TO END CLASHES IN NEP, BRING BACK OUR SALAH

Many hailed President Kenyatta’s recent ambassadorial appointments as representative of the Kenyan face. However, the fate of two of the most hard working and diligent ambassadors, I know of, was hanging in the balance. I pray the president has a better plan for them. Wait a minute; I have a better plan for one of them. The former ambassadors of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Mahat and Salah Mohamed, were replaced but there was no mention of their next destination. I hold no brief for either of them and I know it is the prerogative of the president to appoint anyone but anyone who has been to these two countries will attest that they are great people’s servants.

Salah is a legend in Northern Kenya. He single-handedly ended the shifta menace and the constant inter-clan clashes in NEP when he was the provincial commissioner. He was able to bring peace to the region thanks to his unique management style and his grasp of the local culture and politics. He refused to be drawn in to local politics and clan rivalry and dispensed his duties justly. He accomplished all these in a short tenure of about 3 years.
When he got reports of police harassment and extortion, he was not the type to make empty promises and threats on public barazas. He wore his “kikoi” like a typical Somali and blended with the locals to observe how the police were executing their duties. Sometimes he became a victim of the ugly side of the police. The police mischief ended because they could not tell whether the PC was in the vicinity or not.

His grasp of the Somali culture enabled him deal with the inter clan clashes effectively. The clashes usually start as tit for tat revenge after one clan member is killed by another clan member. The Somali culture allows for the payment of blood money; about 100 camels for every soul. The 100 camels are paid for by the entire clan such that the killer may not even pay a single camel. This encouraged killing since the consequences was minimal. Salah objected to this arrangement. He declared that the blood money was to be paid by the killer and his immediate family members only. Henceforth, killing became expensive and it ceased.
He refused to be compromised and he refused to take brief from local wazees who in most cases have a big hand in any inter clan clashes. I am told those who sought favors from him when he was an ambassador were up for a rude shock. He was not to bend the rules for anyone. In the run up to the 2002 elections, he refused to allow some NARC bigwigs on a campaign trail to be hosted at the Garissa government guest house. When NARC formed government after the elections, his fate was sealed. He was immediately replaced.

My appeal to the president is to appoint Salah as the county commissioner for Mandera. I know this is a demotion for him but it will be good for the welfare of the people of Mandera. With him at the helm, raging inter-clan clashes will be a thing of the past and the president will not have to deploy KDF to Mandera. KDF can be reserved for external enemies. If the president is working to save his legacy by curbing the runaway insecurity in the country, then Salah will be a perfect replacement for Ole Lenku.

Think about it Mr. President.