Background of Somalis in Kenya
Somalis in Kenya are citizens and residents of Kenya who are of Somali ethnic descent. They have historically inhabited the North Eastern Province, previously called the Northern Frontier District, which was carved out of the Jubaland region of present-day southern Somalia during the colonial period. Following the civil war in Somalia that broke out in 1991, many Somalis sought asylum in the Somali-inhabited enclaves of Kenya. An entrepreneurial community, they established themselves in the business sector, particularly in the Nairobi suburb of Eastleigh. The political arena, Somalis has representatives including Aden Bare Duale, who is the Majority Leader of the National Assembly of Kenya under the Jubilee Party. He was elected in 2013 under the United Republican Party and in 2017 under the Jubilee Party. He is of Somali ethnicity representing Garissa Township constituency.AlsoAmina Mohamed, former minister for foreign Affairs and she is currently serving as the Cabinet Secretary of Education in Kenya. Additionally, they have number of Members of Parliament and also Director of Public Prosecutors Noordin Haji.
Background of Somalis in Ethiopia
The Somali Regional State or the Ogaden, is the largest and easternmost of the nine ethnic divisions (kilimo) of Ethiopia. The state borders the Ethiopian states of Afar, the chartered city Dire Dawa (Dir Dhaba), Oromia to the west, as well as Djibouti to the north, Somalia to the north, east, and south, and Kenya to the south-west. Moreover, Somalis is third largest population in Ethiopia, loosely 9 to 10 million as indicated in different censuses at different times.Jigjiga is the capital of the Somali Regional State. The capital was formerly Gode, until Jigjiga becomes the capital in 1995 on account of political considerations. According to the federal level representatives, Somalis have the federal minister of finance Atto Ahmed shide. Furthermore, in the federal parliament, notably House of Representatives, they have 24 Members of Parliament.
Somalis in Kenya are more educated than Somalis in Ethiopia
If you observe and immerse Somalis live in Kenya, simply you can see how they are educated than Somalis in Ethiopia. Because, Kenyans are educated ones, so they inspired and stimulated Somalis in Kenya. Though development has been especially slow in Northern Kenya where measures are needed to ensure primary education and quality health care for all. While, Somalis in Ethiopia are less educated. Because, Ethiopian government doesn’t concentrate and invest the education . Ethiopian government focuses and fortifies the military sector, because, they are the east Africa regional actor. In this regard, Somalis live in Kenya emulate and follow the Kenyan system of education. While, Somalis in Ethiopia are less engaged to the education, and this traces back in variety of reasons including the common factor which is, the Ethiopian government doesn’t flourish and enrich the education sector. The other factor is, Somalis in Ethiopia are marginalized when it comes to education, natural resources sharing, political landscape, federal troops and other sectors.
Kenyans are passive, while Ethiopians are aggressive!
If you stay in Kenya a while, even less than a month, you can see how they are polite and passive people. For instant, if you are walking in the streets and somebody hits you or did something wrong, they immediately say to you (Pole), which means sorry! And even if you are the wrong one, they give you excuse. And if you offer them any assistance or favor, they don’t leave you without saying (Asante), which means thanks. Also, if you are heading to a business centre and you ask them what you want, and they don’t have that item, they say to you politely (Karibu), which means welcome. Regrettably, Ethiopians are totally different. They are aggressive and very rude. And they have extreme hostility and grievance to the Somalis. If you approach a business centre owns by Ethiopians in Addis-Ababa, and as longest they recognize that you are a Somali person, they automatically double the prize, if you try to bargain with them, they respond to you provocatively and ballistic manner. On the other hand, Kenyans are colonized by British, so during that period, they grew up a hectic life, and they learnt from the colony the patience, respect, easy-going and humbleness. Additionally, they engaged extremely learning. In Nairobi, you can see a shoe-shiner, a driver, a hawker who has a university degree. Dude!
Somalis in Kenya are money oriented, while those in Ethiopia are dignity oriented
Those Somalis, who live in Ethiopia, they keep the culture drastically, and they are very strict for the norms, histories, inherited culture, including respecting the women within the community, giving them favor such as exonerating them when it comes to hard works. Additionally, when the men are joking each others, they don’t talk deeply the women issues. Because, they believe those women’s issues is untouchable, so they don’t immerse too much. On the other hand, Somalis in Kenya are money oriented. Because, they mimic Kenyans, and you know Kenyans are on the verge to worship the money. When it comes to money, they are very serious. For instant, if you and Kenyans are in a deal, they say” please brother/sister we are in a business isn’t charity”, also there is widespread expression which is used when Kenyans do to you something, and you want to say them thank you and god bless you, they say automatically” bless me know please” which means offer me a money.
Somalis in Ethiopia are monolithic, while those in Kenya are flexible
Those live in Ethiopia don’t accept variations mainly. For instant, when it comes to marriage, they prefer and happy to marry within their community. And the ladies tend to follow the same procedure of their mothers when it comes to marriage. And they demand their ladies’ marriage a lot of camels. Mean while, Somalis in Kenya are quite different. They interact with the other communities, even ladies marry sometimes Kenyans. So, they have strong social integration and they are much sophisticated than those live in Ethiopia.
According to the Somali language, Somalis in Ethiopia are stronger than those in Kenya. For instant, Jigjiga University (JU) has a special faculty for Somali language. And they protect the language immensely. Because, that area is originated from many Somali distinguished and heroes ones including ( Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan, who is the first African person that the western was attacked him by airplane, Ahmed gurey, RaageUgaas, Wiil-Waal, QamaamBulhan, MataanEided and others), so, they are dedicated to preserve the national heroes and their legacy such as (poetry and traditional/cultural stories). Mean while, Somalis in Kenya deluded and misused the Somali language. They call themselves “Somali Sijui” which means I don’t know Somali. For instant, when they want to tell you , that someone is educated, they say “ Waxbuuakhristay” which means in direct translation “he/she reads something” which is totally different the exact meaning of the sentence. The right word of Somali in this sentence “he is educated” is (Waxbuubartay/Waxbay baratay)
Somalis in Kenya have business acumen and those in Ethiopia are out of business mind
If you walk on the Eastleigh roads you can see obviously how Somalis are brilliant in business.A friend of mine, who live in Nairobi permanently, told me that Eastleigh produces closely half of the Nairobi count’s income. Eastleigh For instant, from 6th street up to 12th street, there are less than 5 educational institutions. So, the trouble with the Somalis in Nairobi as whole is that the best minds are not in education sector, they are in business and few in academia.
The other side of the coin, Somalis in Ethiopia is most of them out of business sector. And this propelled by multitude reasons including economical hardship within the Somali region. Because, the Ethiopian government paralyzed the private sector. The government controls and handles everything. So, there is no initiatives and critical thinking amongst the community. Additionally, the Somali region is less benefited from the developmental projects in the country which the federal government is undertaking. In the mean time, Somalis in Ethiopia don’t like to work in the technical jobs such as (Haircutting, driving Bajaj, shoe shining, waiter) and also serving in the hotels and restaurants. Due to this, most of them are unemployed. Because, the government is unaffordable to employ all the people. Regrettably, the other Ethiopian ethnicities, particularly Oromo’s, Amhara and Dabub took and seized the opportunity. And that is why Oromo’s are persisting to fight against the Somalis, because, they tested how Somalis are handicaps, lethargic and “breeding worthless community” when it comes to employment. So, Oromo became invincible. Because, they are engaged and work in the Somali region, and they know what is going inside the region.
Anwar Abdifatah Bashir (Freelance Journalist/Political Analyst and Independent Researcher)
Email: anwarcade100@gmail.com
Xafiiska Shabakada Allbanaadir.com
Muqdisho Somalia
Allbanaadir@live.com
