Dekha Ibrahim Abdi
Encyclopedia
Dekha Ibrahim Abdi (1964 - 14 July 2011) was an ethnic Somali
peace activist based in Mombasa
, Kenya
. A Kenyan citizen, she worked as a consultant to government and civil society organisations.
. She was married to Dr. Hassan Nurrow Abdirahman with whom she had four children. The couple divorced in 2007 and in 2009, she married Abdinoor, a Somali ophthalmologist.
. She was also a founding member of the Wajir Peace and Development Committee, the Coalition for Peace in Africa, ACTION (Action for Conflict Transformation), and the Peace and Regeneration Oasis (PRO).
Dekha worked as a consultant trainer on peacebuilding and pastoralists' development with many local and international agencies in various countries, including Cambodia, Jordan, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Africa, Netherlands, Israel, Palestine, Zimbabwe, the UK, Uganda and Kenya. She was also an Associate of Responding to Conflict
and previously worked as RTC's Trainer and Learning Coordinator.
, often referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", which was presented at the Swedish Parliament by the Right Livelihood Award Foundation to those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The Jury commended her "for showing in diverse ethnic and cultural situations how religious and other differences can be reconciled, even after violent conflict, and knitted together through a cooperative process that leads to peace and development".
She was also honoured with Hessian Peace Prize of Germany in 2009.
, when their car crashed into a truck. Her husband and driver died instantly. Dekha sustained heavy injuries and was airlifted to Nairobi
. She died shortly afterwards at the Aga Khan Hospital
at 11.45 am, 14 July 2011. She was 47 years old.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
peace activist based in Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. A Kenyan citizen, she worked as a consultant to government and civil society organisations.
Personal life
Dekha was born in 1964 in WajirWajir
Wajir is a town in the North Eastern Province of Kenya. It is the capital of Wajir County.-History:A cluster of cairns near Wajir are generally ascribed by the local inhabitants to the Madanle, a semi-legendary people of high stature, who are associated with the Somali Ajuuraan. A. T...
. She was married to Dr. Hassan Nurrow Abdirahman with whom she had four children. The couple divorced in 2007 and in 2009, she married Abdinoor, a Somali ophthalmologist.
Career
Dekha was a trustee of Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA) and of NOMADIC, a pastoralist organisation based in WajirWajir
Wajir is a town in the North Eastern Province of Kenya. It is the capital of Wajir County.-History:A cluster of cairns near Wajir are generally ascribed by the local inhabitants to the Madanle, a semi-legendary people of high stature, who are associated with the Somali Ajuuraan. A. T...
. She was also a founding member of the Wajir Peace and Development Committee, the Coalition for Peace in Africa, ACTION (Action for Conflict Transformation), and the Peace and Regeneration Oasis (PRO).
Dekha worked as a consultant trainer on peacebuilding and pastoralists' development with many local and international agencies in various countries, including Cambodia, Jordan, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Africa, Netherlands, Israel, Palestine, Zimbabwe, the UK, Uganda and Kenya. She was also an Associate of Responding to Conflict
Responding to Conflict
Responding to Conflict is a non-governmental organisation based in Birmingham, England. RTC strives to provide training, advice, and support to people working for peace and human rights in areas affected by war or violent conflict. RTC has assisted both grass-roots activists and governmental...
and previously worked as RTC's Trainer and Learning Coordinator.
Awards
In 2007, Dekha was honoured with the Right Livelihood AwardRight Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
, often referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", which was presented at the Swedish Parliament by the Right Livelihood Award Foundation to those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The Jury commended her "for showing in diverse ethnic and cultural situations how religious and other differences can be reconciled, even after violent conflict, and knitted together through a cooperative process that leads to peace and development".
She was also honoured with Hessian Peace Prize of Germany in 2009.
Death
On 7 July 2011, Dekha, her husband Abdinoor, and their driver were on their way to a peace conference in GarissaGarissa
Garissa is a city in the North Eastern Province of Kenya. It is the capital of both the province and Garissa District.-Overview:Garissa is located at and has a population of 65,881 inhabitants . The Tana River flows through the city....
, when their car crashed into a truck. Her husband and driver died instantly. Dekha sustained heavy injuries and was airlifted to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. She died shortly afterwards at the Aga Khan Hospital
Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi
The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi is part of the Aga Khan Health Services . Established in 1958, the Hospital is a 254-bed long-term care facility offering quality general medical services, specialist clinics and high-tech diagnostic services....
at 11.45 am, 14 July 2011. She was 47 years old.