Former Minority Leader and ODM Chairman in Garissa County Mohamed Ali Sheikh, alias Amin Comp, was endorsed by a key clan in the area at the weekend to run for the Dadaab Constituency seat.
He will seek to oust the incumbent Farah Maalim.
The populous
Aden-Kheir family of the larger Aulyahan clan officially endorsed Ali as the
flag bearer to contest for the seat of Dadaab constituency in the upcoming 2027
election.
The event
was attended by the whole family, headed by the respected Ugaas Feisal Ugaas
Harun, Sagale Haret Abdikarim Salah and the family chairman Abdikadir Hussein
Shakul.
Ali said he was happy for the move, terming it a generational call to action.
He took the
opportunity to declare his interest in the seat, saying he is ready to serve.
“It is time
for Dadaab to move forward with fresh ideas, youthful energy, and
people-centred leadership,” he said.
He said he
is ready to lead the constituency and take development forward.
Clan
endorsements are key for candidates in the region.
Once a clan
endorses one, he or she makes a step closer to clinching the seat.
There is
ongoing lobbying in the region among many clans for preferred candidates for
various positions.
This will
get intense and aggressive ahead of the 2027 polls.
Ali served as the Minority Leader for Garissa County in the 2017-2022 period. He is a businessman.
Maalim is a veteran politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Lagdera Constituency from 29 December 1992 to 29 December 1997 and then from 27 December 2007 to 4 March 2013.
He the
current MP for the Dadaab constituency since August 9, 2022 and was elected on Wiper Democratic Party.
