Somali radio on peace mission

It was business as usual in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on April 22, 2014 even as security agents continued the search for people living in the country illegally. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL NATION MEDIA GROUP

By Rashid Abdi
Friday, April 25, 2014

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A leading FM radio station has begun broadcasting peace messages to the Somali community.

The messages ask community members to restore peace and security to the troubled Eastleigh in Nairobi where business has been paralysed in four weeks of security crackdown.

“Beware that if you are not working for peace, you are working for conflict. Let us all collectively work for peace,” says a short clip aired 10 times every day at prime time on Star FM.

The clip continues: “The sound you just heard is one you may not want to hear. It signifies insecurity. Peace is the foundation of life... Live in peace with your neighbours... This message was brought to you by Star FM, the voice of northeastern region.”

MALL ROOFTOP

The commercial station, which broadcasts from the rooftop of Eastleigh Shopping Mall, has a huge following in northern Kenya and parts of Somalia. A recent audience survey shows that 65 per cent of Somalis in Kenya listen to the radio regularly.

The station’s listenership has grown fast in four years and extended its reach by building more transmitters in the northern counties. It re-broadcasts major international radio news stations such as the VoA and the BBC. It also airs one-hour daily programmes in Kiswahili and Boran.

“Our aim is to bring people together. We need peace and without peace, there can be no development. Business cannot flourish in the absence of peace,” Mr Mohammed Osman, the radio’s managing director told the Nation.

Mr Osman said the Somali community was an oral society and radio was a powerful tool of communication, an ideal medium for advancing the “culture of peace”, tolerance and mutual co-existence.

He said the peace message was a “social responsibility” initiative by the management in the wake of the recent unrest and was not funded by the government or any organisation.

He said there was evidence that radio had a big influence in restoring peace between warring communities. He cited a case in which the radio’s special peace messages at the height of the Garre-Degodia clashes in Mandera County in 2013 had “a calming effect” and contributed to the peace accord between the two Somali clans.

“The restoration of peace and security is not a job for the State alone. We Somalis must also actively contribute positively and our special peace appeals are just a small part,” Mr Osman said.

On Tuesday, an extensive field survey by the Nation in Eastleigh showed that the area was slowly returning to normal after weeks of massive security swoops and arrests. (READ: Kenyans arrested in police swoop talk of harassment)

There is heavy police presence and most of the roads into and out of Eastleigh are manned by armed police officers conducting “stop-and-search” operations.

Residents say there is less “aggression” by the police and most officers are “more courteous” when stopping people for questioning.

“I have detected a big change of their style in recent days. We welcome this. The officers are more respectful and there are fewer home raids,” Mr Abdihakim Mursal, a waiter at a local restaurant told the Nation.

The upbeat mood by residents and the softening of the operation comes days after a meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and 26 Muslim MPs and leaders attended by Deputy President William Ruto and security chiefs.

HUGE MUSLIM BACKLASH

According to sources, an agreement was reached at the April 17 meeting at State House to “re-calibrate” the operation and make it “more targeted” in response to the huge Somali and Muslim backlash.

There are also reports that a committee of community leaders is to be set up to advise and work with the security services to ensure the operation does not aggravate the situation, lead to abuses and further inflame Somali sentiments.

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