Saturday, March 16, 2013

Reduce suffering in northern Kenya

10:33 PM Borana Broadcasting Television


Posted Tuesday, June 15 2010 on Daily Nation

Northern Kenya was described by a British writer as one half of Kenya which the other half knows nothing about and cares very little to know what is happening.

This area has suffered inequalities due to historical injustices, a situation that has denied locals their fundamental civic, political, social, cultural and economic rights.

It is a well-known fact that Northern Kenya, and specifically upper Eastern Province, has a low literacy rate of 8.3 per cent compared to the nation’s 61.6 per cent. This is a major contributor to poverty.
The region suffers marginalisation and the levels of insecurity betray characteristics of an ungoverned area. The Shifta War, which ended in 1967, contributed to insecurity and persistent banditry.

The major economic activity is pastoralism. Challenges encountered in this sector include prolonged droughts, inability to access relevant information or marketing and lack of organised livestock marketing systems.
Despite the appointment of one of our own, Isiolo North MP M. A. Kuti as the minister for Livestock, no improvement has been seen in this sector.

It is a pity that the ministry was ranked last among ministries and government parastatals during the last performance index.

Other major challenges include food insecurity, with many residents depending on relief food, uneven water distribution and a poor transport network.
The government has tried to decentralise development funds, but due to the selfishness of many leaders, this money only benefits a small group of people.

As a result, areas such as Malka Gala, Dadacha Basa and Badana lack water both for human and livestock, resulting in cholera outbreaks. Action needs to be taken.

HASSAN SHANO,
Isiolo

10:31 PM Borana Broadcasting Television

BORANA WOMEN NARRATE THEIR ORDEAL DURING THE SHIFTA WAR

10:30 PM Borana Broadcasting Television


Posted: June 16, 2011

The Borana community was forced into prostitution during the shifta war of the1960’s to the 1990s the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission heard yesterday.
  
Former Moyale Member of Parliament Guyo Halake who served in the 4th Parliament told the TJRC hearing in Moyale, that their women were forced to have sex with state security officers to ensure their men were not suspected or arrested for being part of the shifta militia and to earn money.

The small payment received from the security officers would be used to provide for their families who were economically challenged as the war escalated, Mr. Halake said pointing out that the government crippled the community economically as it tried to retrieve firearms allegedly in its possession.

“The government knew that livestock was our main source of livelihood yet the officers killed all the animals, leaving us economically vulnerable,” said Mr. Halake

Abdi Lafa from the smallest ethnic group in Moyale known as Saknye said they were victimized by the government.

“The government involved us in the shifta war because we were surrounded by two communities who were alleged to be part of the militia. In the process of flushing out shiftas we were subjected to constant abuse and forced to cross the border into Somalia ,” said Mr. Lafa.

He appealed to the government to ensure their protection so that the rest of the community could return from Somalia.

The Commission is hearings continue in Marsabit today and tomorrow.

Borana’s Ethiopian king fails to endorse aspirants.

10:21 PM Borana Broadcasting Television



Updated Friday, December 21 2012 at 00:00 GMT+3


By Ali Abdi

The Borana traditional king who reigns in Ethiopia has spoken again on the community’s politics in Marsabit County.

The Abba Gadha, Guyo Gobba met delegates representing Moyale MP Mohamud Ali and his rival Chachu Tadicha, an NGO official, in Moyale, Ethiopia on Tuesday afternoon but never endorsed any candidate for the Marsabit governor seat. Mr Gobba was reported to have asked both sides to go out and seek votes from the electorates peacefully.

The man whose decision has never been defied in the past addressed the delegates on the sideline of a gathering meant to discuss new Ethiopian policy for residents of southern Ethiopia. During a previous meeting held last July, he endorsed Tadicha, a decision that caused an uproar among Kenyan Borana .

Elders Diba Guyo, Roba Guyo, Boru Jillo, Halake Godana, Guyo Dulacha and Hussein Arero represented Mr Ali. Tadicha was represented by former Moyale MP Mohammed Galgalo and elders Sora Ganso, Tuke Huka, Khalich Halake, Godana Sharamo, Mohammed Haji Wario and Hoche Galma.
Both sides had requested the Abba Gadha to help them make a decision on who should be the community’s flagbearer for the second time.

‘‘The Abba Gadha came to Moyale town of Ethiopia where he met government officials to discuss Ethiopian issues. The Kenyans took this opportunity to meet the leader later,’’ said a source who declined to be identified for security reasons.

He said Gobba agreed to their request, which was discussed in less than 30 minutes. The Abba Gadha came with 20 members of his assembly while the 11 Kenyan elders represented the two rivals.
Both Ali and Tadicha’s representatives yesterday confirmed the meeting took place but differed on the ruling of the Abba Gadha.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Origins of the Borana Gada System

8:54 PM Borana Broadcasting Television


The Origins of the Borana Gada System

C. R. Hallpike
Africa: Journal of the International African Institute
Vol. 46, No. 1 (1976), pp. 48-56
Published by: Cambridge University Press
Article Stable URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/1159092

Monday, April 16, 2012

Borana Boy - Wario

7:40 PM Borana Broadcasting Television

Borana Student Advancement

7:35 PM Borana Broadcasting Television

Championed by Fuller Torrey (Ethiopia staff: 64–66)

STARTED IN 2004 by the Ethiopian registered NGO Mega Vision Developmental Association (MVDA), the Borana Student Advancement project provides summer classes for selected students from the Borana region in far southern Ethiopia. Classes are taught in Borana towns by university students who come from that region. During the summer of 2011, 357 students (222 males, 135 females) from grades 4 to 8 were taught by 32 university students (only 4 females) in two towns, Mega and Hidilola.
Students in the Borana region are disadvantaged both because many of their families are semi-nomads, and also because initial school teaching is done in the local language (Oromiffa) and so their skills in Amharic and English are behind those of students in many other Ethiopian regions. Consequently the students find it difficult to compete in national exams and for university entrance. This project attempts to level the playing field by providing Borana students with additional training in Amharic, English, mathematics, and the sciences. It also provides badly needed summer jobs for university students from this region.
MVDA also has a program to provide educational material support for girls who, as we all know, face serious obstacles in getting an education in Ethiopia. During the school year of 2011–12 the program gave extra assistance to 83 girls chosen on the basis of their scholastic performance. (university – 5 girls; college [3-year program] – 10; secondary school [grade 9–12] – 57; middle school – 11) They received funding for school uniforms, books, school supplies and residential house rental cost for those who do not live with their parents.
The Borana Student Advancement project is administered by Teshome Shibre Kelkile, M.D., Ph.D. and Woizero Tirufat Bekele.
To learn how to make a donation to the Borana Student Advancement project
About the RPCV Legacy Program and how you can help
FROM 1962 TO 1976, 1995 to 1999, and 2007 onward more than 2,500 Peace Corps Volunteers worked in education, health, agriculture, community development and other fields in Ethiopia and Eritrea, countries that remain among the poorest in the world.
In 2003 Ethiopia & Eritrea RPCVs established the RPCV Legacy Program™ to allow returned Peace Corps Volunteers from these two countries to continue their legacy of service and assistance. To be part of the Program each project must be proposed by an RPCV or EE Staff “champion,” and reviewed and approved by the E&E RPCVs board of directors.
The champion donates 10% of the goal for the project, is manager of the project working closely with a member of the E&E RPCVs board.
As of December 31, 2011, the RPCV Legacy Program has raised nearly US $150,00.00 for eight important education and health projects in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Four projects have met their goals while four others are ongoing. Our current projects are:
YOU can help by making a tax-deductible donation of any amount to one or more of the RPCV Legacy Program projects. A US dollar still goes a long way in Ethiopia and Eritrea!
Your gift may be made in your name, anonymously, or in honor or memory of a friend, family member or other loved one.

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