KDA Condolences Garissa University Students

Members, affiliates and partners of the Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA) pass their heartfelt messageof condolences to the families, relatives, friends, and the entire country for those students and security officers recently killed or wounded at Garissa University. These were young lives needlessly taken away from us too early by misguided and violent people. The future of those young people was full of promises to the country and its people. They were young minds that were going to make a huge difference in the future of our country in all areas of human endeavor. Many of them were the only hope of their families. May the Lord in heaven rest their souls in eternal peace. We pray for the speedy recovery of those converlizing in various hospitals in the country and the speedy recovery of the nation from this tragedy of great proportions.

The most unfortunate consequences of the massacre in Garissa are the fear and paranoia it has created in the entire country today. And what happened at Nairobi University, Kikuyu Campus, last Sunday morning, is a living testimony to that fear and panic. If something drastic and meaningful is not done now, this fear and paranoia will destroy the foundation of the Kenyan economy. As a country, we know how we ended up where we are today.

The horizontal inequalities in the country that resulted in promoting tribalism, nepotism and corruption that continue to eat into the fabric of our society has to come to an end for Kenya to make the next big leap. Tribalism in the use and sharing of national resources – political and economic resources - naturally gave birth to corruption and the two have generated the rampant insecurity experienced in the country today. We encourage the government to decisively address the twin issues of national cohesion (ethnic, religious and gender) and corruption once for all to put Kenya onto the path to prosperity as we race towards Vision 2030. The leadership should take immediate and drastic steps to restructure the governance institutions in the country if we are to vanquish insecurity at its roots and stop it in the tracks. Inclusivity, so eloquently anchored in Article 10 of our new, progressive constitution, is key and paramount in this great endeavor!

KDA welcomes the on-going clampdown on corruption and the attendant distortions in the
economy and its resultant worsening of the circumstances of the most vulnerable. We fully support the President and his government in this effort, and are willing to share diverse Diaspora ‘best practice’ experiences from across the world in not only containing graft, but also public safety.

Finally, while we do not support unmeasured and uncalculated withdrawal of our forces from Somalia, we hold the view that it is time to take stock of gains made and any mis-steps, and review what our new strategy moving forward should be in helping our brothers and sisters in Somalia to get back to normalcy, while also ensuring the safety and security of all Kenyans and all residing within our borders. Instead of actions that may seem as panic, knee-jack reaction, we advocate a more holistic, comprehensive and structured approach, based on consultation, sound research and professional advice. We wish the government success in overcoming the attendant challenges at this critical juncture of our history. Moreover, we wish our great country security, safety, and prosperity all the time.

KDA is a Federation of over 30 Kenya Diaspora organizations around the world, with a nominal combined membership of 250,000. Our mission is to integrate, harmonize and synchronize disparate actions and programs aimed at furthering and promoting the welfare and aspirations of the Kenyan Diaspora.

Signed by:
Julius Musandu
Mr. Julius Musandu
Director of Communications
KDA Secretariat - Nairobi
Ex-Canada

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