Where are you from: Is Ali Hersi an #EnemyOfTheStateKE?

On 26^th November 2013, the Society for International Development– East Africa (SID East Africa) released a report on the extent of inequality in Kenya. Definitely, this report was likely to put the people behind it at logger-heads with those in government who would not want such a shameful revelation about a country that is about to celebrate its jubilee year. However, SID stood its ground and let the cat out of the bag. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics was also kind enough to help SID access data that would support the report in a major way.  

Ali Hersi is the current director at the SID regional office for East Africa. He can speak fluently in English, Somali, Kiswahili and Polish. Below, are his own words as he reveals more about his life  and how he came to be who he is today.

"This is a question I encounter numerous times but never quite certain how to answer.  When asked by a non-Kenyan, it’s easy - I am from Kenya.  But when asked by a Kenyan, what should I say?  You see, I am a Kenyan of Somali extraction.  As such, going by our usual Kenyan logic, I should be from North Eastern. Problem is, I am not. 

I was born in Nanyuki, at the foothills of Mt. Kenya.  But then again, I am not considered to be “someone from Mt. Kenya”.  To complicate matters even more my father was born in Nairobi as were some of my siblings.  A couple of others were born in Londiani.  So, where am I from?
I started school at Nanyuki Primary then proceeded to Nanyuki Boys before my family decided to be part of the rural urban migration and moved to Nairobi. I completed high school at Highway Secondary School, South B. 

After my A’ levels I was certain about one thing: I had to go to a university out of the country. It really didn't matter where.   Considering my family wasn't in a position to pay for my studies, I started hunting for scholarships.  I also did not want to burden my family any more after putting me through school up to A levels.

One day I came across an advert in the papers by the Ministry of Education for scholarships being offered by the governments of China, Russia and Poland.  Well, my dream wasn't really to study behind the Iron Curtain but then again beggars cannot be choosers. So I applied for a scholarship to go to Poland.

I reckoned that Poland may be in Eastern Europe but what the heck…it was still Europe! After a couple of weeks I was called for an interview at Jogoo House. I presented my papers and cooked up some arguments why I wanted to study overseas and not at the prestigious University of Nairobi.

Then the dreaded question came: Where are you from? I said Laikipia District. The chair of the panel goes …Garissa? I say no, I have never been to Garissa. The question was repeated a few more times and each time I gave the same answer. It was clear the panel didn't believe me and was at a loss about what do make of me.

After some consultations they called someone from within the building who hailed from Nanyuki to grill me some more. I was asked to explain exactly where our house was, describe the layout of the town as well as some key landmarks etc. Finally, they accepted I was actually from Nanyuki. I must have done well in the interview as I was one of 12 or so (selected from about 50) candidates whose names were forwarded to the Embassy of Poland for a second interview. Fortunately, there I was not asked where I come from. To cut a long story short, 6 of us were finally selected and in a couple of months found ourselves in cold, freezing Poland.

In Poland I was supposed to study medicine and become a doctor. That’s what my family wanted. As the only one who made it to university I had to study something “serious”. After a couple of years in medical school I felt this was not for me. I switched to humanities and took up, Political Science, majoring in International Relations. Needless to say my family was hugely disappointed. But I took solace in the fact that I was the one who “hustled” this scholarship and my studies were not costing them anything.

On my return to Kenya I worked with different humanitarian and development agencies. I have always been passionate about working with the poor and marginalised. I think at heart I am a grassroots person. I derive the greatest pleasure interacting with “real” people living “real” lives at the grassroots. 

My work took me all over the arid areas of Kenya, from Lokichoggio to Mandera to Magadi. I later moved to work in South Sudan. In 2005 I took a break and went back to school for a second MA, this time in Peace Studies. Again, I was fortunate to get a scholarship – this time from Fulbright. After my studies I worked in Somalia and later in Ethiopia before returning home and joining SID at the end of 2011.I am married and have a daughter, Aneesah who is 14 and a son Bilal who is 8." Is Society for International Development's Ali Hersi an #EnemyOfTheStateKE?