Auliyahan community hails Ruto over diplomatic appointment

Mohamed Sheikh Salat, the Member of County Assembly for Labasigale Ward, reading the community’s press statement. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Members from the Auliyahan community speaking to the press at a Garissa hotel./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Mohamed Hussein Nur [C], Kenya’s Deputy Ambassador to Dar es Salaam, poses for a group photo with family, friends, and community members at a Garissa hotel. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Rashid Garane, an elder from the community speaking to the press. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Gabow Abdian, an elder, speaking to the press. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Members of the Auliyahan community in Garissa County have praised President William Ruto for appointing CPA Mohamed Hussein Nur as Kenya’s Deputy Ambassador to Dar es Salaam.

They have described the move as historic and a strong signal of inclusion and trust in young professionals from marginalised regions.

Last week, President Ruto announced several ambassadorial appointments, with Mohamed Hussein Nur, popularly known as Somane, emerging as a surprise inclusion. Until his appointment, Somane served as an employee of the Garissa County Government.

Speaking to the press at a Garissa hotel, community leaders drawn from elders, women, and youth said the appointment had uplifted not only the Auliyahan community but the entire county.

The Auliyahan clan, predominantly found in the Dadaab, Lagdera, and Garissa Township constituencies, is one of the three main dominant clans in the county, alongside the Abduwak and the Samawadhal.

Led by the community’s Sultan, Hamud Sheikh, the leaders said they were celebrating more than just an appointment, noting that it had restored hope among young people who now believe that education, hardwork and commitment can open doors to national service at the highest levels.

“The appointment of CPA Mohamed Hussein Nur is more than a personal achievement; it is a moment of pride for our families, our elders, our youth and our entire community,” Sultan Sheikh said.

“It sends a powerful message that no region is forgotten, no community is too distant, and that talent and dedication from every corner of Kenya truly matter,” he added.

Mohamed Sheikh Salat, the Member of County Assembly for Labasigale Ward, who read the community’s press statement, said the President’s faith in young professionals had inspired renewed confidence among the youth.

"Speaking as a leader from this community and as a youth, I want to tell the President that his decision to appoint a young, educated son of our community to an ambassadorial position has touched our hearts in a profound and emotional way,” he said.

“As a proud son of Garissa County and a member of the Auliyahan community, CPA Mohamed Hussein Nur’s appointment symbolises hope, competence and inclusion. It has strengthened our sense of belonging and reminded us that leadership can unite, uplift and transform lives.”

Elder Gabow Abdi said the community, which has historically supported opposition politics, would unanimously back President Ruto in the next general election, citing visible development projects in the region.

He used the occasion to call on the President to prioritise the tarmacking of the Garissa–Dadaab–Liboi road and the reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border at Liboi, noting that the projects would unlock economic potential and boost trade.

“While we thank the President for all that he has done for us, we humbly request that he considers reopening the Kenya–Somalia border at Liboi, which has remained closed for decades. Although officially closed, goods still pass through porous routes, denying the government much-needed revenue. Reopening the border and tarmacking the road will open up the region for trade and development,” he said.

Abdullahi Omar, Chairman of Dadaab Municipality, who previously worked with Somane in the finance department, described him as a dedicated and self-driven professional.

“He worked under me when he was the Chief Finance Officer, and I can confidently say he is someone who delivers with minimal or no supervision. He is highly dedicated, and I have great confidence that he will serve the President and the country diligently,” he said.

Nasra Abdirahman, a Garissa Woman Representative aspirant, said the appointment had given fresh hope to young people who for years had carried dreams and aspirations while waiting to be trusted and empowered.

Another elder, Rashid Garane, highlighted ongoing and completed government-led development projects in the county, saying the region had every reason to support President Ruto’s re-election.

“This administration has continued to transform our region,” he said, citing the extension of the national electricity grid to Dadaab, construction of the new Tana Bridge, ongoing airstrip construction, housing projects, the Nyota Initiative targeting youth empowerment, the planned tarmacking of the Garissa–Liboi Road, removal of vetting requirements for national ID issuance, and the establishment of a passport office in Garissa.

Separately, CPA Mohamed Hussein Nur thanked President Ruto for the appointment, terming it a pleasant surprise and a great honour.

“I sincerely thank His Excellency the President for the confidence and trust he has placed in me by appointing me as Deputy Ambassador to Dar es Salaam,” he said.

“This appointment comes as a pleasant surprise and a great honour to me as a young person from Garissa. I receive this opportunity with deep humility, gratitude, and a strong sense of responsibility.”

He pledged to serve diligently and strengthen Kenya’s bilateral relations with Tanzania.

“I assure His Excellency and the people of our great nation that I will give my all in this new assignment, uphold the values of our country, and work tirelessly to strengthen the strong relations between Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania,” he said.

President Ruto is expected to tour Garissa on Wednesday for the disbursement of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) funds.