KENYA TROOPS WOUNDED IN LAND MINE BETWEEN MANDERA AND WAJIR

Kenyan official: 9 troops wounded by land mine

The Associated Press

Published: Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 - 5:04 am

GARISSA, Kenya -- A local official says nine Kenyan troops were wounded when their convoy hit a land mine while they traveled between two towns in Kenya's north, near the border with Somalia. District commissioner Kennedy Nyaiyo says it was not yet clear who was responsible for Sunday's explosion as the group moved between Wajir and the border town of Mandera. The incident is the latest in a string of attacks against the military and other targets in Kenya since the government sent troops into Somalia in October.

The Kenyan government said the incursion was a response to kidnappings and other attacks in Kenyan territory that it blamed on the Somali militant group al-Shabab. Al-Shabab has been waging a war against the weak U.N-backed Somali government for years.

In Another incident, An Administration Police officer was killed in Mandera on Sunday afternoon.

The first incident which occurred about one kilometre from Mandera town involved an attack on Administration Police officers while the second in Wajir involved military officers. “The AP’s were patrolling in Bula Hawa when they were attacked, one died while his colleague is wounded,” a senior police officer said. “They were patrolling on foot and he died on the spot.” Police believe the explosion was caused by an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED). His colleague who was wounded was rushed to the Mandera district hospital where he was being treated for burns and other related injuries.
 

In the Wajir-Mandera incident, Separately, nine military officers sustained injuries in a suspected landmine attack that occurred in Wajir town. Police said: “The soldiers were travelling in a convoy of three vehicles when they were attacked.” They were headed to Mandera.

“A military vehicle (Hamvee) drove over an IED-Improvised Explosive Device in Wajir. The vehicle was heading to El Wak. A mobile phone suspected to have been used to detonate the explosive was recovered from the scene,” Emmanuel Chirchir, military spokesman said adding that: “Two soldiers suffered minor injuries, the vehicle was damaged.”

Police reports however, indicated that ten soldiers had suffered injured.

Kenyan security personnel patrolling the Somalia border have been hit with a series of explosion attacks since Kenya sent its troops to fight Al Shabaab inside Somalia, often killing or injuring officers. Security forces at the border points are grappling with threats posed by the insurgents who have been laying landmines mainly targeting police and soldiers patrolling the Somalia border.

Kenyan officials have blamed the hard-line Al Shabaab or their sympathisers for spate of recent shootings and bombings, although armed bandits also operate in the border areas.

POSSIBLE CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN MANDERA KENYA

An outbreak of dengue fever and a likely Cholera Outbreak continues to be experienced in the northeastern Kenyan town of Mandera, close to the Somalia and Ethiopia borders, Where atleast 100,000 people are at risk, according to the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation.

According to the authorities, "The Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness, and sometimes a potentially lethal complication called dengue hemorrhagic fever.” and are urging Mandera residents to use mosquitoes nets and maintain hygiene so that they do to contract the disease.

In addition, the rains experienced now around Mandera and larger North Eastern Province leads to the risk of contamination of water sources and can lead to an increase in water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever, acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), cholera, and hepatitis A. Outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, particularly those spread by mosquitos, such as malaria, dengue and Rift Valley Fever are likely during the rainy season, and increases in cases of pneumonia and respiratory tract infections are common. More than 1,200 cases of dengue have been confirmed in Kenya’s Mandera District since Sept. 23. Flooding in Turkana and Pokot, areas in northwest Kenya, has caused a spread of malaria in the Upper Rift Valley, with outbreaks in Turkana, Kakuma, and surrounding districts. 

“Households remain extremely vulnerable to additional shocks as the severe drought has depleted herders’ assets and reduced crop production.” Oxfam Says

 





A local NGO, Northern Kenya Caucus in collaboration with an International NGO, HORN RESPONSE will carry out a one week Hygiene and Cholera Preparedness in many of Mandera's Locations.  The “Dengue Fever attack rate is very high but mortality is very low”, the ministry said in a statement.

A permanent river, Dawa, passes through Mandera. Health officials said residents had been complaining of mosquito bites during the day with the bites swelling.

“Using bed nets was impractical as the vector was biting during the day,” the ministry said. “The Public Health office has also noted the resistance developed by the vector to insecticides of different varieties (Icon and Deltamethrin mainly).” Health authorities have alerted all neighbouring districts and public awareness campaigns are ongoing, advising residents to seek early medical attention.

ARABIA SECONDARY SCHOOL.......We need more of this...

Schools like the above need a lot of support from the Government and Well wishers. We need to improve on the situation of our qualities of life by going overboard to support our basic social lives.

Schools like the above is for everyone and needs no political intrusion. Poor students can get some education through the CDF Mandera East Bursaries. We haven't seen any of that being disbursed.

IS OUR MHESHIMIWA LEANING TOWARDS "RUTO" LED ODM GROUP

But for how long. Those "Ruto" Group are just clouds passing with no meaningful political map to 2012.

Readers what is your say to our mheshimiwa..........Hon. Mohamed Hussein alias Qaras(Mtaani)....


Watch the Video here.............

MURULE GRAZING FIELDS.........Do you know some of them...?

Alungu rasa ,alungu gofa, tugerka farah gesei,qabrika abajana, mansa,lafey,komaraa liban, fino,kamorka bahawa,qoqayaha adan jirow,alibillow,arabia,dulyalka,welgarbi,hafura, hatful,hegallow,gabrow,hirmadi yarrow garweina, dashegi hussein hared, gariful, busbuska, bimaha berawayon,qalimaley,omarjiliow, burti lethi, sato-oroo, sogley,safo, soqo hills,hheir, qarfafa qoje, qanratula,fangamad, bambiga kalaroga,bambiga buunka, hadful, harai,haji ali,gari hills barhilla hills, bambo hills ,salaha gabano diqa,qabrija malaq, waranqara,






Damasa, kabo, wantey, dakadima, halimaboran, jarbalay, Qorijar, Bula maalim, Qalimaley, Buriga dulela, Dhuloyinka gubat, gathan, garweine, duhunta, arosyaha, dabesha, raraha, muhumed adow and haskusha, Gamor hussein durey,burta saqaf,bibta, daba naaget, duntow, dawaduba,gabri kheyra ali, Alijardesa, milaxa, gobagalla, Burja dur, beeraha dawaduba ,dashegaahmed nur, halima, garmaja, alijardesa, gelow, gobagala, hinwein, qaranrow, oda, hareri, fiqfiqyaha, ibrahim aflow, kalalut, Hegaaloow!, qabrigi allow, kamorki ali gurey, kamor dirdir,beraha gabrow, Mathax-maroothi, amatala,eireygon,qabrigi wathadaha, garabcada,furfursa,berfalay,takada qotharta,dusey,jehin,washaqan,burka, qeir, guthanla, rayo, muthufurta, korcas,halima shila, durweilow,harakara, nawanawa,ibrahim shilow,jabi bar,wili,athila,jida alanka,tuwer,danas,amin gurey,isak mathahey,dulatha rara,jir qamithi, garabka khalif qasim,yucubgeltur,jirda dabakarix,kobandaqa,dabanaged,kalajex,guthanla,mato, alas, qabriga sheikh barrow,ali jardesa,quraca yaqub,qabriga wathadaha,libiga abdow gabow,hirmatha gorod,libigi ibrahim rahweyna,dawaduba, Beer cawiyoon

LAFEY CONSTITUENCY NAMED IN IIBRC FINAL DRAFT

North Eastern Province is set to get seven new Constituencies added to the current 11.

 

Dujis, Lagdera, Wajir East and Mandera West will be split. The expansive Mandera Central will be split into three therefore making the mandera county get new 4 constituencies slots,can see the manipulation of abdikadir lawyer is working very well indeed,so meaning rhamu will be a constituency or are they counting Lafey constituency in the so called expansive mandera central?.total media hallucination.can see light in the tunnel lets keep focused and pray hard that justice will endure perspectively.

 

Lets get info from source close to Hon Mohamed Hussein Qaras n shed more light of watz goin on. we need lafey constituency,we deserve it .

 

Read more here

 

 

MANDERA COUNTY MUST TACKLE ALL THESE..............NI SISI TUMESEMA

HAMARA AND OTHER IIEC COMMISIONERS DONE A GOOD JOB

CDF 2009/2010 IN DETAILS

CDF 2008/2009 IN DETAILS

IIEC COMMISIONERS INCLUDING OUR OWN PERFORMED A VERY GOOD JOB

DETAILS OF "PART OF" OUR HISTORY CAN BE FOUND AT KENYA NATIONAL ARCHIVES

For those who happen to know nothing about the history of our people, There is this link and several other that are intentionally for the purpose of giving the history of the comunity  where a few old Wazees are mentioned.

Ukisikia about ADAN HIRSI, DALAHOW NOOR, ABDINOOR GESSEY, HAJI YARROW, ADAN DIISOW, HUSSEIN HARED, CHIEF AFTIN, SHARUB, ADAN ALOW, ALI ROBOW, SHEIKH BANDAS, MZEE OLAD, THE LATE ABAJANO , SHEIKH BARROW,  ALI SHURIE, NOOR AFFEY, Then don't get suprised. These are/were prominent people in our community not mentioning the whole group in Beledweeyne, Bulo Bardi, Jalalaqsi and other Hiiraan regions.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=298762300061&ref=mf

Above all these, were part of the history that is mentioned in the chapters of the Kenya Colonial administration, In the Kenya National Archives, where Mandera Town is mentioned as the centre of the Murulle land. This can clearly be found on Hansard reports, Hand over reports of various Colonial District Commisioners who were governing kenya and specially the NFD (Northern Frontier Districts).

While we tried our best to put Murule clan projections in history and in the context of modern 21st Century world, Now a facebook grouping has already been set where Murulles can also exchange ideas and have their opinion in a group form. We can send a cause and even address some of our own issues. Some people want to take advantage and infilitrate and even cause some "hatred" pretending to speak for some sections of Murulle, we should avoid that and concentrate what is good for our people.

WHY THE GARRES KEEP FIGHTING THE MURULLES ALL THE TIMES......

Mandera Peace Committe report from Dekha Ibrahim Abdi, an inspirational peace maker in NEP Kenya compiles outstanding reports used by World Peace direct to help in colficts and make peace. In her reports, you will find background to the conflicts and Dekha's work.

Even as renewed clan fighting in Mandera District between the Gharri and the Murulle clans intestified and left more than 20 people dead, calls for calm, peace have been advanced by all concerned and the government has been put on alert to put the matter to close once and for all. Scenes like the ambush that killed a 75-year-old man yesterday at Koromey village, a small hill about five kilometres from Mandera town, together with an army officer travelling in a convoy heading to Mandera from Arabia Division must come to an end once and for all.

But ask yourselves, what is the point of contention in the Mandera Clashes? Why is Mandera lagging behind in development, clans fighting each other, even after NEPIANS decided to end hostilities among various somali clans living in the provinces.


Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohammed had to sum up it all and called on the Government to move fast and contain the clashes before it becomes like that of Mt.Elgon and people arming themselves for self defence.

"Local leaders are in agreement that time to end the persistent clashes is now," said Mohammed, who spoke to The Standard at Parliament Buildings, on Wednesday.

Mandera district is prone to conflicts between the Somali clans who dominate the area. Clan clashes between the Garre and Murule Somali clans in Mandera district has so far claimed at least 150 lives since they first erupted (in this millennium) on December 2004. Ever since these two communities live in Mandera, back from the 1900's to the start of this millennium, clashes have been reported occurring once in a while. Of late, A number of issues have been advanced to explain the cause and genesis of this clan conflict.


In 1988, Mandera Central constituency was carved out from the then larger Mandera East where Murule dominate following devastating clan clashes between Murule and Garre clans in early 1980’s. This creation of a new constituency was envisaged at cooling growing tensions between the two clans over political representation just like the creation of Wajir North for the Ajuuraan clan who were always fighting the Degodia clan.With Mandera Central constituency formed and carved from Mandera East, the issue of political representation was solved but another problem was born. There emerged growing hatred and suspicion between the two clans. Differences began to widen to an extent that the clan leadership and chiefs from both clans started to openly mobilise their clan members for the domination of the other. And to worsen the already fragile situation, the KANU administration (especially between 1982-2002) created many administrative units (sublocations, locations and divisions) in hitherto community-grazing areas in the district, mainly for political mileage. The disputed Alango location (both clans claiming ownership of the two locations, one in Mandera East and the other in Mandera Central constituencies) is a good example of conflict arising from creation and or competition over administrative units. Chiefs and their assistants in the location and other neighbouring locations have been clamouring that their boundaries have been interfered with.

The Murule and Garre clans are accusing each other of harbouring and supporting foreign militia in their locations. Watering livestock at Alango Dam has often resulted to confrontations and armed violence with unpleasant repercussions. Although the creation of additional administrative units was meant to make ‘services closer to the people’, it is important to point out that that has not been the case in Mandera and adjacent districts.

These additional locations and sub locations have mainly contributed to the escalation of conflicts in the entire North Eastern province, because clans which felt they have an upper hand in the politics were "out manoeuvered" by others. On the other hand, the power struggle between different factions in Somalia has spilled over to the Kenyan side. Each of the clan has been trying to forge military alliance with their counterparts in Somalia.

The Garre clan in Mandera district has forged an alliance with their Garre kinsmen in Ethiopia and Somalia. They have armed themselves and are calling the whole region between Wajir, Moyale, Mandera as far as some parts of Ethiopia as the "Gharri Districts"..... This has several times caused the Gharri to fight some other clans like the Ajuuraan in Bute/Guraar, The Boranas in Moyale and the Marehaan in Elwak. The Garre alliance is also backed by Ororsame section of the Marehaan, a section that has been in loggerheads with the Eldera clan that supports the Murulle. It is also rumored that these alliances are always forged ahead of the general elections as each group intends to mobilize enough voters to sustain their political representation and or supremacy.

The Murule have also allegedly forged an alliance with the Eldera section of the larger Marehaan clan of Somalia, which are a power house in the Gedo region of Somalia. They are said to be armed for more confrontation as this "small wars" have become persistent to them. Competition over access to pasture and water resources in the district has been the traditional cause and trigger of conflict between the two clans.


The Garre community wants Murulle herders to be confined to their traditionally designated grazing areas. Murulle community who happen to own substantial number of livestock including camels but have a smaller grazing area are of the opinion that the former’s position is meant to confine them to a very small grazing area, which cannot sustain their huge camel herds and deny them access to pasture on the western flank of the district, which is mainly inhabited by the Garre.

The PC on the Kenyatta day celebration expressed a desire to finish this matter as urgent as possible. He said, the issues involved can only be sorted by the people of the region. So far, Security and military personnel have been deployed in Mandera and everything must be done to contain the situation.

If the Mandera situation has to be contained, the following scenario similar to the Gharri Ajuuraan clashes In Wajir North must also be taken into account and verified:


The Ajuran who reside in Wajir North had claimed:


That the Gharri decided for the creation of their own "private militias" to attack other peaceful clans including Ajuuraan, Boranas, Murulles and Marehaan while pretending they are for defensive purposes. This they claim, has been necessitated by the failure of the government to provide security. The Ajuuraan claimed Gharris have resorted to highway robberies along Wajir- Moyale roads.


Everywhere they reside, The Gharri people always complain of being subjected to extreme exploitation, violence and famine as in the case of Wajir North with the Ajuuraan. Gharris came to the Bute in 1979 after being declared vagrant from Moyale District and still claim exploited. This is not a case in Mandera District.

The Gharri always complain that the law of the land is against them and favours other clans.

The Gharri people have also been accused of having connections to various "other" militias and expansionists ideals to other clan terriotories. Ajurraan claimed Gharris wanted to take Bute and Gurar, which has fertile Agricultural land. This is the same case as t he Alango of Mandera East.

The Gharris are also accused of collaborating with the Ethiopian government in arms importation so as to use against the Oromo/Borana insurgency in Southern Ethiopia. This has become a legitimate accusation for wide spread exploitation and putting them at loggerheads with government of Kenya. The garres has earlier claimed the Ajuran has alliances with OLF, which had caused fear and despondency among the Gharri’s who support the Ethiopians.

The Garres feel superior to other clans in socio-economic factors in areas they consider their own or where they are allowed to stay. They claimed they were denied the right to acquire identity cards in Bute sub-district, the centre of the Ajuuran. They will never accept you to do that in Takaba or Banisa.

Even after several meetings between the Gharri and the Ajuuran in around 2001, partly funded by the Oxfam/Arid land, although the ajuran and gharri elders declared immediate cease-fire which agreed on the following:

It was found that:

The two communities (Gharri and Ajuuran) can share pasture and water in Bute and Gurar, same as allowing the Gharris to have pastures in Alango and vice versa.

The Gharris should stop their attacks from Ethiopia.


The Ajurans to open up Mandera –Moyale road for the Gharris and that they should co-exist, discuss resettlement of the people.




If peace is being sought, The government must contain the situation. If it's about border, Then even checking records from the Kenya National archives can help trace border points of the two communities way back in 1920's. Any other issue is irrelevant.

KENYA POLICE IMPOSES CURFEW ON MANDERA

A dawn-to-dusk curfew was imposed in Mandera on Thursday night after fresh inter-clan fighting claimed the lives of two more people.Four other people had been killed earlier when violence flared up between the rival Murulle and Garre communities following prolonged ethnic differences.

It's being reported that the situation has been controlled as at now but tensions remain. The Government instituted several measures to put the two communities into an agreement, which some are refusing to follow.

Area councillor Mohammed Ali (A Garre) of Mandera town ward told Capital News the renewed fighting began at about 10am on Friday and was still going on in the early afternoon at Komor area, about six kilometres from the border town. “Tension is very high at the moment, police have intervened and shot in the air but it appears they have been overwhelmed,” he said on telephone from Mandera town.

A senior Administration Police officer in the region said the curfew was imposed in the area at 6 pm Thursday until 6 am on Friday morning.“We arrived at the decision (to impose a curfew) because of the tension in town on Thursday evening. Everyone is now required to remain indoors at night,” he said.





Residents interviewed by Capital News in the region on Thursday said the two communities were fighting over the control of the border town which is largely inhabited by members of the Murulle community.

“The Murulle have been evicting members of the Garre community(who are encroching to their land) and this is a problem that has persisted for quite a long time. It keeps on coming up but this time it is more serious,” Abdi Dado(himself a Garre) of Komor Ward said.

The fighting started only hours after area MP Abdikadir Hussein of Mandera Central toured the region to call for peace and tolerance from his constituents.He accused the police of failing to put in place proper mechanisms to guarantee his people security, saying no effort had been displayed in finding a lasting solution to the chaos. The Government needs to tackle these issues once and for good.

Trouble started on Tuesday when over 100 families were displaced from their homes by raging floods due to torrential rains in the neighbouring Somalia.Those displaced have been putting up at the town and Komor area which was invaded by Garre youths who ordered them out, claiming they had invaded their land. Another senior police officer said, more than 20 suspects had been arrested after they were found torching houses in the town, many of who are Garres.

Kenya Red Cross officials who begun distributing humanitarian aid to the affected families announced Friday that the exercise had been suspended due to the increased insecurity in the region.“The exercise will only resume once peace prevails. Our officers are monitoring the situation in the region,” Kenya Red Cross Public Relations Officer Titus Mung’ou said.

Garre community have long been associated with causing troubles to their immediate neigbours as happened in their previous clashes with Ajuuran(Wajir North) and Boranas in Moyale area.

MILITIA ASSAULTS IN MANDERA KENYA

Heavily-armed Somali raiders have attacked a border camp in Kenya, killing 17 people and injuring more than 20 others, news reports say. The raiders, suspected to have entered Kenya from Somalia, fled with four G3 rifles and around 250 rounds of ammunition after hitting the camp near the border town of Wargadud in the northeastern districts of Mandera on Sunday.


Houses were also burnt during the incident, witnesses told Press TV correspondent in Somalia on Monday. The attackers are said to be hired by leaders of the Mareehan clan -- the largest in the region -- that has been involved in a land and water dispute with another clan. Following the raid, the Kenyan government dispatched security personnel to the area. The Kenya-Somalia border has been insecure after the 1991 toppling of dictator Mohammed Siad Barre, which plunged Somalia into lawlessness setting off civil war and unrest that has defied numerous attempts to restore peace.


The Kenyan Government has sent military personnel there.

SOMALI MILITIA STRIKES KENYAN GOVERNMENT

Suspected Somali raiders attacked a Kenyan border camp killing five people, a Kenyan police official said today.

The heavily armed raiders struck the camp near the border town of Mandera on Sunday, killing three civilians and two police officers. They stole four rifles and around 250 rounds of ammunition, said area police commander Christopher Okello.

"They killed five people, injured seven others and torched houses," Okello said. "We suspect they were raiders from neighbouring Somalia. We are pursuing them but so far, no recovery has been made."

The Kenya-Somalia border has been insecure since the Somali government collapsed in 1991, setting off civil war and unrest that has defied numerous attempts to restore peace. In the Sundays' incident, Two Administration Police officers and three other people were killed when The heavily armed militiamen (bandits) raided their camp in Mandera District. The raiders, said to be from Somalia's Elwak, also seriously injured another civilian during the 5am incident on Sunday. In the ensuing melee they stole four G3 rifles and 200 bullets belonging to Administration Policemen attached to the centre.

Mandera police boss Christopher Akello Odhiambo confirmed the deaths and loss of the firearms, saying the APs manning the centre were overwhelmed and appealed to area residents to volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of the bandits. Mr Akello said the security officers were caught unawares as the raiders surrounded them and fired indiscriminately. The two other officers whose guns the raiders made away with escaped on foot and ran for 30 km to Lafey along the Kenya-Somali border.

The porous border is insecure and residents have from time to time appealed the Government to deploy Military to secure the borders. Police posts are scarecely manned with few AP's, say 4-5 manning a whole location. The raiders also unsuccessfully tried to bomb a well that has been at the centre of controversy between the Gare and the Murule clans.

Their aim as North Eastern PC Josephat Maingi and PPO Stephen Chelimo claim was to create anxiety between the two clans. The PC and PPO together with ODM Mandera East MP Mohamed Hussein(Qaras) plus Safina's MP for Mandera Central Abdikadir flew to the area yesterday morning to help quell the tension.

The raiders, suspected to have entered Kenya from Somalia, fled with four G3 rifles and more than 200 rounds of ammunition when they hit the camp in Alungu location. Other Reports indicated the bandits were hired by leaders of a clan that has been involved in a dispute with another, over the Mandera Central District boundary. Houses were also burnt during the incident.

Mandera Central was curved from Mandera East in 1988 during the KANU era. Witnesses said the raiders were more than 50. Following the raid, the Government dispatched Military security personnel in the area. Mandera police boss Akello Odhiambo appealed to area residents to volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of the bandits.

MANDERA EAST MP, HON MOHAMED HUSSEIN ALIAS "QARAS"

PROFILE

Primary Education: Arabia Primary School: Mandera DEB.

Secondary Education: Wajir Boys High School -Wajir

University Education: Kenyatta University 1995 BA (Math's)

Last Job : General Manager, Hass Petroleum (K) Sharjah-UAE. He worked as an Assistant systems analysts for Kenya Railways.


Main challenges: poverty and unemployment and fighting drought and insecurity, which are perpetual obstacles in the constituency. E.g. his constituents are at loggerheads with Madera Central counterparts over pasture and water.

On being MP, Hon Mohamed says:

He says CDF can do wonders if managed properly, but lack of professional managers has been an impediment. He will bring fresh ideas and private sector skills to manage the fund. His priorities are communication, education, and health.


He will lobby government to improve roads and communication infrastructure. Education standard have been falling in constituency where ratio of boys to girls in school is 4:1 – and he will use constituency bursary funds and donor support to build schools, employ competent teachers and improve the teacher/student ratio.

The Mandera East MP Mohammed Hussein Qaras, elected on the platform of offering irrigation farming, believes relief food dependency should be a thing of the past. "We are not against relief food distribution, but it should be done under very severe circumstances," he says.


"Pastoralism is no longer sustainable due to weather vagaries. We will dig more boreholes and harvest rains in huge reservoirs and the water would be used for irrigation."

He says, His community needs to be educated on the need to keep a manageable number of livestock to check the mass deaths of animals during drought and desertification. The era of keeping hundreds of livestock for prestige is long gone, Qaras says.

AHMED SHEIKH TAKOY INTERVIEW ABOUT "TALIBAN"

FROM THE LAND OF TALIBAN WITH RARE EXPERIENCE

Mr Ahmed Sheikh Takoy, many of you already know him as "Takoy", the name of his father, surprised many when he accepted a job posting to Afghanistan at a time when the country was best known for insecurity.

Mr Takoy, 34, first worked with the Kenya Commercial Bank from 1994, before joining Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), French for doctors without borders as finance administrator.
In 2001, Mr Takoy worked briefly in Somalia and Sudan before being moved to Afghanistan as country administrator and finance manager.

As a result, Mr Takoy became the first African to work in such expatriate capacity with Médecins Sans Frontières.

AFGHANISTAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN

"Afghanistan was the biggest MSF mission in the world at the time and enabled me to cater for poor women and children, who I had great feeling for," Mr Takoy said.

Mr Takoy switched to UNDP in 2003, but remained in Afghanistan where he was in charge of the South East region dominated by the Talibans.

"This was immediately after the war between Talibans and Americans, which saw Talibans kicked out of power. There was a lot of hostility and risks," he said.

In an interview in Nairobi, Mr Takoy said being Black made him be handled with a lot of suspicion by Talibans since they believed most Blacks worked for America.

"They thought I was an African American," Mr Takoy, whose work involved provision of humanitarian assistance, said.

Many Afghans had also never seen a Black person and ran after him wherever he went.
One time Mr Takoy went to a packed zoo in Kabul to see wildlife only for people there to stop watching the animals and flock to him.

"They wanted to know how I communicated as children accompanying them touched my skin. I understood them because they had never seen a Black person. Curiosity is part of our life. I would probably have done the same if I saw a white person for the first time," Mr Takoy said.

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

Mr Takoy said it was his Muslim religion that made the locals start accepting him as he mingled with them freely at mosque and during other religious activities.

Rough terrain, harsh weather and cut links with his family, apart from telephone conversations, for months, Mr Takoy said, were some of the challenges he experienced in Afghanistan.
With a population of about 30 million, Afghanistan is hilly and has one of the highest points in the world, making it difficult even for flight operations there.

"The whole country is dotted with mountains, the size of Mt Kenya. There are few roads and we usually took two days to cover a distance which in Kenya could take three hours," Mr Takoy said.
Motorists, he said, drive at less than 10km per hour and most people prefer riding on donkeys. At one time, Mr Takoy said, he transported $60,000 (about Sh4,200,000) on a donkey.
Driving is usually worse during winter, which lasts about six months due to formation of huge fog that covers the whole surface.

Temperatures rise to as high as 40 degrees centigrade during summer and drop to -24 degrees centigrade in winter. There were no air condition machines in Afghanistan when Mr Takoy served in the country.

Afghanistan is, however, beautiful, Mr Takoy said.

At Bandamir, for instance, seven lakes flow into each other and that water is pure blue and transparent.

Another tourist attraction is Dead Town, which was destroyed by Alexander the Great many years ago. The town lay in a small hill and is now completely deserted.

STILL IN CAVES

There is also a mosque, which was selected by Prophet Mohammed's son-in-law (for his use) and one cannot stand straight inside it as distance from top to ground has been decreasing.
Many Afghans, Mr Takoy said, still live in caves.

Mr Takoy, who comes from Mandera East, says that although the word Taliban sends shivers when mentioned in Kenya, he found the community friendly and hospitable. "Greeting is a must when they meet you. They also inquire about your health. They, however, have no urgency of time," Mr Takoy said.

Mr Takoy, was eyeing the Mandera East parliamentary seat which he contested in Last years 2007 elections, had attended Elwak and Rhamu primary schools, before proceeding to Huruma Secondary School in Nairobi.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the United States International University (USIU) in Nairobi.

Mr Takoy is married to Qureisha Maalim Ali and they have six children.

"I believe I have the capability to find practical solutions to redress the problems of Mandera East ," he says.

We believe we should give people like Takoy the mantle to run the affairs of MANDERA EAST CONSTITUENCY

NORTHERN KENYA FACING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

MANDERA-NORTHERN KENYA

Serious shortages of water and pasture for livestock are being experienced in the northern Kenyan districts of Isiolo, Mandera and Wajir as dry conditions continue, local leaders said.

"The situation is very bad in Mandera; people are moving across the border to Ethiopia," Mandera East member of parliament Mohamed Hussein Ali told IRIN.

"Residents from the district have yet to recover from a severe drought two years ago; [now] we fear the few animals that were salvaged will be wiped out," he added.

The rainy season had been expected to start in mid-March, the MP said, but because the rains failed, water pans, boreholes and wells had dried up.

"The country is focused on people who have been displaced by post-election conflicts," Ali said.

"We have been forgotten."

Read more here



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CDF MEMBERS FOR MANDERA EAST CONSTITUENCY YEAR 2007-2012

The Above list shows the CDF members list for Mandera East constituency for the next 5 years term.We hope that we are going to go as per allocations so that our people can feel the effects of the CDF and Government resources.

MANDERA CHOLERA CRISIS

The Public Health department in Mandera District has closed all eateries in Mandera Town following a cholera outbreak.

Subsequently, the workers in the establishments have been rendered jobless. The workers have asked authorities to resolve the health crisis so that they can resume their jobs. The workers’ spokesman Ibrahim Abdikarim, said yesterday that their families were facing starvation as they did not have other means of generating income. But the District Public Health Officer Abukar Abdi said the businesses would remain closed until the outbreak was controlled.

Six people have died and 125 others are admitted in the Mandera District Hospital following the disease outbreak.

CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN MANDERA

CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN MANDERA

Nine deaths were recorded in Mandera district as a cholera outbreak hit the area, and prompted health officials to sound a firm warning for residents to observe good sanitation.The outbreak that started two weeks ago also saw more than 35 people admitted to various health institutions with severe stomach pains.

Mandera District's Medical Health Officer Dr. Muktar Omar confirmed the deaths and called on residents to maintain hygiene so that they do to contract the disease.

Read more,

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Local/Cholera-outbreak-kills-nine.html

ELECTORAL WARDS IN MANDERA EAST CONSTITUENCY

These are areas where voting takes place in Mandera.Statistics were for the 2002 election results.We will post the 2007 election results as soon as we get them.

OUR NEW MP FOR MANDERA EAST: MOHAMED HUSSEIN (ODM)

KENYA ELECTIONS: MANDERA EAST CONSTITUENCY
DECEMBER 2007

WINNER: MHESHIMIWA MOHAMED HUSSEIN ALI (Qaras) ODM.

KENYA ELECTIONS: DECEMBER 2007

Results announced by the Electoral commision of Kenya shows that Our People of Mandera East have this year elected fairly Mr. Mohamed Hussein Ali (Qaras) of Orange Democratic Movement party as their New MP for the 10th parliament against his rival, the Assistant Minister for Local Government, Shaaban Ali Issack.

We wish Mr. Mohamed and all the people of Mandera East a succesful term to serve the people of Mandera East diligently.

Kudos Mohamed!!!

LOCUSTS INFESTS MANDERA...........IRIN News

ISIOLO, 23 November 2007 (IRIN)

Swarms of locusts have infested parts of northeastern Kenya's district of Mandera, ravaging pasture and crops in the arid area frequently hit by drought, officials said.

The locusts reportedly originated from neighbouring Somalia where authorities in the northeastern self-declared autonomous region of Puntland in September appealed for international aid following the loss of thousands of hectares of pasture and farmland to locust infestation.

Read here..........

THEIR OWN WAR.........WITH DEGODIAS

I was reading this news from a certain Garre Shiisha site, where they rant all the time.

What suprises me is, the Kenyan News Channels have no mention of the "purported" raid by the Murulles and from the look of things, Garres want Murulles to join their "war" with the Degodias.

Garres are facing stiff challenges in both Mandera seats of Central and west and will do everything to defend it at all costs.By the look of that website, Garres have a "notoriety"of ranting at every tribe that are their neighbours.

I don't know why, but time will tell.

TRACES OF OIL IN MANDERA-KENYA

Traces of oil found in North Eastern, Published on November 3, 2007, 12:00 am
By Philip Mwakio

Preliminary geophysical surveys conducted by oil and gas exploration firms in parts of north eastern Kenya indicate traces of oil.

Energy minister, Mr Kiraitu Murungi, said that areas around Mandera and Ansa Basin have potential oil deposits.

"It is not certain yet whether the deposits could be sufficient enough for commercial exploitation,’’ Kiraitu told The Standard in an interview in Mombasa on Wednesday.

The minister added that further drilling would be done to determine the commercial viability of the deposits.

And speaking at a different function, Kiraitu commended Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) for its endeavour to turn the firm into a world class facility in distribution of petroleum products.

He singled out the firm’s move to undertake projects aimed at improving customer service.
Three ongoing projects that KPC has initiated include the KPC Line 1 capacity enhancement project that involves the construction of four new pump stations.

‘’Due to increased demand for white petroleum products both in the local and export markets, the infrastructure along the 14-inch pipe size running from Mombasa to Nairobi is unable to meet the supply demand,’’ he said.

MURULLE: WE AIN'T NOBODY'S ENEMY IN NEP-KENYA

Last week,

I was astonished by a recent comment regarding Murule appearing on this site http://www.nfdonline.net/murele.html in which someone claiming to be talking about Murules purportedly was explaining why Murules are the enemies of NEP.

The Comments missed several point and I am obliged to put records straight for the sake of our people who from time to time are mis-understood.

The letter he showed in his comment( Click on the picture atatched) claims people from NEP of kenya have protested to the various Embassies represented in Kenya over the presence of the USA military and Humanitarian presence in NEP and the horn of Africa makes no sense.

Further, the learned freind describes what he saw in my comments as supporting USA presence in NEP because he says SUPREME COUNCIL OF KENYA MUSLIMS GARISSA DISTRICT and COUNCIL OF IMAMS & PREACHERS GARISSA DISTRICT have protested against the presence of the USA military and charity work and that represents the people of North Eastern Province.

Our learned freind didn't read what I wrote in http://www.nfdonline.net/comment.html regarding the same.It will be prudent for the same freind notes item number 3 in which I stated as follows:

" Attempts to portray clans as having same visions and aspirations are different. Whereas we can work with the USA government through a coordination committee from the Government or from any quarters, others can work with Alqaeda and vice-versa. We are at liberty with our conscience and hopes of our people".

He took it literally and am very sorry for him.

What I wrote was meant to be understood like this:

The letter he tries to show drafted by SUPREME COUNCIL OF KENYA MUSLIMS GARISSA DISTRICT and titled " NEP Objection to US Military " doesn't represent the views of all people from NEP except the ones from Garissa which happens to be part of NEP.The letter was written by a small section of NEP.

Murule are Somali people from NEP http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murule ,who among others, have not been given the chance to represent their views before drafting the letter in Garissa Supreme Boardrooms.

The Somali people of NEP are of many clans and it will suicidal to interpret that Somalis from Garissa District "speak" for Somalis of the whole NEP.

Whereas you may have problems with the USA on certain issues and want to take them head-on, it may be different for other Somali people, say from Mandera or Wajir who would object to do the same.

That is according to their customs, norms, conscience and their hopes.

Although, Muslims from NEP of Kenya may have some issues with the USA, as in the case of that protest letter, it doesn't mean all Somalis from NEP sat down and agreed on what was written in that particular letter.If we sat, we may have agreed to disagree on various issues and came to a solution better than a protest letter which gains nothing.

If Somalis from Mandera, Wajir and Garissa have issues that can bring them together, then I think it will be prudent if they sit down together and write a joint protest letter or anything they deem can bring about change and which enjoins their visions and mission instead of writing letters in one particular area claiming to represents us all.

The author of the comments, should understand that, Item No.3 in my previous comment posted on his site, remains the same.

"Whereas we can work with the USA government or any other quarter through various ways , his GARISSA people can decide to work with Alqaeda and vice-versa. We are at liberty with our conscience and hopes of our people"...

If our people are happy with the arrangement we cut with others, why should someone judge them just because they don't share your ways of dealing with issues.Our Pople may be happy and that is our main concern.That doesn't make Enemies of Somali People of NEP.

It doesn't mean we are totally against our people but our people may formulate various ways of dealing and sorting their issues without having to protest like you Garissa want us to do.

You may protest and gain nothing but We may be quite and manage to sort out our issues diplomatically thus benefitting our people.

Furthermore, we have no grudge with anyone including the USA and anyone interested who wishes to come to Mandera East of Kenya is welcome. As we are Muslims, Our only problem may be universal that we share with other Muslims all over the world that also needs a different approach.

Our Mandera people have indeed benefitted from various US and Arab donor related projects including Building of schools, maternity wards and water drilling for our livestock.We hope those projects may continue in good faith.

Apart from that, our learned Commentator didn't have time to take notice the role Islamic Relief and other NGO's are taking to help the people of Mandera East Constituency and just jumps to conclusion about the USA's case.

That lack of sight and understanding issues from a close range, In particular, from Garissas angle of NEP will not make us enemies of NEP and I urge the author to desist writing unaccomplished essays.

Thank you,

DEVELOPMENT: MANDERA EAST CONSTITUENCY

DEVELOPMENT IN MANDERA EAST IN PERSPECTIVE:

As we cometo the election year, every community vote people of integrity and capable people who can transform the life of his people to the parliament.

Us here in MANDERA EAST, we are lucky that after a period of close to quarter a century, our hardwork is finally translating into fruits and we are seeing some development record, although compared to other neighbouring constituencies, we are way back.We still have to thank Allah for saving our people and their few animals when famine and drought broke on us two years ago.

To put Our community in perspective will not reveal so much but we have made great stride in matters of education as education has become a backbone in every society.Many families have enrolled their children in schools which have sprouted almost every corner of the constituency.

University student enrollment from the Murule community in particular increased considerably during the past 10 years through initiative from our leaders and Old men in removing obstacles to bursaries to secondary school students and so on.Poor students have now bursaries both from the Government either through the CDF or other donor agencies.

They can pursue their education better than it was 20years ago.

In Mandera, Students both boys and girls were joining Schools far away from their families.But Now through joint development through the CDF and other donor agencies like USAID, Islamic Relief International and CJTF-HOA based in Djibouti, we are seeing construction of secondary schools in both Arabia and lafey divisions of Mandera East as well as undertaking various other projects alongside.

The Murulles are also lucky to have benefitted from several USA, UK based NGO's and charities including The Civil Action projects, supported through the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), a U.S. led multi-nation group based in Djibouti, which has established a closer working relationships with local people of Arabia, Mandera East in order to end the threat of terrorism in the region.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya William M. Bellamy on January 2004, presided the construction of the Arabia Secondary School in Mandera District of Kenya's Northeastern Province. He was hosted by the area M.P., the Hon. Shabaan Isaak.

The Arabia Secondary School project is by far the largest of many similar "Civil Action" projects in Kenya by the USA and we hope the new Microsoft Unlimited Potential (UP) programme would target sectors that concern the youth in our region..

Over the past year U.S. military and counterparts in the Kenyan Department of Defense Projects have worked together on projects at various locations in that area.U.S. soldiers and the Kenyan military cooperated over the past several months on that project to refurbish and expand facilities at the school, located some 70 kms . south of Mandera town.

The Arabia Secondary School now has a library, a new dining hall and kitchen, and an additional classroom building. As a result, the number of students attending the school increased from 160 to 240.

The U.S. committed a total of 7.3 million Kshs. to underwrite the project, using local contractors and supplies.

Some other projects being undertaken by the Government through CDF include the following which have so far got completed.Some are on-going pending review and more budgetary allocations next year.

PROJECT STATUS REPORT 2005-2006 through 2007

COMPLETED PROJECTS:

Bulla Power Promote education Education (150,000) Completed

Border Point 1 Promote education Education (150,000) Completed

Lafey Promote education Education (500,000) Completed

Gari Promote education Education (500,000) Completed

Sala Promote education Education (300,000) Completed

Bulla Barwaqo Promote education Education (350,000) Completed

Kamor Promote education Education (150,000) Completed

Border Point 1 Promote education Education (350,000) Completed

Hareri Hosle Improve health care Health (300,000) Completed

Hareri Improve health care Health (1,100,000) Completed

Fino Improve health care Health (500,000) Completed

Bulla Mpya Improved security of equipments Security (900,000) Completed

ON-GOING PROJECTS:

40/01 Construction of 3 dormitories 3,000,000.00

040/02 Purchase of furniture-mandera Secondary School 300,000.00

040/03 Hareri Hsle Dispensary 1,000,000.000

40/04 Arabia Dispensary 400,000.

40/05 Hareri Dispensary 420,000.000

40/06 Boarder point one – water canal 500,000.000

40/07 Mandera community Library 200,000.00

Arabia Improve health care services Health(3,000,000) ON-GOING

Khalalio Improve health care services Health (2,000,000) ON-GOING

Administration & Secretariat 180,000.00 "

All Promote education Education (2,000,000) On- going

Lafey Promote education Education (400,000) On- going

Border Point 1Improve food security and income Security (400,000) On- going

Sarohindi Provision of water Education (100,000) On- going

Shafahfey Improve health care Health (900,000) On- going

Warankara Improve health care Health (3,500,000) Ongoing

Neboi Improve health care services Health (900,000) On- going.

A total 31,725,756/= (Thirty One Million, seven hundred and twenty five thousand, seven hundred fifty six Ksh)....... has been used to assist the community move it's feet from under-development.

MANDERA EAST 2007 ELECTIONS : FACTS

2007, being a KENYAN election year, Our community has not been left out without our share of the campaigns.

As you know, many guys from NEP tend to judge things according to Mandera, Wajir and Garissa, it has become a fact that NEP has various somali clans, notable among them, The Murules, Degodia, Ogaden and others.Having said that, from time to time, everyone tend to go back to drawing boards about matters related to his/her community if issues crop up and need clarification.

Many bloggers and political scientists who own websites, blogs or are affiliated to various FM stations spiralling across KENYA need to address issues they have well researched upon.See this

http://www.nfdonline.net/mandera%20east.html

I was caught up my attention on some issues that needs some clarification pitting the incumbent MP for Mandera East, Shaaban Ali Issack on a competition with his rivals and I have this to say to the editors and others who may be caught up into those issues.

1. Before writing issues on your website(hoping to serve different communities of NEP), which can be one sided or trying to judge someone, ask the residents of the area instead of relying on rumors or ‘hearsays’ of people who have nothing to do with that particular community.

2. You must ask area residents to advice you how the particular clan normally elects someone to the parliament. There may be criteria’s, consensus or whatever means set by the clan and one who meets will be elected. Am saying this, owing to underground arrangements from the entire Clan on who will go for the ticket.

Failure to adhere to that normally backfires as in the case of 2002 Kenya Elections in which someone failed to hear the community, seeking to unseat Shaaban and the community decided otherwise.

3. Attempts to portray Kenya Somali clans as having same visions and aspirations are different. Whereas one clan from NEP can decide to work with the USA government in various ways, others can work with Alqaeda and vice-versa. We are at liberty with our conscience and hopes of our people.so don't take anyone for granted.

4. Some surrounding communities like the Garres have some pending issues with us as stated in the article, but to rely on their statements will surely make you guys look very cheap and one sided. They may be supporting someone and portraying him as having clout, while it is different when it comes to the entire community itself.

5. You need to know the clan well.In the said article, The editor failed to mention Yabarsein, representing almost 70% of all Murule from kenya which also happens to be the Incumbent’s family and knowing their plans/decisions.

6. Parties do not dictate how we elect our leaders for various clans. Our Murule clan doesn’t care which party the incumbent is running for. He can be in the worst RAP-KENYA or the new PANUA or PANA or whatever you may call it. But if the community decides, so be it.

7. While one needs or can gain much from other Murule websites or blogs, like, http://muruleonline.blogspot.com/ , or from accredited resource like the http://www.wikipedia.com/ , further research has to be done before editing issues which can be one-sided.

8. This year, The Murule community including the 70% Yabarsein together with Kuulow and Nacabsor in addition to the Garres, Some Marehan and Corner tribes(Some Sheikhaal and the likes) have unanimously decided to throw their weight for the last time in favour of the Assistant Minister for Urban Authorities, Hon Shaaban Ali Issack and there is no turning back.

STORIES FROM NORTH EASTERN KENYA

THE STORY OF THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE FROM KENYA

Arabia is a Kenyan village, in the Mandera district in the north-east of Kenya. It is home to Ramla Yusuf a 45-year-old widow, mother of five and grandmother of six.

“I was born, raised and married in this village, “said Ramla. Her husband was a semi-nomadic pastoralist who raised livestock, like most people in the region,

He also ran a small shop, selling sugar, tea leaves and other foodstuffs. After his death 12 years ago, Ramla took over the shop and also opened a tea kiosk, known locally as a ‘hotel’.The income from her small business enabled her to send four of her five orphans to school.

Water Worries

In this arid region, water has always been a concern for the villagers of Arabia. They relied on a small water pan for part of the year, but it would dry up after the rains.
When an intense drought struck in 2006, the only source of water was the government borehole.

“During the drought there was no water in the pan, so we were using the borehole water. But it is very salty,” said Ramla. “It caused a lot of health problems, like high blood pressure, diarrhoea and stomach ache. But there was no other water for drinking, cooking, washing and the animals.”

Impoverished by the drought, villagers also struggled to buy diesel to run the borehole pump.

Livestock

The drought killed over 70% of the livestock in the region, including more than half of Ramla’s goats. Only 30 of her herd of 80 animals survived.

“We were affected by drought and we couldn’t get milk or meat. There were shortages in food, but thankfully the children did not go hungry,” said Ramla, holding her grandson, Mohammed, in her lap.

Business at Ramla’s shop also slowed down and has not recovered since.

Arabia Water Pan.

During the drought Islamic Relief (IR) provided emergency food, water and malnutrition treatment in the region. However, Arabia needed a permanent solution to its water problems.
IR decided to enlarge and improve the existing water pan in Arabia. This involved digging out a large reservoir and well, and creating a filtration system. Once the project is complete people will be able to collect clean water from the well and the area will be fenced off to prevent animals from polluting the water.

Health and Sanitation Committee.

IR also trained and equipped Arabia’s Village Health Committee. They received equipment such as wheelbarrows, spades and large garbage bins to help them with their regular clean-ups.
The Committee sprays the latrines to control insects, and encourages villagers to use the newly dug waste pits for garbage disposal instead of throwing it elsewhere.

The Committee also organises weekly ‘clean-ups’, where members clean the main roads while villagers are responsible for cleaning their own compounds and surrounding areas.

“We have seen a lot of improvements in health,” said Ramla, who is a member of the Health Committee. “Previously there were many outbreaks of diseases and children often suffered from malaria, diarrhoea, and stomach-aches. Now all those things have gone.

We used to have a lot of cockroaches and flies too but there are fewer now that we have sprayed. It is a good thing and it has benefited us.”

Children of Arabia.

“I would like my grandchildren to grow up and have good jobs - as teachers, doctors or any good job. Most people in Arabia are poor,” says Ramla, “Some have dropped out of pastoralism and there are no large businesses or farms here, so you can imagine the life.

I would like to wish [IR supporters] peace, wherever they are. There are many people here affected by the drought, a lot of poor people and orphans.

People should help them, especially the orphans. In many families you will find that the mother survives while the father dies, and only God cares.”