Nairobi (Sunatimes) A story that appeared in this Sunday’s Nation titled Kenya grapples with influx of immigrants portrayed Somali refugees as a security threat by associating them with Al-Shabaab, the same violent and ruthless organisation that is preying on and displacing many thousands of innocent Somali men, women and children.

 The article claimed two Somalis were arrested last year with bomb-making material but failed to verify and is conspicuous in the absence of detail given to the allegation. Moreover, the article used this isolated example to erroneously generalise about all those Somalis fleeing the conflict.

 Millions have fled through Kenya and tens of thousands are still living in this beautiful country as refugees. For the past 20 years, these refugees have peacefully resided in Kenya. It is odd and wholly wrong to link these poor immigrants displaced by violent conflict to the very group that perpetrates the violence they are fleeing. 

 The Somali people and the Transitional Federal Government, which I am proud to represent, thanks the Kenyan people and government for their generosity in providing much-needed shelter during this time of crisis for my country. I know those refugees to be thankful to the people of Kenya for their benevolence and would not think of bringing any harm to their hosts. In contrast, Al-Shabaab is a foreign-led terrorist organization that takes advantage of the current social fragility to lure innocents into their ranks and is set on imposing a tyranny of mayhem on my fellow Somalis.

 These ruthless terrorists are a lost cause and are loathed by the majority for their ideals and barbarism. The Somali interim government - which was formed in Kenya – supported by African Union peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi is defeating Al-Shabaab throughout Somalia. The government continues to work for the good of the Somali people, push Al-Shabaab back and will not rest until peace is brought to Somalia.

Mohamed Ali Nur, is the Somali ambassador to Kenya

By Hassan Omar