The chairman of Kenya’s National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) says his group has launched a nationwide media marketing campaign to ease tensions between varied communities.
The transfer follows week-end terrorist assault on a preferred shopping center within the capital, Nairobi, killing over 60 folks. Al-Shaba, a Somalia-based hardline Islamic group, has claimed accountability.
Mzalendo Kibunjia says the brand new sensitization program comes after some Kenyans demanded the expulsion of Somali refugees.
“That tells you the type of stress that's prone to occur in subsequent days except some intervention or some outreach work is finished by the commission and different folks of goodwill to Kenya,” acknowledged.Kibunjia.
He says the NCIC faces a stiff problem in perform its mandate following the terrorist assault on the Westgate shopping center.
“Definitely because of this attack it has made our work difficult, and I say that with the experience we’ve had previously when we had some attacks in Eastleigh, which is a suburb of Nairobi [with a high concentration of Somalis],” acknowledged.Kibunjia.
“It took a lot of outreach to tell Kenyans that crimes are not committed by tribes, clans or regions but they are committed by individuals. So definitely, yes our work will be difficult.”
Some observers have expressed concern that Kenyans of Somali origin or Somali refugees may face reprisals. But, Kibunjia says his group goals to alter that view.
“As a commission we need to begin [activities that promote] healing, reconciliation and cohesion. [We must try] to tell Kenyans that although we have indigenous Somalis in Kenya, it doesn’t mean that they are a part and parcel of the small element of Somali-Somalis committing these heinous crimes in Kenya,” acknowledged.Kibunjia.
“It’s very important to be proactive to make sure that those tensions don’t begin.”
Kibunjia says the NCIC will not stop with its work regardless of the issue it faces because of the rising tensions between ethnic teams.
“We are developing radio messages, and we have already asked some of the media departments to begin developing messages that can go on the radio so that those tensions are lessened before they escalate,” acknowledged.Kibunjia. “There are also some who are coming up saying ‘please let us hold together, this is an international attack,’ and I think that message is also beginning to sink [in].”
Kibunjia known as for the Kenyans to return collectively in gentle of the assaults.
“We have been on this road before, but our unity is what made us to pull through this process. I would want to give, for example, the way Kenyans have responded by donating blood and money to help some of the families that have suffered,” acknowledged.Kibunjia.
“That same spirit that we show when we are under attack, is that same spirit that should prevail as we go through this process.”