Garissa clan endorses Senator Haji to succeed Jama in 2027

The political drums have started beating in Garissa County after the Awliyahan community unanimously endorsed Garissa Senator Abdulkadir Haji as its sole candidate for governor.

The endorsement was made during a colourful ceremony in Garissa town, which brought together the Awliyahan and Samawadhal sultanates, elders, political leaders, professionals and community representatives.

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It brings to a close months of consultations under the Awliyahan Gubernatorial Political Roadmap Consultative Engagement Process, setting the stage for a contest for the county’s top political seat.

The declaration saw Haji officially issued with a certificate by the Awliyahan Sultanate, formally cementing the political pact between the Awliyahan and Samawadhal communities, popularly known as the Talasame Alliance.

The move sets the ball rolling for a joint campaign ahead of the 2027 polls. The senator hails from the Samawadhal clan.

He had already been endorsed by his clan earlier this year as its sole flag bearer.

The endorsement was formally announced by Ugas Ahmed Sheikh Muhumed, chairperson of the Awliyahan Sultanate, who said the decision followed extensive consultations, prayerful consideration and unanimous agreement within the community.

“After wide consultations, prayerful consideration and unanimous agreement within the Awliyahan community, we recognise and endorse Senator Abdulkadir Mohamed Yussuf Haji as the sole and official candidate of the Awliyahan Sultanate for the position of governor of Garissa county in the 2027 General Election,” Ugas said.

He called on all Awliyahan members and their supporters to rally behind Senator Haji, while reaffirming the community’s commitment to peace, unity and inclusive politics.

The declaration was reinforced by Awliyahan Sultan Hamud Sheikh, who said the community had spoken clearly and would not support another candidate seeking the governor’s seat.

“As a community, we have today, in broad daylight, issued a certificate to Senator Haji and unequivocally decided to support him. He will be our only candidate for the governor’s seat. Anyone else who contests will not have our community’s support,” Sultan Hamud said.

He appealed to residents from all communities in Garissa to back Haji, saying the Awliyahan leadership believes he is the candidate capable of taking the county to the next level.

Senator Haji, while accepting the endorsement, said the alliance was not about excluding other communities but about building a broader political coalition capable of delivering development and inclusive leadership.

“I sincerely thank the Awliyahan Sultan, the elders and the entire community for throwing their weight behind my candidature. I receive this mandate with profound humility and gratitude, fully conscious of the collective trust, responsibility and expectations that come with carrying the hopes of this alliance,” he said.

He said the two communities had resolved to walk the political journey together, arguing that the coalition was founded on a shared destiny rather than exclusion.

“We have started our journey and we have decided to walk this journey as communities that share the same destiny until the end.

We do not want politics of exclusion but one that brings everyone on board,” he said.

Haji revisited the political arrangements struck between the Awliyahan and Samawadhal in 2013 and 2022, saying the previous agreements had demonstrated the power of the two communities working together.

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama said the alliance was organised, focused and ready to hit the campaign trail and deliver seats under the coalition.

“As the Talasame Alliance, we have today put our strength on full display. As communities, we have converged, closed our political ranks and the endorsement for 2027 was delivered with authority,” Jama said.

Under the previous arrangements, the Awliyahan produced the governor, while the Samawadhal took the deputy governor and county assembly speaker positions.

However, Haji said the 2027 agreement would be broader, with the coalition expected to extend its political ambitions to other key elective positions.

“This time round, the coalition agreement will incorporate the Woman Representative and Garissa Township seats, which will also go to the Awliyahan community,” he said.

He invoked a popular saying to underline the importance of the alliance. “There is a saying that if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, walk with others. We have decided to walk this journey together,” Haji said.

The senator also took a swipe at individuals he accused of seeking to undermine the emerging coalition, saying political competition should be based on ideas and development rather than propaganda and division.

Dadaab MP Farah Maalim, meanwhile, declared that the political work had now moved from negotiations to mobilisation, urging Haji and his supporters to begin an aggressive campaign to consolidate support across Garissa.

“With the coalition now sealed, we are going to hit the ground and consolidate the votes. Abdul, you now have to start a very powerful vote hunt, starting with religious leaders and all the other communities living in Garissa,” Maalim said.

EALA MP Falhada Iman also endorsed Haji, portraying him as a unifying leader capable of governing a politically and socially diverse county.

“Abdul has proven to be one with true leadership qualities. He is unifying and his track record is clean. He is not involved in any corruption scandals, but most importantly, he is not a tribalist,” Iman said.

The community’s decision to settle on Haji as its sole candidate is a major political setback for former Lagdera MP Mohamed Shidiye and effectively places him outside the community’s preferred political arrangement unless the dynamics change.

Garissa county is predominantly inhabited by three major Somali clan groupings — the Awliyahan, Abduwak and Samawadhal.

Clan and coalition arrangements have historically played a significant role in determining the county’s political leadership.

Other candidates in the race are former Governor Ali Korane, former Principal Secretary Abdi Dubat and former Ijara MP Ibrahim Abass.