Businessman Hassan Mohamed displays his endorsement certificate /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Businessman Hassan Adan has received the Fai Sultanate’s endorsement as its preferred candidate for next year’s Wajir gubernatorial race.
Hassan was among five candidates shortlisted by the Fai council of elders and delegates before the endorsement was announced at the Wajir County Guest House.
The council of elders and 56 delegates, led by mediation committee chairman Mohamed Osman, declared him the community’s flagbearer.
On Sunday evening, Hassan hosted the 56 delegates, members of the Sultanates, the mediation committee and senior Fai elders at a thanksgiving dinner to celebrate the endorsement.
"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Fai Mediation Committee, our respected elders, the Sultanates, professionals, religious leaders, women, youth and every member of the Fai community whose wisdom, patience and commitment to unity made this historic consensus possible," he said.
"Your collective decision demonstrates that dialogue and unity remain the strongest foundation for leadership."
Accepting the endorsement, Hassan urged Wajir residents to support his candidature.
"I wholeheartedly accept this coronation and endorsement and I now humbly appeal to the great people of Wajir to walk this journey with me. Together, let us build a future founded on unity, justice, development and inclusive leadership," he said.
Hassan also pledged to honour the confidence placed in him.
"I make this solemn promise to the people of Wajir: I will never betray the confidence you have placed in me."
After receiving his endorsement certificate, Hassan said he was ready to begin his campaign and was committed to serving the county with honour, dignity and determination to deliver development.
The endorsement has drawn reactions from some of the candidates who did not receive the endorsement.
One of the candidates who did not receive the endorsement, Ugas Mohamed, said he would appeal the outcome.
"In line with this decision, we will formally present an appeal regarding the outcome through the appropriate channels, guided by our commitment to fairness, transparency and the unity of our community," he said.
In 2017, Ugas stepped aside in favour of former Governor Mohamed Abdi after initially securing the elders' endorsement.
Another contender, Hassan Wehliye, questioned the process, saying it did not meet the standards expected by the community.
"What transpired bears a striking resemblance to the events of 2022, when political manoeuvring was used to isolate and undermine the perceived front-runner—myself—rather than allowing a fair, open and credible process to run its course," he posted on Facebook.
He said the exercise lacked transparency and did not uphold the principles expected of the process.
"A process characterised by procedural violations, selective participation, bias and the appearance of a predetermined outcome cannot credibly be described as a genuine consensus. It represents a departure from the principles of fairness, transparency and accountability upon which this exercise was founded," he said.
"For these reasons, I reject the outcome of this process in its entirety. I remain steadfast in my belief that leadership should be determined through a process that is transparent, credible and genuinely reflective of the people's will. I will appeal the outcome of this process through the proper channels."
Former Governor Abdi also criticised the process and outcome, describing them as flawed.
Political analyst Mohamed Hussein said the endorsement had given Hassan an early political advantage but noted that unresolved differences could affect the community’s support.
"The Fai sub-clan possesses the single largest voting bloc in Wajir. When united, they are virtually unbeatable. But when internal divisions dilute that strength, as happened in the last election, everyone loses," Hussein said
"It is unfortunate that they appear to be drifting down the same path we witnessed in 2022, when fragmentation within the community split the vote. It was a tactical misstep that ultimately cost them a seat they could easily have won," he said.
Businessman Dr. Hassan Mohamed being lifted shoulder high by members of his community after the endorsement. He was picked as the Fai Sultanate's preferred candidate for the 2027 Wajir gubernatorial seat./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Businessman Dr. Hassan Mohamed is presented with the endorsement certificate with the Fail sultanate on Monday./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Businessman Dr. Hassan Mohamed[C] with members of the Sultanate and delegates./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
