City hospital owner launches bid for Wajir governor

The proprietor of Nairobi South Hospital has launched his campaign for the Wajir governor seat after the Fai sultanate endorsed Hassan Wehliye. 

Dr Adam Hassan, commonly known as Fuje, and Ugas Sheikh Mohamed, were locked out three months ago when the sultanate declared Wehliye the sole flag bearer.

The elders asked any other aspirant who was dissatisfied with their decision to appeal.

Hassan said he had taken an oath before the sultanate while submitting his application that he will accept any decision if it will be just and fair, adding that that is why he chose to be silent and instead appeal the decision.

He spoke while addressing his supporters in Wajir town.

While declaring his bid for Wajir top post, Hassan did not criticise the October Fai sultanate verdict, which favoured Wehliye.

He however, challenged the community to use leadership quality and past achievements in the management of public entities as the yardstick to pick candidates.

“Honestly, I must admit that I was not satisfied with the verdict and I have never wanted to disagree or criticise the sultanate publicly and that is why I accepted it in the first place.

"But after wide consultations with elders, religious leaders, professionals, women and the youth I became convinced that Wajir needs a leader with the experience, expertise and knowledge to make the change it so desires," the former NHIF boss said.

"Today, I officially launch my campaign to be the next governor of Wajir knowing very well the myriad of challenges we are faced with, among them an ailing health sector which needs serious, urgent and proper management," he added.

"We admit tens of patients from Wajir every month at the Nairobi South Hospital. The referrals are so basic that it can be done here in Wajir.

He said some patients can't afford the cost of a private hospital and he has been forced to give them significant discounts or treat them for free. This, he says, should not be happening in this day and age of devolution.

Hassan's bid comes a fortnight after a section of religious leaders from Wajir submitted an appeal to the sultanate, demanding for revision of all results. The results are expected to be announced on January 15th.

In the letter submitted two weeks ago, Sheikh Osman Mohamed, Sheikh Mohamud Mohamed, Sheikh Hirab Hillow and Idris Musa said they disagree with the sultanate verdict.

“We respectfully disagree with the outcome and seek that the decision be set aside,” the letter addressed to the Fai-sultanate and signed by the four clerics under the Muntada Ulama Fai said.

The clerics insisted that for the confusion to be settled as quickly as possible the sultanate must make public the scorecard they used to endorse Wehliye.

Hassan becomes the second governorship hopeful to publicly register his dissatisfaction with the October Fai-sultanate decision.

He joins other top politicians from the region who distanced themselves from the highly criticised negotiated democracy such as Garissa Township MP Aden Duale and Education CAS Hassan Noor.

The leaders have decided to go against clan backing and proceed with their campaigns.

Wajir political commentators claim the tussle among aspirants from the Fai clan which is one of the major sub-clans among the Degodia might work against them in the event they decide to go all the way to the ballot.

Politics in the area revolves around Degodia, Ogaden and Ajuran.

Wajir county has six constituencies, with four inhabited by majority of Degodia sub-clans.

Fai community has 14 subsections, each headed by a traditional leader known as Ugas who reports directly to a Sultan.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)