Garissa Senator Abdul Haji with community members of the Rer Ali sub-clan of the larger Aulihan /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Emerging clan alignments, rival endorsements and escalating political rhetoric have exposed deep divisions in the county's political landscape.
At the centre of the succession contest is Garissa Senator Abdul Haji, who has declared his interest in the governorship and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, whom Haji has repeatedly accused of interfering in the county's politics.
The race gathered momentum in March when elders from the Samawadhal clan endorsed Haji as their sole candidate for governor.
The move was widely seen as positioning him as the community's flag bearer ahead of negotiations with other clans in Garissa's complex political landscape.
However, the endorsement immediately exposed divisions within the clan. Some elders and influential community members rejected the process, accusing those who presided over it of favouritism and a lack of transparency.
Among the dissenters was former Ijara MP Ibrahim Abbas, who had also sought the endorsement but lost to Haji.
Abbas questioned the credibility of the process, arguing that it did not reflect the wishes of the wider community.
The divisions widened two weeks ago when a rival faction allied to Abbas oversaw the coronation and endorsement of Mohamed Abdi Samad in Masalani Town as an alternative community candidate.
The ceremony, attended by politicians opposed to the earlier decision to back Haji, signalled an open challenge to the initial endorsement and highlighted the growing contest for influence within the Samawadhal community.
The latest development appears to have prompted Haji's renewed political offensive.
Addressing members of the Rer Ali sub-clan of the larger Aulihan community, Haji accused unnamed political forces of attempting to divide the Samawadhal community to split its vote.
Although he did not mention anyone by name, the senator repeatedly used parables that appeared to refer to Duale.
He accused him of meddling in Garissa politics and sponsoring divisions within the Samawadhal clan.
"Leo hapa Garissa iko mtu anatukoroga. Si mnamjua? Akikaa na watu wake anawaambia Abdul Haji ni adui yetu. Lakini mimi nimesema, kama jamii ya Samawadhal, tutafanya kazi na Aulihan," Haji said.
In another apparent reference to the Cabinet Secretary, Haji described him as "mtu wa SHA" before saying he would now call him "mtu wa SHIA".
He suggested that the CS had crossed political boundaries by allegedly interfering in the affairs of another community.
The senator further alleged that his political rivals financed the installation of a parallel Sultan, describing the move as contrary to Somali tradition.
Haji said elders told him that crowning another Sultan while the current holder is still alive symbolically amounts to removing the sitting traditional leader, whose position is hereditary.
"I consulted elders who told me that such an action is like killing the current Sultan. We know who financed those events and we are ready for him," he said.
Haji also argued the political attacks against him reflected growing anxiety among his rivals over his expanding support base.
He cited backing from the influential Aulihan community, one of the largest clans within the Ogaden, saying the alliance had unsettled his competitors.
"Everywhere they go they tell people Abdul Haji is their enemy. I have become their enemy simply because I have the support of both Aulihan and Samawadhal," he told supporters.
Political observers say the rivalry between Haji and Duale is increasingly shaping the direction of Garissa politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
Although Duale has not publicly declared support for any governor candidate, Haji's repeated references to "outside forces" suggest the governor's race is increasingly being framed as a proxy contest between two influential political figures with deep political roots in the county.
The unfolding contest is also exposing the delicate relationship between traditional leadership and electoral politics.
Clan endorsements have historically played a decisive role in Garissa elections, often shaping voting patterns long before formal campaigns begin.
If the current divisions persist, analysts say the race could move beyond traditional clan arithmetic into a highly competitive multi-candidate contest, in which alliances forged closer to the election may ultimately determine the outcome.
Beyond the political rhetoric, Haji enters the race with significant political pedigree.
He is serving his second term as Garissa Senator after succeeding his late father, former Defence Minister and Senator Mohamed Yusuf Haji.
He is also the younger brother of National Intelligence Service Director-General Noordin Haji.
So far, six candidates have declared interest in succeeding Governor Nathif Jama.
Besides Haji, the race includes former Governor Ali Korane, former Lagdera MP Mohamed Shidiye, former Principal Secretary Abdi Dubat and Water Resources Management Authority chief executive officer Moulid Shuriye.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Garissa's governor contest is evolving into far more than a battle between individual candidates. It reflects the enduring influence of clan politics, where endorsements by elders often shape electoral outcomes long before campaigns officially begin. The emergence of rival candidates from within the same community suggests that traditional consensus-building mechanisms are under strain.
While Senator Abdul Haji has framed the dispute as external interference, the competing endorsements reveal deeper internal divisions over leadership and political direction. Unless the factions reconcile, the fragmentation could alter the county's electoral arithmetic, forcing candidates to seek broader cross-clan alliances rather than relying solely on traditional voting blocs.
Community members of the Rer Ali sub-clan of the larger Aulihan endorsed Garissa senator Abdul Haji for governor. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Garissa Senator Abdul Haji interacts with Community members of the
Rer Ali sub-clan of the larger Aulihan./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Garissa Senator Abdul Haji has a word with former Lagdera MP
Mohamed Hire during a meeting with community members of the Rer Ali sub-clan of the
larger Aulihan. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Garissa Senator Abdul Haji is lifted shoulder high by community members of the Rer Ali sub-clan of the larger Aulihan. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Ambia Hussein, a woman leader from the rer Ali sub clan of the larger Aulihan speaking at the meeting. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Garissa senator and governor aspirant Abdul Haji and other leaders join
traditional dancers at the meeting./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
