Remarks by Yusuf Hassan, the MP Kamukunji, at the NEPUSA

conference in Kasarani.
24 October 2015
I want to thank the dynamic chairperson of NEPUSA, Sudays Hassan
Korane. I want to thank the organizers and the leadership of NEPUSA.
You are remarkable. I want to just say thank you to all of you for your
love, for your support, and encouragement.
I am delighted to be here and to be part of this extraordinary gathering.
We have here with hundreds of young Somalis who have come from
colleges and universities across the country. This is an amazing and
indeed a historic event.
To my knowledge , there hasn't been a meeting of this kind in this
country. I see here a new dynamic and educated force that is
awakening to its historic role in our society, our country and continent,
and indeed the world. I could not have imagined that one day I will be
standing in front of so many of you. Despite the rough and hard road,
we had to travel in our troubled history, this shows how far we have
come.
You come from a seriously underdevelopment and neglected region. It's
population lives in grinding poverty and suffers from hunger, chronic
diseases and high levels of illiteracy. Besides, it is a region bedeviled
by chronic insecurity and instability. At the national level, the Somali
community is subjected to disproportionate discrimination. This is
unacceptable in the 21st century.
We must address and deal with the security challenges that the region
and the community face today. In talking about security, we cannot
ignore the elephant in the room - the growing threat of violent
extremism and its consequences - on Northern Kenya and the Somali
community.
Now let's be honest. Some of the security problems we have are selfinflicted. It is within our power to end the debilitating clan conflicts in
our midst , we must work had to create peace in our communities, to

heal the wounds and promote sustainable co-existence and

cooperation.
We have in our midst a growing number of young people who have been
radicalized either by socio-economic problems or the injustices they
face. But while I fully understand the myriad problems they encounter in
their daily lives - nothing justifies the path and course of action they
have chosen to seek redress. Violent extremism is unacceptable and
immoral. We must condemn it and stand together with other Kenyans to
counter violent extremism. We must banish all forms of extremism and
intolerance within and without our community.
At the same time, as a country we must address the underlying
problems that give raise to resentment and alienation. We must give
equal opportunities to our youth, we must give justice to our youth, we
must give hope to our youth, and a stake in the future of our community
and country. Only then we can seriously embark on a development
agenda that will put our community and region on the path to progress.
We are an emerging democracy, with a new constitution that guarantees
the fundamental rights of all its citizens. The preamble of our new
constitution reads as follows:
-- Proud of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, and determined to
live in peace and unity as one indivisible sovereign nation.
-- Recognizing he aspirations of all Kenyans for a government based on
the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy,
social justice and the rule of law.
We can seek redress against violations and pursue our democratic and
human rights constitutionally. The constitution should be our shield and
defender.
The struggle for change and a better society will shortly fall on your
shoulders. You must have the strength, the stamina, the character, the
commitment, the courage and the determination to shoulder it and move
your community and country to a higher level.

Your grandparents, your parents and my generation were not fortune to

have the education, the skills and the know-how you have and
economic, political and constitutional opportunities that we enjoy today.
No generation is better prepared and equipped to change the status
quo, change your community and region and change Kenya and Africa.
The struggle for that change is your struggle. From the moment you step
out of the comfort of your colleges and universities, much is expected of
you - not only by your family but also your community and country, and
you will be expect to provide leadership and drive the social, economic
and political advancement of your community and region and be a trail
blazer in Kenya and the world
I challenge you to seize the moment, rise and shine, and scale to new
heights, and be proud sons and daughters of your community and
country.
As Mahatma Gandhi said " be the change you want to be".
I wish you well in this demanding but rewarding journey in your life.
Wasafiri msichoke safari ni ndefu.
Thank you so much.