Listen to the Samburu Voice
I want to highlight and honour this comment that Richard L. posted several days ago, but deep down in the original, first blog. His is a far more important voice and witness than my words can be. Please read what he has said — again if you have already. Do not forget his voice.
Roxanne
“When a community is bomborded from left, right, centre and above we are left with nothing to do than sit and wait until we are all gone! Its despair total despair here.The borana are here, the somali are here! The governement is here and worst of all the famine I have never seen in my last 28 years of existence on this earth!
Last Saturday, 5th Sept 09, was one of the worst raid by the Borana! A friend visited the scene and took pictures of bodies riddled with gunshots that can only equal the black hawk down of the US soldiers klled in Somalia!. The only question that remain unanswered; one needs enormous resorces and logistical support to raid more than 3500 cattle that was driven away that morning! Worst still is the way this cattle disapear without trace-this must be modern raiding!
I met young boys who ran away that morning from their manyattas [houses]! Their descpription of the whole ordeal reminds one of the Sobibor massacre only that this time round the attackers didn’t have the gas chambers! One would describe how his brother was shot trying protect cattle from being driven away! The other tells how he tried to use a stone to deter a bandit with an automatic rifle! At the end of the day all is gone and the little boys were picked by their mothers after I managed to arrange accommodation for them at Archers post.
A permanent solution to this heinous act is required urgently! We are crying and asking the international community to come to our aid because the Govt we could have run to is watching while all this is happening at her doorstep!”
In my effort to see that this atrocities are heard I managed to secure an interview with one of the victims of last weekend brutal attack! He lost a whooping 252 heard of cattle!
His Name Hussein Leparmarai 60, a resident of Sere-olipi, approximately 60 km from archers post!.
Richard: Hi, we met last Saturday at Archers Post and I am sorry again for loss of your cattle!
Hussien: We are trying to come to terms but it’s difficult. I do not know where to start from. We are not crying so much for the loss of cattle but people’s lives!
Richard: Where are you [coming] from?
Hussein L.: Nairobi! I went to KENYA MEAT COMMISSION to see if the cattle were ferried there! Its had to be belief that the raiders took over 3700 cattle by foot! It’s imposible. You will need lorries [i.e. trucks] to ferry them. Unfortunately I haven’t seen any of our cows there! I left Mzee Lekwaruaki to continue. I had to rush home and see my Children.
Richard: Did you anticipate an attack of this magnitude!
Hussein: Never. This is the 7th time my cattle have been taken but this time round it was massive,well calculated and well planned! It
[is] more than a usual raid! The govt took over 4000 with lorries sometimes in April! This a bad year for us!
Richard: So what next for You?! Revenge!
Husein: Revenge will not help any one of us get back our cows! We do not want to shed more blood! We will talk to our neighbours! We are asking the gov’t to return the cattle they took from us. It’s difficult to say we shall 4give them but we have to if we have to live peacefully; but we can’t 4get!
Richard: How many of your children were in the scene at the time of attack!
Hussein: I got 12 children. Two were at the scene and are really
traumatised. One of my son just got admitted to the University
but am not sure he will go! I thought the rains will be here
in time for me to sell the cows; but the cows are gone to those who thought we don’t have children to feed and take to school! (almost shedding tears)
Richard: Any help from the Gov’t?!
Hussein: Don’t ask me that. I think you also know who they are helping!
Richard: Could you tell me the number of household affected?!
Hussein:There are many. Go to Archers [Post], Lerata, Sereolipi, Merille, Laisami and ask those questions! (getting angry now) Or else go to Archer’s police post. All this recorded in the OB!
Hussein: Do you have more quiz?
Richard: Yes, yes! What about parliamentary leadership?
Hussein: We are yet to hear this in parliament!
This was my verbertim with Hussein Leparmarai. At Isiolo 10th Sept 2009
I (Roxanne) received this e-mail today, commenting on Richard Lolosoli’s interview:
“I am a Samburu living abroad and very saddened by the news of what is happening in my homeland, but am also touched by your blogs. Thank you a lot. The man you interviewed, Housein Leparmarai, is my cousin……… we have lost all that we have.”