Kenya’s Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission: A Political Gimmick or a Plausible Undertaking?

For close to a century, Kenya’s North Eastern and Eastern Provinces hereafter referred to as NEP and EP remained volatile, underdeveloped, and deliberately isolated by successive Kenya administrations. For years, residents of these two vast, sparsely populated regions inhabited by Hamito-Cushitic nomads have been subjected to years of extrajudicial killings, summary and arbitrary executions, torture, rape and violence against women, plunder and livestock confiscations by Kenya’s dreaded security operatives with instructions from the central headquarters in Nairobi. Yet, these calculated and disturbing ethnic cleansings failed to grab the attention of the international community despite a few concerned media outlets publicizing repeatedly for years the callous practices of the Kenya government. Kenya-Somalis and their cousins of like-semblance have been living under the reign of terror since Kenya’s attainment of independence from Britain in 1963 and yet not a single universal sovereign entity dared come to their rescue or raised objections at these appalling and aggravating military adventures. Kenya’s inhuman and reprehensible acts against its innocent, peace loving citizens continued unabated even with the knowledge of the Organization of African Union, (currently the African Union) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -Kenya’s next door neighbor. “The brutality of the implementation of emergency powers in the North Eastern Province; and the discriminatory "screening" of ethnic Somalis” has been documented by Amnesty International. (1) The crux of past massacres in the region has colonial roots. NEP and EP were formerly Somali territories as they fell under the Northern Frontier District (NFD) during British colonial rule. The region was split into two after Kenya became independent with Moyale, Marsabit, and Isiolo becoming part of Eastern Province. Despite majority of NFD residents opting for unification with Somalia in a referendum, the colonial administration ruled in favor of Kenya. British colonial government’s refusal to grant self-determination to NFD resulted from its fear of neighboring Italian Somaliland. Italy, a colonial power with irredentist tendencies was an avowed enemy of the British realm. This political miscalculation by the British crown resulted in prolonged simmering border clashes and the birth of the destructive Shifta war. The devastating Bale Revolt of 1963 in Ethiopia culminated in the signing of a Mutual Defense Treaty between Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and Haile Selassie of Ethiopia in 1964. Regarding Somali irredentism, Lord Earl Lytton of the British monarchy of the time, had this to say about Greater Somalia: “The idea of a Greater Somalia has been put forward by four eminent people at various times. First, there was Sir Charles Elliot, one of our greatest administrators in Kenya, about 1904. Then there was Mohammed Abdilla Hassan, commonly known as "The Mad Mullah", between 1899 and 1920. He is one of the greatest of the Somali poets. Then, the idea has been put forward by the Emperor of Ethiopia on a number of occasions, always with the intention of incorporating the entire Horn of Africa within the Ethiopian Empire. Finally, there was Mr. Ernest Bevin in 1946, and what he said is on record in Hansard.” (2) Though preceded by many human rights violations spanning many decades, the worst and most brutal skirmishes perpetrated by the military and police of post-independence Kenya in the region’s history occurred during the reigns of autocrats Mzee Jomo Kenyatta (1963-1978) and Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi (1978-2002) respectively. Moi who belongs to the Kalenjin tribe and Nilotic according to categorization of African tribes by colonial Anthropologists was vice-president at the time of Kenyatta’s death. Despite opposition from influential Kikuyu leaders generally known as ‘Kiambu Mafia’ and who were of the same tribe with the deceased president, Moi ascended the presidency immediately with little internal resistance. Forty-eight years later, President Mwai Kibaki, a man who was vice-president and minister on various occasions when these atrocities occurred, endorsed the formation of a Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission to divulge into the extent of enormities of past acts of violence committed against the people of the said region. Surviving families whose loved ones perished in the calculated, remorseless security skirmishes continue to pour into avenues reserved for a commission on a fact-finding mission. At first, Kenya-Somalis became skeptical of the make-up of the commission after realizing the presence of Bethuel Kiplagat who is perceived to have blood-stained hands and implicated in the masterminding of past massacres. The commission, drawn from cadres having differing professions even includes a high profile Somali, Major General Ahmed Sheikh Farah, a retired Kenya Navy Commander. They have so far traversed the province beginning their initial assignment in Garissa, a city that has suffered the brunt of Kenya’s premeditated repression. They have been listening to and documenting testimonies from various sectors of the Somali community. NFD as a region predates Kenya’s colonial history. However, demarcation of the international boundary between colonial Kenya and Abyssinia (Ethiopia) was completed in 1903. In 1925-1926, after Jubaland was transferred to Italian Somaliland, border marking was finalized between colonial Kenya and Italy. (3) With living conditions dictated by weather patterns, pastoral nomads from NFD and elsewhere in the Horn of Africa travelled between unsecured borders in search of pasture for their livestock. Apart from the search for greener pasture, it is these unrestricted travels and peripatetic lifestyles that rejuvenated the ungovernable male Bedouins’ search for brides and bridal paraphernalia, saints and saintly practices, war implements and other valuable provisions. The region’s fight for separation from Kenya kicked-off before Kenya proclaimed independence. Freedom fighters and founders of the Northern Province People’s Progressive Party (NPPPP), the main party that represented the region’s political aspirations, hailed from a variety of tribes. Among them was Alex Kholkholle, a man who was held in high esteem by the colonial administration and the Somalis themselves. A Rendille by tribe and teacher by training, Alex, who was the Vice-President of NPPPP favored separation from Kenya and unconditional union with Somalia. The Borana (also referred to as Galla), a tribal group that populates Moyale and Marsabit towns respectively, fielded the indomitable Wako Hapi, doyen of separatism and armed struggle. While Kenya security forces restrained the Shifta uprising from spilling into its border, Ethiopia, on the other hand, had a stranglehold on natives spanning its border. To have a glimpse of Ethiopia’s past imperialist goals toward its own people, one needs to read the views of the honorable British Lord uttered in 1963 in the following lines: “Ethiopia, within to-day's political boundaries, is, in a small part, the ancient Abyssinian Kingdoms of history, and, in a much larger part, the colonies conquered by the Emperor Melinek II, who was more or less a contemporary of Gladstone. The colonies are approximately the same age as our own. They are Somali and Galla. The only difference is that whereas we label our places as "colonies", the Ethiopians have described them as one Ethiopian people, and from time to time they say they are historically part of Ethiopia. That is not true.” (4) President Mwai Kibaki selected Bethuel Kiplagat to head the commission in 2009. However, Kiplagat was forced to resign in November 2010 after Kenyan’s of all walks of life decried his past inhuman practices. In a letter to Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo, the nine commissioners of the TJ&RC, citing powers conferred on them by the Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Act, asked for the removal of Kiplagat as chairman of the commission. He was subsequently replaced by Tecla Namachanja as acting chairperson. Factors that led to Kiplagat’s expulsion from the commission include illegal or irregular acquisition of land; the assassination of the Honorable Robert Ouko, and the Wagalla Massacre." (5) Because he was ruined by the same injustices he was supposed to investigate, Kiplagat issued a short statement that read in part: "In order to allow the tribunal to carry out its mandate, I am, therefore, as of today, stepping aside from my day to day responsibilities at the TJRC." (6) Kiplagat, a born-again Christian and former deputy general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, is accused of having been party to atrocities in Isiolo, Wajir, Malka Mari, and Garissa when he was in charge of security operations. The Wagalla massacre of 1984 happened during his tenure of office. Ironically, Kiplagat was Kenya's envoy to Somalia during Somalia's turbulent years (2003-05) until he was relieved by Ambassador Mohamed Affey, a Kenyan-Somali parliamentarian. I wonder how this man's heinous crimes escaped the attention of the Somali people all those years. Those critical of Moi’s autocratic rule implicate Kiplagat in the gruesome murder of Robert Ouko, Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the foot of Got Alila Hill near his country home in Nyanza Province bordering Lake Victoria. Likewise, his critics raise questions regarding his past relations with British business magnate Tiny Rowland and his Lornho conglomerate, and also his association with Mozambican rebels, Renamo. (7) Benson Kaaria, a man with no apology for past injustices in the region he commanded was the Provincial Commissioner (PC) for North Eastern Province during the Wagalla Massacre of 1984. All those officials who had a grip on the running of the province and who have been implicated in the horrible incidents meted on the poor, unarmed civilians of North Eastern and Eastern Provinces have distanced themselves from any wrongdoing. In the past, commissions after commissions evolved with government blessings. In the end, it was the commissioners who proudly walked to the banks with bursts of laughter without any sorts of resolutions to the issues investigated. I don’t see any sense in the existence of the Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission currently in full swing. Adan Makina WardheerNews, Kansas City E-Mail: Adan.makina@gmail.com References (1) Kenya: Taking Liberties, Yale University Press, 1991, p.269. (2) Northern Frontier District of Kenya, HL Deb 03 April 1963 vol. 248 cc600-36, Retrieved June 15, 2011 from http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1963/apr/03/northern-frontier-district-of-kenya. (3) Gufu Oba, Professor, Noragric, Department of International Environment and Development Studies, The Norwegian University of Life Sciences PO Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway. Ethnic Conflicts on Ethiopia-Kenya Frontier: The Northern Frontier District of Kenya from 1903-1934, a draft Paper prepared for PRIO Seminar on NORKLIMA Project, Noragric. (4) Presentation of Earl Lytton before the British Parliament on 03 April 1963. Further readings available from http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1963/apr/03/northern-frontier-district-of-kenya, Retrieved June 15, 2011. (5) Kenya: Truth Team Wants Kiplagat Out, Retrieved June 15, 2011 from http://allafrica.com/stories/201004130975.html (6) Ex-diplomat, church official, resigns as head of Kenya truth body by Fred Nzwili, Retrieved June 15, 2011 from http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2010-11/ex-diplomat-church-official-resigns-head-kenya-truth-body. (7) Bethuel Kiplagat: Former Chairman of Kenya's Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, Retrieved June 15, 2011from http://www.africa-confidential.com/whos-who-profile/id/360/Bethuel-Kiplagat.

Kyphosis, Lordosis, and Scoliosis

Calling others hurtful names regardless of whether they are bodily inflicted injuries during warfare or fistfights by others or naturally born with or incidentally self inflicted, deserve to be discarded, because of the demeaning psychological effects they could have on the person being slandered. While the three names mentioned above usually occur naturally at birth, there are other names that are regurgitated by people who harbor negative perceptions of the person being scandalized wantonly with the negative intention of dismantling his or her human dignity. A look at the different human features will show that not all appear the same in appearance whether in color, including even twins or those of the same parents. Superiority complex and envy, pride and prejudice, self-esteem or self elevation, pomposity and preposterously sickly impecunity, if not laughable karma and other unnecessary garrulous implications are to blame for the inferiority complexions filled in the stupendous impersonator. It would be nice to give good names to the malformed people having physical complications rather than rubberstamping them with outrageously fallacious imprecations.

Fustat: Old Cairo

Fustat or الفُسطاط in Arabic was the first Muslim city of Egypt that was built by General 'Amr bin Al-'As in what is now known as Old Cairo. From 641-750 (905-1168) it served as the major capital of new Muslim Egypt. The capture of Egypt by the new expanding Muslims forces from as far as Yemen injected Arabization into the existing Coptic Egyptians. The Coptic language, though almost extinct, remains the liturgical languages of the Coptic churches of Egypt especially the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Coptic Catholic Church. In Arabic it is قِبْط. Nicknamed "City of the Tents", Fustat became the major capital for the Rashidun Caliphate from 641 to 661, the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750, Abbasid Caliphate from 750 to 969, and finally the Fatimid Caliphate from 969 to 1168. Egyptian elites moved in multitudes without compulsion to integrate into the newly emerging Muslim communities who were drawn from different regions in the Middle East. It was in الفُسطاط where Egyptian parents and their children started learning the Qur'an and the Arabic language. In 1945, King Farouk of Egypt formed the Arab League that brought together a few Arab countries. King Farouk was an Albanian with Circassian, Greek, French, and Turkish ancestry. Somalia became the first black African country in Africa to join the Arab League. In 1939, Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran married the sister of King Farouk whose name was Fawzi, even though they ended up in divorce in 1948.

MY INTERVIEWS WITH VOA

https://www.voasomali.com/a/4840952.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/4931044.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/3413094.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/5276332.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/5203092.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/4840952.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/4931044.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/3413094.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/5276332.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/5203092.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/4840952.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/4931044.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/3413094.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/5276332.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/5203092.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/4840952.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/4931044.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/3413094.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/5276332.html https://www.voasomali.com/a/5203092.html

Wareysi VOA

 https://www.voasomali.com/a/5845516.html

Camel, Cow, and Goat Milk

The Qur'an, the book that was revealed to Prophet and Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), is a divinely revealed book that is free from doubt. The contents of milk differs depending on the animal and species. In general, cow milk contains 87.7% water, 4.9% carbohydrates (lactose), 3.4% fat,  3.3% protein, and 0.3% fat that is referred to as ash. In the United States, there are two major breeds and they are Holstein and Jersey that produce more milk than other breeds. 

As for camels, milk compositions are protein 3.1%, fat 3.5%, lactose 4.4%, ash 0.79%, and total solids from 11-16%. What differentiates cow milk from that of camels is that, camel milk water content is 17% and equals human solid content that is also 17%.

Camel milk has significant "vitamin C and protective proteins such as lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, immunoglobulins and lysozyme. Camel milk lacks β-lactoglobulin and used as an option for the individuals intolerant to lactose of cow's milk."¹

For the student who does not have a reliable desktop or laptop computer and internet connection, research can still be done on Facebook, the world's leading social media, if one has a smartphone and reliable data. This is meant to deter plagiarism.

References 

https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/jfmdp/journal-of-family-medicine-and-disease-prevention-jfmdp-5-095.php?jid=jfmdp#:~:text=Camel%20milk%20is%20rich%20in,to%20lactose%20of%20cow's%20milk.

Al-Baqarah, the second chapter of the Qur'an and the longest with 286 verses states:

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًۭى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ٢

This is the Book! There is no doubt about it—a guide for those mindful ˹of Allah˺,

Since it has no doubt, it is the only living, revealed book. It has been named after the cow and the cow is in reference to an incident that happened during the time of Prophet Musa (Moses). 

On the other hand, while both cows and camels are beneficial to human beings, the camel has resilience, adaptation to climate changes and long distance travel. That's why the camel has been referred to as "the ship of the desert" by western travelers during their search for new lands. It would have been impossible to discover far distant lands like Australia in the absence of the camel.

The inland discovery of Australia was made possible by camels that were shipped from regions that pride to have the largest concentration of camels by the British.

The Cow

While it would have been impossible to survive for the global  human population beginning from the creation of Adam and Hawa (Eve) up to now without cow milk, the value of cattle is demonstrated by the abundance of its milk worldwide. 

In terms of population, it is logical to proclaim the abundance of cattle over other milk producing domestic animals. According to studies by the United States Department of Agriculture and FAO in 2021, the world cattle population stood at 1 billion, with India leading having 305.5 million (USDA) followed by Brazil with 209 million (Agrovet), and lastly China with 100.2 million (Agrovet) respectively. 

The Domestic Goat

By far, looking at the diversity of the domestic goat population (Capra aegagrus hircus), India is reputably the leading in terms of breeding and milk production. "The Goat population in the country in 2019 is 148.89 million showing an increase of 10.1% over the previous census."¹

In the African continent,  Nigeria leads in goat population with an estimated 84 million heads, followed by Ethiopia and Chad with 53 and 41 million.²

While goat milk production is not comparable to the camel and cow milk in terms of nutrition, goat milk contents reveal it is superior to that of cows and closer to human milk. A single cup of goat milk contains the following ingredients:

140 Calories, 7g total fat, 4g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 25mg cholesterol, 115mg sodium, 11g total carbs, 0g dietary fiber, 11g sugars, 8g protein, 3mcg Vitamin D,  (15% DV), 300mg calcium (25% DV), and 420mg potassium (9% DV).³

References

1.https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1813802#:~:text=The%20Goat%20population%20in%20the,12.03%25%20over%20the%20previous%20Census.

2. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1290087/goat-population-in-africa-by-country/#:~:text=That%20same%20year%2C%20Africa%20had,livestock%20farming%20in%20the%20continent.

3. //www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a32068757/goat-milk-health-benefits/

Kurdishology

Kurdishology is the study of the traditions and history of the Kurdish people who are reputedly the largest stateless community in the world. A community with a great history, they are spread over in Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq, with Turkey having the largest population. In Turkey, they have a political party and have a bigger influence in the nation's day to day affairs of running the country.

I raised Kurdishology since it plays significant roles in Islamic studies. A point to ponder is the origin of Prophet Ibrahim who is claimed by Kurdishologists to have been from the Kurdish people who are also Semitic, like Arabs and B'nai Israel. While many scholars attribute his origin to have been B'nai Israel, modern scholars are of the opinion that he was a Kurdish.

Sheikh Abdisalam, a learned Somali scholar was once asked by his friend the origin of Prophet Ibrahim and his response was Mesopotamia or Babylonia.

Sabians

 Sabaeanism

The Qur'an mentions a religion that existed in the Middle East whose followers were known as Sabi'iin. The history of these people has not been deeply elaborated. In Arabic, they are no different from the Mandaeans  known as  المندائيون while the Sabeans are referred to as الصابئة. When the two names are combined in Arabic, they are also known as Mandaean Sabians (الصابئة المندائيون al-Ṣābiʾa al-Mandāʾiyyūn).

An ethnoreligious group, they believe John the Baptist to have been the last prophet, even though, John the Baptist who was the son of Zacharia or Zakaria was sent to foretell the coming of Jesus,  while Jesus son of Mary or Maryam was sent to foretell the coming of the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, who is the last prophet.

"(He was told): "Zechariah, We bring you the good news of the birth of a son whose name shall be Yahya (John), one whose namesake We never created before." (It was said unto him): O Zachariah! Lo! We bring thee tidings of a son whose name is John; we have given the same name to none before (him)."

Maryam or Mary, Zakariah or Zakaria, John the Baptist or Yahya, and Isa or Jesus all hailed from the family of Imran. With the current population of Muslims estimated at 1.9 billion, the Sabean population stands at 70,000.

They are mentioned in the Qur'an in three chapters as mentioned below.

1. "Whether they are the ones who believe (in the Arabian Prophet), or whether they are Jews, Christians or Sabians – all who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and do righteous deeds–their reward is surely secure with their Lord; they need have no fear, nor shall they grieve (Al-Baqarah, 62).

2. Know well, none has an exclusive claim to the Truth.) For all those who believe in Allah and in the Last Day and do good deeds-be they either believers, Jews, Sabaeans or Christians-neither fear shall fall upon them, nor shall they have any reason to grieve (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:67.)

3. "Indeed, the believers, Jews, Sabians, Christians, Magi, and the polytheists—Allah will judge between them ˹all˺ on Judgment Day. Surely Allah is a Witness over all things."

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ

Indeed, God chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Imran over the worlds. The above ayah is from Surah Al Imran verse 33.

We learn from other sources that the "Mandaeans believe that Jesus was one of John's disciples but he went off the rails and distorted John's legacy." They are reportedly among the first to start baptism. They do practice wudhu or ablution like Muslims.

They are briefly mentioned in the Qur'an even though they are neither Muslims, Christians or followers of Judaism. "The Quran briefly mentions the Sabians in three places, in Sūrat al-Baqara (2:62), in Sūrat al-Māʾida (5:69), and in Sūrat al-Ḥajj (22:17)."

Described Arabian polytheism in belief, since they are not monotheistic, they are described as: "a Syrian pagan of a Hauranitic group originally of star worshipers claiming toleration from the Muslim conquerors under the pretense of belonging to the Sabian group tolerated by the Koran and including scholars and astronomers noted under the caliphate."

Prophet Ibrahim

In some religious books, you will find the following message: "revised edition" which is a noun and whose meaning is "an edition (as of a book) incorporating major revisions by the author or an editor and often supplementary matter designed to bring it up to date, compare, reissue, or reprint." When a religious book is revised by humans, that means it is not an original revelation, because, it had undergone human alterations, adulterations, changes, and many unnecessary additions meant to suit the one or those who do the editing.

On the other hand, there is a "revelation" whose meaning is "a surprising and previously unknown fact that has been disclosed to others." The only existing book that has not undergone any form of revisions or changes, is the Arabic Qur'an.

[6/9, 9:54 PM] adan makina: وَإِذِ ٱبۡتَلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ رَبُّهُۥ بِكَلِمَٰتٖ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامٗاۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِيۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهۡدِي ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

“And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled: He said: “I will make thee an Imam to the Nations.” He pleaded: “And also (Imams) from my offspring!” He answered: “But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers.”

Ibrahim was neither a follower of Judaism nor Christianity, but he was a Muslim, and, furthermore, he was the first to proclaim his dedication to Islam. In Surah Aali-Imran, verse 67, the Qur'an states:

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّۭا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّۭا وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًۭا مُّسْلِمًۭا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ٦٧

Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; he submitted in all uprightness and was not a polytheist.

[6/9, 10:04 PM] adan makina: Ibrahim was Babylonian, Mesopotamian and hailed from the Kurdish people who are the biggest global community without a state numbering 20m and scattered between Iran, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey. Majority can be found in Turkey where they have a political party and play a significant role in the day to day running of that great country.

Furthermore, Salah-u-diin Al-Ayubi who was known to the French as Le Magnefique or the Magnificent, defeated the Crusaders and was crowned "The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques."