SAMBURU PROFESSIONALS!!! OUR TIME IS NOW!!!!
Posted on October 14, 2009 by Saidimu Ole ngais
DK. I am happy for the early warning in not mixing politics with human rights in a case like this because it does not matter what party or ideology one belong to. Every individual deserves full protection against any violence, fraud or theft. It is about the fundamnetal rights of Samburu people. Let us all stand up and face the trueth because (they-our parents) send you and me to school with the words, “ata tenaa kamir kuna kishu pookin amiraki sukuul nalo ilshampai! Inshoo abaiki alo orkerenket aasisho anaa ormapuusiy! Bara ake iyie tumo piis ino!”
The parent who spoke the above words knew that he was investing in his own future and existence. You have been challenged enkerai esukuul!
Below is a circulation from Samburu professionals. Kindly take a few minutes and read it through!
Hey,
Hope this finds you in good health.
Thankyou for responding to my text message and for those in the diaspora for your continued concern.
I know that most of us are aware of the suffering the Samburu’s, our people are going through at the moment. With the persistent drought,high levels of insecurity,children dropping out of school,poverty among other issues life has become unbearable for many and many have despaired .
I had the opportunity to go on the ground when i was covering the feature “Bandit Territory” that aired on KBC Channel One. The situation on the ground my friends is dire and heart breaking!!! Am sure many of us have been home and have witnessed the same.
We are also raising alarm and awareness about cattle rustling that has now taken a different angle that the raids now have become more inhumane in that children and women are the target group. The fight is no longer about cattle as many perceive, it is all about land!!!! Lives continue to be lost daily in these raids a practice that is so backward and ancient!!!!
Children have been orphaned and women have been widowed and if no action is taken there will be a generation gap as the young men will all be wiped out during these raids and as i said earlier the casualties are now women and children. Its so unfortunate that the media at times we forget that we have a responsibility to be the voice of the voiceless and highlight the plight of many Kenyans who at this point do not feel proud to be called Kenyans.
Am not just speaking on behalf of the Samburus here but for all those people who are victims of these raids. Samburu is a pointer in that more than 30 lives were lost this past month, top government officials visited the scene, made their promises as usual and flew back to Nairobi.
Samburu district is a very high potential area if it was given the attention it deserves, it is a tourist attraction place although the tourists have now shyed away due to the increased insecurity in the area. If irrigation is also embraced it can really do well due to the vast fertile land, infrastructure needs to be improved too….. and the list is endless!!! Samburu also being in Rift Valley has been neglected for a long time with people focusing more on North Eastern Region.
To cut the long story short since am sure we are all so passionate about this i would like to brief you on some strides that we had taken as a group of Samburu Professionals. An account was set up to raise money to help victims of Kanampiu and the account number is 01134198915800 Cooperative Bank Parliament Road.
There are also the survivors who are still in hospitals and as for the government the last we heard from them is when they were airlifted to Kenyatta Hopsital and they are in pathetic state they need specialized treatment especially the two children.
The dream however is not just to focus on Kanampiu but in the near future to target sustainable development through the fund. So during the meeting this is one of the issues to be discussed.
Secondly, we were also able to send a group of journalists to the ground to gather the real story about real people and they travelled back last week on friday.
The stories have started running on KBC and K24 yesterday that is monday and they will air untill Wednesday,this was in view of keeping the stories alive and we believe some one somewhere will pay attention. Media is a powerful tool that could bring positive change if fully utilized. After i did my series it got overwhelming response meaning we could keep the stories alive for as long as we want and just to continue being relevant. We are hoping the Standard Newspaper will also run the story soon..will be following up on that.
We can’t afford to wait anymore for lives to be lost we have to do something. We are hoping to place an advert in the papers of the account number for assistance from other well wishers and this is long over due… Although we might need to first register the association,get the structures and systems in place. That is the only way we can get others to trust us and assist.
After much soul searching as a team it was agreed upon, on the 10th of October 2009, that we need to go back to the drawing board,invite as many Samburu’s as possible,come up with set goals both short term and long term, come up with a constitution,elect officials and also discuss contributions and sustainability of the association for many other generations.
Please, let us not let down our parents and fore fathers who sacrificied alot to send us to school and they now languish in hunger,pain and suffering while we are comfortable in our homes and our nuclear families. God has placed a purpose in all our hearts,let us put our political,social and religious differences aside and unite for the good and betterment of our people!!! I foresee a time when we will look back and say we fought a good fight and we bridged the gap!!!!
The government has announced the 2nd phase of disamarment let us keep vigil and see how transparent and fair this will be among all the communities that have taken upon themselves to protect what is theirs and at time harm others. Some are doubting our motives but if we don’t do anything who will???!! We have to be daring,strong and focused. We are going the whole way and your support will be highly appreciated. Don’t mind the spelling mistakes hope i have made sense.Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday!!!
For those in the Diaspora,your prayers,contribution,suggestions and continued support is highly welcomed and appreciated. Am working on a link that we can all acommunicate through one link, in that one mail sent to one of us can be viewed by all members of the association. Transperancy and accountability is our call!!!
NOTE:::: None of us should be mistaken to think that this is a political outfit since the association has no such intentions and will never have. It will actually be upon us to keep all our leaders in check since that is the only way they can be accountable to nkonko,akuya,apayia,nkerai and the rest back at home and to us too!!! Politics should be left out of this till God willing 2012!!!!!
Please forward this mail to others and the message of the meeting to as many people as possible. Would have loved to attach some clips of the picture of the ground lakini kazi mingi i will do it before saturday!!!
Metamayana ntai Nkai Oleng.
(From SAMBURU PROFESSIONALS!!! OUR TIME IS NOW)
