Eastleigh leaders address insecurity, drug abuse, and tribalism at community forum

A forum aimed at addressing the challenges facing Eastleigh was held on Tuesday. The forum was organised by the Eastleigh Business District Association (EBDA) in conjunction with Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan.

The event brought together a wide spectrum of community leaders and stakeholders, including business people, elders, Islamic scholars, security officials, and local political representatives.

Among the top attendance were Kamukunji Sub-county Deputy County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi, EBDA Chairman Ahmed Abdullahi, Eastleigh North Member of County Assembly Ahmedkadar Dabar, and the area's MP Yusuf Hassan. The forum aimed to create a platform where community issues could be addressed collaboratively.

One of the central themes of the meeting was the insecurity issue in Eastleigh. Community leaders and security officials discussed the increasing instances of young people hiding behind clans involved in criminal activities that are terrorising the residents.

The rise of social media as a tool for spreading divisive clan-based narratives was also raised. Participants highlighted how social media platforms are being used to fuel tribalism and clannism, further deepening divisions in the community.

Another major issue discussed was the rampant abuse of drugs, including shisha and other hard substances. Many speakers at the event expressed concern over the impact of drugs on the community, particularly the youth.

The community was urged to address the growing problem of immorality and indiscipline among young people, which is believed to be partly driven by drug use.

The use of maslaha systems to resolve serious crimes was another topic of debate. Islamic scholars, also known as Ulamaas, provided religious perspectives on the matter. They cited Quranic verses and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), emphasising that allowing clan influence to interfere with justice goes against Islamic principles.

Many of them criticised the practice of elders intervening to remove criminals from police custody, stating that those who break the law should be held accountable regardless of their family or tribal affiliations.

Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan was part of the organisers of the forum. (Photo: Ahmed Shafat)

MP Yusuf took a strong stance against the misuse of his name or political influence for illegal activities. He condemned individuals who exploit clan affiliations to commit crimes, urging the residents of Eastleigh to reject divisive tribalism.

"You have to fight tribalism and those who want to divide us. If we do not stop them now, the fire they start will destroy the blessings we currently enjoy," said the MP, warning that failure to address these issues could undermine the stability and prosperity of the community.

Ahmed Abdullahi, the Chairman of EBDA, assured the public that the association would continue working closely with the Kamukunji Sub-county Security Committee to address security concerns. He stressed the need for criminals to be apprehended and brought to justice without any interference from the community.

"If someone commits a crime, please do not wait for anything else. Arrest him immediately and ensure they face the law," Ahmed said, encouraging the police and other security agencies to act swiftly in dealing with criminal activity.

Kamukunji Sub-county Deputy County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi also addressed the problem of drug abuse, which he identified as a major contributor to crime in the area. He promised to lead a multi-agency crackdown on pharmacies that operate without licenses and could potentially be distributing harmful drugs in the community.

"We will conduct an operation in all the pharmacies in Eastleigh to identify those that are operating without valid licenses," said Mwiwawi, stressing the importance of curbing the illegal distribution of drugs as a way to reduce crime.

Eastleigh Business District Association Chairman Ahmed Abdullahi while addressing the attendees of the forum. (Photo: Ahmed Shafat)

MCA Ahmedkadar also weighed in on the need for the community to be united. He called on residents to avoid using clan affiliations to attack each other, especially on social media, warning that such actions could harm the business climate in Eastleigh.

"If we abuse each other based on clan affiliations, businesses will suffer," said Dabar.

He added that the community was in a privileged position with substantial government representation, and it was time to focus on using those blessings for the good of everyone.

The dialogue forum ended with a call to action for the entire Eastleigh community to work together to address the pressing issues of security, drug abuse, and tribalism. Leaders urged everyone to focus on building a peaceful, united, and prosperous community for future generations.