• At least four candidates have declared interest in the seat.
• The contest is between the West and East voting blocs.
As the 2022 election draws near, clans in Wajir have started forming alignments and realignments as they position themselves for various seats.
Politics in the area revolve around Degodia, Ogaden and Ajuran. Various governorship hopefuls have started meeting elders from different clans.
At least four hopefuls have declared their interest in the seat. They are former Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, Ugas Sheikh Mohamed, Nairobi South Hospital proprietor Hassan Mohamed and Environment CAS Mohamed Elmi.
The contest is between the West and East voting blocs. The latter consists of Wajir East and Tarbaj constituencies, while the former has Eldas and Wajir West.
During the 2013 general election, an alliance that brought together the three clans delivered victory, while Fai clan members who won the governorship seat have been meeting to plan how to field a candidate.
Already, Wajir and Eldas have settled on former Governor Abdullahi from the Matan subclan of Degodia to contest for the seat.
In an interview with the Star in Garissa on Monday, Abdullahi said he was humbled by the overwhelming support from residents, saying the final endorsement will be done this year.
“I have been receiving encouraging messages from Wajir residents. I assure them that I will not let them down. We are determined to bring back Wajir on track,” he said.
Abdullahi a strong ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga, is credited with setting up county structures and generally transforming them.
He said he will prioritise education.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO
“Education is a powerful weapon that has changed society, bred hope and confidence for the future,” Abdullahi said.
Abdullahi commonly known as jiir is now a senior economic adviser on World bank projects to Treasury CS Ukur Yatani.
He regrets that the county has fallen from grace to grass saying the top on his list will be reviving hope and correct the mistakes made by his predecessor.
Since 2017, Wajir has been making headlines for different reasons.
The recently impeached Governor Mohamed Abdi tried to storm office armed with a court paper he claimed granted him stay orders.
However, Ahmed Mukhtar, his former deputy who is now the county boss lashed out at Abdi saying he was hell-bent on creating unnecessary tension in the county.
It is not yet clear which seat the former who remains powerful will be going for or which alliance he will join.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris