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.

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.

HOLY QURAAN DISTRIBUTION FROM DUBAI THROUGH DAR AL BIR SOCIETY-DUBAI, UAE

In the Name of God, most Gracious, most Merciful

Welcome,

Islam Awareness Kenya (IAKEN) has embarked on to distribute Holy Quran all over the Kenya.The Quran copies were given to Islam Awareness Kenya By the DAR AL BIR SOCIETY OF DUBAI , The United Arab Emirates.

DAR AL BIR SOCIETY gave close to 1000 Copies of Holy Quraan to be distributed to Mandera Kenya constituencies under the auspices of Islam Awareness Kenya, A kenyan run Islamic NGO that operates from Dubai.

The first batch has already been shipped to KENYA and soon we will start distribution in all rural areas of MANDERA EAST CONSITUENCY OF KENYA.

This scripture

(The Holy Quran) is infallible; a beacone for the righteous. We believe that the Quran is reveled to us and is a guidance from God. Those who read the Quran and say 'i bear witness that there is only one God and no other gods besides God' are the winners.

The Quranic verse Chapter 2 verse 261 says:

"The parable of those who spend their monies for the cause of God is like a seed that grows into seven ears, with one hundred seeds in each ear. God multiplies the reward manifold for whomever He wills. God is bounteous, omniscient." - Those who do for the cause of Allah are

The Winners:

"The believing men and women are allies of one another, they advocate righteousness, forbid evil and observe the salat prayers and give zakat charity and they obey God and his messenger. God will shower them with mercy, God is almighty wise." -

What was The great Promise:

"God promises those among you who believe and work righteousness that He will make them Kings on Earth as He did for those before them, and that He will establish for them there religion that He chooses for them and that He will substitute security in place of fears. All this because they worship Me alone, without ideolising anything besides Me, if anyone disbelieves after this then these are wicked."

The one with God is a majority.

Read God's message.

Happiness is submission to God.

We the constituents of Mandera East Constituency would like to thank DAR AL BIR SOCIETY OF DUBAI GOVERNMENT and what our brothers from UAE under the auspices of SHEIKH HAMDAN BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM are doing to maintain several project.

We pray for all those who were involved in the project Kheir...We say...."Jazakumullah Kheiran"

CDF MANDERA EAST 2002-2007

CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR MANDERA EAST-KENYA FOR THE PERIOD 2002-2007

1. Hon. Shaaban Ali Isaack Member of Parliament (Patron)
2. Mr. Fino District Officer (Member)
3. Cllr. Abdi Ullow Shillaw Councillor (Member)
4. Cllr. Muhumed Osman Arr Councillor (Member)
5. Mr. Mohumed Hassan Haji Religious Representative (Member)
6. Mr. Hussein Maalim Dahir Religious Representative (Member)
7. Mr. Noor Dibit N.G.Os Representative (Member)
8. Mr. Abdi Abdulahi Men Representative (Member)
9. Mr. Mohamed Malaak Madey Men Representative (Member)
10. Ms. Binta Hajji Gudow Women Representative (Member)
11. Ms. Nuria Hussein Mohamed Women Representative (Treasurer)
12. Mr. Adan Ali Youth Representative Secretary
13. DDO Committee Member
14. District Accountant Committee Member


ON-GOING PROJECTS

040/01 Construction of 3 dormitories 3,000,000.00
040/02 Purchase of furniture-mandera Secondary School 300,000.00
040/03 Hareri Hsle Dispensary 1,000,000.00
040/04 Arabia Dispensary 400,000.00
040/05 Hareri Dispensary 420,000.00
040/06 Boarder point one – water canal 500,000.00
040/07 Mandera community Library 200,000.00
Administration & Secretariat 180,000.00 "


So far, many of these are on-going and I think we should focus on priorities as the area MP is aware of the many difficulties his contituents are under-going....

PROJECT STATUS REPORT 2005-2006

COMPLETED PROJECTS are shown in RED

Arabia Improve health care services Health(3,000,000) ON-GOING
Khalalio Improve health care services Health (2,000,000) ON-GOING
Bulla Power Promote education Education (150,000) Completed
Border Point 1Improve food security and income Security (400,000) On- going
Border Point 1 Promote education Education (150,000) Completed
All Promote education Education (2,000,000) On- going
Lafey Promote education Education (400,000) On- going
Lafey Promote education Education (500,000) Completed
Gari Promote education Education (500,000) Completed
Sala Promote education Education (300,000) Completed
Sarohindi Provision of water Education (100,000) On- going
Bulla Barwaqo Promote education Education (350,000) Completed
Kamor Promote education Education (150,000) Completed
Border Point 1 Promote education Education (350,000) Completed
Shafahfey Improve health care Health (900,000) On- going
Hareri Hosle Improve health care Health (300,000) Completed
Hareri Improve health care Health (1,100,000) Completed
Warankara Improve health care Health (3,500,000) Ongoing
Fino Improve health care Health (500,000) Completed
Neboi Improve health care services Health (900,000) On- going
Bulla Mpya Improved security of equipments Security (900,000) Completed

TOTAL 31,725,756/= (Thirty One Million, seven hundred and twenty five thousand, seven hundred fifty six Ksh).......



We will keep you updated....

CHOLERA IN MANDERA...ISLAMIC RELIEF INTERNATIONAL........

CHOLERA IN MANDERA

Miriam Ahmed's face contorts in pain as her frail and bony fingers clutch her stomach.
A sweat breaks on her head as she writhes in pain on her bed. The 16-year-old girl is the latest patient to be admitted to Mandera District Hospital following an outbreak of cholera in the area.

Ahmed is lucky. Two people, a 57-year-old man and his three-year-old son, have died since the disease broke out on January 10.

At least 20 people have been admitted while one has been discharged from the hospital. Ahmed is among the five who are recuperating in the isolation ward.

At the entrance of the ward is a footbath that is chlorinated to prevent visitors from entering or leaving with the virus.

The District Medical Officer of Health, Dr Boniface Musila, says the situation is under control. The affected areas are Bulla Mpya, Bulla Jamhuriya and Bulla Power, which have several

Shallow wells.

Public eateries have been closed down to stop the spread of the waterborne disease. "We hopefully will lift the ban on public eating places by the end of next week," Musila said.

Two patients were brought in as Musila talked to the press.

Stool samples for the dead victims tested positive for Cholera at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri).

Cholera kills within 24 hours of infection. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea that causes severe dehydration and shock. The bacteria spread through contact with faeces and the disease is associated with heavy rains that flood latrines and contaminate water.

After the drought last year, Mandera was submerged in floods, which displaced 120,476 people.

An isolation ward that can accommodate up to 30 patients has been set up at the hospital. The Kenya Red Cross Society has given the hospital 1.5 tonnes of cholera kit.

But Mandera District Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Muktar Omar, said there was a shortage of nurses at the facility. "We have been forced to deploy those in rural areas to the district hospital," Omar says.

Mandera has 70 nurses, 40 at the district hospital and the rest in the dispensaries.
Omar said they need at least 120 nurses. "We are pleading with the Government to speed up deployment of more staff to the area," Omar says.

Rift Valley Fever outbreak is another problem the district has to deal with.

Omar says the Government has pledged to post a dentist and a medical officer but he says they need at least two more medical officers.

Red Cross and the Ministry of Health are conducting public education in the district. They have drawn samples from wells and other water points. The water has been treated to prevent further spread of the disease.

Musila said Ethiopian immigrants might have brought the disease into the country.
Relevant Links

"The borders are very porous and it is possible that someone came from Ethiopia with the disease and infected the Moyale residents," he said.

He said they have partnered with Action Aid and the Ministry of Water, whose task is to identify contaminated points and chlorinate them.

The Islamic Relief Organisation is providing water to the hospital

ELECTIONS:MANDERA EAST 2007

ELECTIONS2007-MANDERA EAST CONSTITUENCY

We are going to an election year, The 2007.

The political temperature in the country is high and It's almost a year to the election day in Kenya.This is to say that, come Dec 2007, we will know who is the choice of the people of Mandera East for the seat of the Kenyan Parliament.

There is alignment and re-alignment currently going on in Kenya, from the ODM-kenya to Narc kenya and so on..Politicians are aligning themselves to parties that will take them to parliament come the elections.Some politicians are allied to Narc Kenya while some are fronting ODM-kenya.

Many politicians or wanna-bees have opened campaign sites that promotes their ideologies, an example is that of the de-facto ODM-kenya leader, Raila Odinga who is consolidating grounds for his last presidential elections.

Others are several NARC and NARC-Kenya politicians.

Even our own, Mandera wanna-bees are not behind, including the youthful Ex-US marine
(from Minneapolis, MN) who wants to contest for the Mandera East Parliamentary seat, http://mohamed2007.com/

His name is Mohamed and I have been following up with his various campaign strategies from the time he posted his video on www.youtube.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX8Wlr7i_6s and his campaign articles in forums like hiiraan , where he specifically dedicated one article solely for campaign purposes, http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2006/nov/hopes,_hurdles_for_ex-marine_vying_to_become_a_kenyan_lawmaker.aspx ,

Through this blog, we congratulate Mr.Mohamed for aspiring to run for the Mandera East Constituency elections come 2007 and we hope Inshallah everything will be ok.

He understands the situation back home,People are severely improvished.No schools, no Hospitals(Health centres), don't talk about electricity....and roads....and mind you, we are in the 21st century.

We need educated and professionals in all spheres of life to jumpstart some kind of development in our region, especially in education, social or economic sectors, atleast, so that our people start fending for themselves and moving into the future.

Through this blog, We appreciate his plans to return to our home and make it better for all of us.

We the people of Mandera East, will gallantly support him through his endevours..

Kudos ya Mohamed!!!!

ISLAMIC RELIEF INTERNATIONAL-UK EMERGENCY AND HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES IN MANDERA EAST, KENYA

ISLAMIC RELIEF-UK

Three years of failed rains led to severe drought across the Horn of Africa, creating food shortages for up to 15 million people. The pastoralists who live across northern Kenya, south-eastern Ethiopia and southern Somalia are the worst-affected people.

Islamic Relief (IR) is working to help the drought-stricken people of the Arabia, Libehiya, Hareeri, sala, Fino, Bambo, Gari and Lafey areas of Mandera region of Kenya, and in the Somali region of Ethiopia.

Rain

http://www.islamic-relief.com/submenu/Appeal/LibehiaPrimarySchool.asp

Despite the rains in May, clean drinking water remains scarce. The rains were patchy and not enough to last until the next ones are due. Although pasture for the animals has increased in places, it is still too scarce to benefit all of them.

The rains were a mixed blessing. Although they interrupted the dry period, over 20 people died in Mandera from an outbreak of dysentery. The rainwater has also flushed animal carcasses and sewage into water sources, contaminating them with lethal diseases.

Malnutrition

http://www.islamic-relief.com/submenu/Appeal/firdosa.asp
Malnutrition rates across the region remain high, especially amongst young children, the elderly and pregnant and nursing mothers. Cases of diarrhoea are on the increase, threatening the lives of already malnourished people.

Poverty

The drought-affected pastoralists are dependent upon their animals for their livelihoods. These animals are also their savings – they sell one whenever they need money. However, the drought has killed off thousands of livestock – up to 70% in some regions, leaving people almost destitute.

Surviving animals are half-starved and weak with little or no market value. Milk yields from the animals, a staple part of the daily diet, are also low, contributing to malnutrition.

The prices of staple foods in the markets remain high because of the continuing effects of drought. They are simply too expensive for most impoverished families to afford.

Without immediate intervention it is feared this crisis could escalate, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. Islamic Relief is working urgently alongside other humanitarian agencies to prevent this disaster.

Islamic Relief Response, Mandera District, Kenya

Food & Nutrition

http://www.islamic-relief.com/submenu/Appeal/abdulstory.htm
IR has distributed around 30 tonnes of nutritional ‘Unimix’ food so far.

7 Supplementary Feeding Centres established, helping over 5,000 children, the elderly and expectant/nursing mothers who receive weekly nutritional support to prevent severe malnutrition.

Food rations continue to be provided to 5,000 families. Each ration consists of cornmeal, beans, salt, sugar & cooking oil.

Food distributions have taken place in 23 locations in 7 divisions

Health

Health Screening of thousands of children under five to monitor and prevent malnutrition is continuing.

A transport service staffed by a nurse is transporting severely malnourished children and their families to the District Hospital.

A Community Health Education programme provides hygiene and sanitation education to mothers & their families to tackle an outbreak of dysentery and other water-borne diseases. To date, the team has reached over 350 families and plan to expand the service.

Water

14,000 litres of water provided every other day in 2 locations to approx. 4,000 people whose water sources have been contaminated.

Fino borehole has been rehabilitated providing clean and safe drinking water for about 10,000 people.

Rehabilitations at Lafey and Arabia water sources are underway, and three more are planned.

A local 15-member community committee is being trained to manage the site & educate others regarding sanitation and hygiene.

Food

Therapeutic Centres are planned for malnourished children & their families................

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