Garissa senator aspirant urges residents to shun clan, ethnic politics

Women groups from Garissa at the meeting. They endorsed Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamed for the senatorial seat /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamed, a sheikh and a senatorial aspirant during a meeting with women groups in Garissa /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Women groups from Garissa at the meeting. They endorsed Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamed for the senatorial seat /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Women groups from Garissa at the meeting. They endorsed Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamed for the senatorial seat /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Residents of Garissa have been urged to reject clan and ethnic-based politics and instead focus on issue-driven leadership when electing leaders.

Since independence, the Northeastern region has largely practised negotiated democracy, with elders vetting and endorsing candidates to represent specific clans for political seats.

In some cases, elders hold inter-clan talks, forming alliances and sharing positions among clans. Candidates backed through such deals often go on to win by landslides.

Opposition to the system has grown in recent years, with groups such as youth and women citing exclusion from the process and limited access to leadership opportunities.

Senatorial aspirant Ahmed Mohamed said the era of clan and ethnic politics should end to allow issue-based choice. He spoke at a meeting with women groups in Garissa.

Mohamed, popularly known as Sharawe, said the approach had denied the region development, arguing that leaders often secure re-election by appeasing a few elders rather than delivering services.

He said electing leaders on clan, ethnic and personal interests had contributed to Garissa county lagging behind in development.

Mohamed, a renowned cleric, said his Senate bid was driven by the need to strengthen oversight and ensure prudent use of public funds.

“There is a need to shift our political discourse from ethnic, clan and personal interests to a broader idea of ‘we, the people of Garissa’,” he said.

“Sixty years after independence and 13 years since devolution, this county is not where it should be. We want inclusive, issue-based politics to take Garissa further.”

He said endorsement by women leaders, two weeks after similar backing from religious leaders, was a major boost to his campaign.

Mohamed is the first candidate to declare interest in the Senate seat, which will fall vacant after incumbent Senator Abdul Haji announced plans to vie for governor.