Former Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has received a major boost in his bid to recapture the seat after the Degodia clan endorsed him as a sole aspirant to succeeded Governor Ahmed Ali Muktar.
Abdullahi got the crucial “blessings” after representatives from nine of the 10 Degodia sub-clans held a meeting in various parts of Wajir town on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
They included Gelible, Masare, Jibrail, Dumaal, Fardanow, Abrisha, Idiris and Raqay of the dominant Degodia clan. The endorsement excluded the Fai community which has lined up at least three aspirants for the same seat.
They are Ugas Sheikh Mohamed, Nairobi South Hospital proprietor Hassan Mohamed and Environment CAS Mohamed Elmi.
The Tuesday meeting brought together about 500 elders from Nairobi, Mombasa, Wajir, Mandera and Garissa counties.
This came days after Abdullahi, who is famously known as Jiir, was also endorsed by his Mantaan sub-tribe on Sunday to vie for the seat.
“Cognisant of the political atmosphere in the country, we the Mantaan community nominate, the first governor of Wajir Ahmed Abdullahi, as our gubernatorial candidate for the 2022 general election,” Abdirashid Salat, a spokesman of the Mantaan Council of Elders said after the five hour meeting.
Salat went on, “We the Mantaan community will also endeavour to seek support from all other tribes and electorates in Wajir county. Having been long supporters of the ODM, we have also agreed to support the Presidential candidacy of Raila Odinga,” he added.
His sentiments were shared by Omar Hajji who said Mantaan sultanate and elders agreed to support the former county boss due to his credentials and sterling performance during his inaugural regime.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta has been to Wajir county and launched almost nine projects, and even spoke in the National Assembly where he said the example of devolution at work was in our county between 2013 and 2017,” Hajji said.
“Because of his past record and performance, we had no trouble in settling for him as our 2022 governor, and we know he will also be endorsed by our brothers from the Ajuran and Degodia clans, ” Hajji, a former KAanu chairman and Hadado councillor, added even as he rallied residents to back Abdullahi's bid.
In Wajir, politics revolves around the Degodia, Ogaden and Ajuran clans. With the help of elders, Abdullahi is expected to form coalitions with Ogaden and Ajuran sub-clans who are expected to share the deputy governor slot, Senatorial and Women Rep positions.
In an interview with The Star on Wednesday, Abdullahi said he is humbled and honoured by the immense support and goodwill wishes from the larger Degodia community.
“This follows the recent endorsement of my candidacy by the Mantaan family,” Abdullahi said.
Wajir county has a population of 720,000 and an area of 55,840.6 km2.
-Edited by SKanyara
