I believe this is the end my El-Adde quest, we all lost country men who choose to live a life if service in the defense of this nation.Our government is silent about what happened and society is slowly moving on, it's attention held by the outrage of the day as revealed to us by the different arms of government and the media (main stream + social)
As I've said previously we can't forget these tragedies, they are an opportunity for us to engage in some self examination as a nation.
Self examination isn't a bad thing, our leaders shouldn't fear it, it gives an opportunity to admit our failings, learn from them and save lives in the future.
Saving lives now and in the future is of paramount importance, I'm sure you'd agree.
The veil of silence swiftly raised around the loss we suffered in El-Adde, does it do justice to the memories of the lives that were lost? Will we have a chance to celebrate these service men who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service of humanity.I think not
Will we be able to identify and remedy the failings that led to such a massive loss of life? With a veil of silence - there will be no catharsis for the family's and society.
Will we be able to hold those who allowed these failings to account for their errors? I think not with a veil of silence
Holding those who are responsible doesn't end with the elimination of the ALS perpetrators. There are those within the Kenyan establishment who must be held accountable and I'll give you some scenarios in which Kenyans should be held to account:
- Equipment: should we find that our soldiers had substandard equipment for the area of operations - then the purchasers must be held to account no matter their station in life or office in government
- Tactics - If we became complacent in the area of operations then those who allowed such complacency through omission or commission must be held to account no matter their station in life or office in government
- Personnel - if the personnel at that base were the wrong personnel for that theater of operations through poor recruitment then those responsible for recruitment must be held to account and the process must change.
We will benefit from self examination, our society will heal and will become better and through becoming better we will heal and in turn be able to bring healing to the people of Somalia (yes it's possible)
Purpose to never forget................
Map Coordinates 2°40'52.99"N, 41°19'40.75"E
