Former Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi’s quest to recapture the seat he lost to ambassador Mohamed Abdi Mohamoud in 2017 received a major boost on Sunday.
Members of the Somali business community at the Coast, led by chairman Mohammed Huri, endorsed Abdullahi saying their interests and that of the Degodia clan will best be served under him.
“In Wajir, what Abdullahi has done is there for everyone to see,” said Huri at the Emirates Hall in Makupa, Mombasa.
Huri and members of his Degodia clan had organised a prayer meeting attended by over 400 clan members living in Mombasa saying the road to redemption for Wajir is long and treacherous and needs God’s favour.
Huri and Abdullahi come from the same Degodia clan, the largest of the three major clans in the Somali community.
The others are Ajuran and Ogaden clans.
Wajir county politics is clan-based and an endorsement from one’s clan is the first major step in clinching a political seat.
Already, Abdullahi has been endorsed by the Degodia clan as the sole aspirant to succeed Governor Ahmed Ali Muktar, who was elevated after the impeachment of Ambassador Mohamud.
Muktar was Mohamud’s deputy.
Although he has not publicly declared any interest in any seat, there was speculation Muktar would go for the Wajir South MP seat.
However, after tasting power, he is now said to have changed his mind and would be interested in defending his current seat.
He is from the Ogaden clan, which is yet to endorse anyone.
On Sunday, Abdullahi said he will seek to recapture the seat on an ODM ticket.
ODM ALLEGIANCE
“I am ODM by blood. I support Baba (ODM leader Raila Odinga) to be the fifth President,” said the ex-governor.
Abdullahi said the support of the business community is crucial for his election saying it is investors who will build Wajir.
“We want to continue where we left. We were on a good trajectory before I was controversially ousted,” said the former governor.
Abdullahi said Wajir remains an ODM zone.
So far, five people have declared interest in the governor seat and four have been endorsed by their clans or sub-clans.
Apart from Abdullahi, famously known as Jiir (meaning rat) and who also belongs to the Mantaan sub-clan of the Degodia clan, others include Siyad Abdullahi, Mohamud Abdikadir, Hassan Wahiliye and Ugaas Sheikh.
Siyad holds dual citizenship. He is a Kenyan and an American and has been endorsed by his Mithimal sub-clan in the larger Degodia clan.
However, since the Degodia have already endorsed ex-Governor Abdullahi, they cannot endorse anyone else.
Siyad has decided he will skip the clan endorsement as go for the seat.
Abdikadir, who also comes from the same Mantaan sub-clan as ex-Governor Abdullahi, and the same Wajir West constituency, has also decided he will go for the seat without endorsement from the clan or sub-clan.
He also holds American citizenship and comes from the Wajir West constituency, whose sitting MP is Ahmed Kolosh.
Kolosh served as the chief officer for roads during Jiir’s administration.
Hassan Wahiliye, the deputy director of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission at the Coast, has been endorsed by his Fai sub-clan as its sole candidate for the Wajir governor seat.
The Fai sub-clan is the largest of the Degodia clan, giving him an advantage of numbers.
However, he has and most likely will not be endorsed by the Degodia clan because the clan has already settled on Abdullahi.
CONTROVERSY
Wahiliye’s endorsement has however caused controversy within the Fai sub-clan.
In 2017, the Fai sub-clan had settled on Ugaas Sheikh to be its candidate for the Governor seat.
However, three months later, the sub-clan changed its mind and recalled Sheikh, whom they wanted to support Ambassador Mohamud instead.
Sheikh agreed with the hope that the sub-clan will endorse him in 2022.
When the sub-clan however settled on Wahiliye, Sheikh felt betrayed and has decided he will go for the seat without the blessings of the sultanate.
This means there are two people from the Fai sub-clan going for the Wajir Governor seat.
The sub-clan had also lied up Nairobi South Hospital proprietor Hassan Mohamed and Environment CAS Mohamed Elmi for consideration.
Wajir politics is about clans and alliances.
The Ogaden and the Ajuran clans have yet to endorse anyone but are thought to be considering coming up with one strong candidate in an alliance.
“They may also have their candidates each,” said a source well versed in Wajir politics.
Wajir county has six constituencies, with four inhabited by the majority of Degodia sub-clans.
On Sunday, Huri said Wajir needs a governor who has the experience to turn potential into reality.
“We have been hurting all this time Abdullahi has been out of office,” said Huri.
Abdullahi said he believes Wajir will best be served with like-minded people.
“That is why I believe with Baba at the helm, and we at Wajir, our county will prosper even more,” said the ex-governor.
“I am convinced that should there be a free and fair election Baba will win fairly God willing,” said Abdullahi.
He said is ready for the ODM party primaries and welcomes any competitor.
“In whichever form,” replied Abdullahi when asked about his readiness for the primaries.
Former Wajir East MP Abbas Sheikh Mohamed appealed to Kenyans to maintain peace.
“We need to move as a country together. Never again are we going to be divided or kill one another because of politics,” said Mohamed.
He said Abdullahi is a peacemaker and his leadership will ensure peace prevails in Wajir.
Edited by D Tarus
