed and shocked”.

This is the story of Adan Mohamed, the winner Uongozi Season One, the TV reality show that sought to give a platform to young and visionary leaders. The show ran in a local TV station last year. Adan was headed to his work place in Kileleshwa yesterday, when all travellers in a Nissan matatu alighted when he boarded.

“I got shocked and embarrassed. I later took a taxi to work,” said Adan. “Were they doing that because I am Somali? I used the same matatu for years to my place of work. What has changed now?” said Adan. This comes as Kenyans are warned against reprisal attacks mainly targeting Somalis in the wake of increased terrorist attacks.

“Kenyans shouldn’t dance to the tunes of terrorists by dividing the country along ethnic and religious lines. That is what terrorists want,” he said. Adan has posted a video dubbed “Kenyans Against Kenyans” on YouTube, calling on Kenyan to exercise restraints amid terror attacks. Adan said he was carrying a bag containing a laptop.

“While it is necessary for Kenyans to be vigilant, let us not victimise community or individuals. It is dangerous and counter-productive,” he said. “Let us not condemn a whole community for the mistakes of few criminals,” he said.

He called for national dialogue to diffuse the continuing mistrust among Kenyans towards Somalis and Muslims. Salah Abdi Sheikh, a social commentator warned of ‘dangerous xenophobic’ mistrust that is likely to lead to violence in the country. “And if you want to know what enraged mob can do, ask Rwanda, CAR, Nigeria or even go further into the world and ask the Jews and the Bosnians,” he said.

the-star.co.ke