Rare unity show as parties close ranks to back Haji Jr

The move by warring political factions in North Eastern Kenya to close ranks in support of late Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji’s son Abdul Yusuf Haji has exposed the influence the long serving public administrator wielded and the role of clans in local politics.
It was widely expected that politicians from the region who are divided over their support for President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and Opposition chief Raila Odinga would have turned the mini-poll into a dipstick for 2022 campaigns.
Instead, they have not only decided to back Abdul unconditionally but are also pushing to have him win unopposed by lobbying other contestants to drop out of the race.
Haji’s death also effectively opens competitions for local leaders to battle in succession politics in a region where family ties, tribe and clan is significant, as they seek to play a national role in the coming elections with focus being on Governor Ali Korane and former National Assembly Leader of Majority and Garrissa Town MP Aden Duale who are the senior most politicians in the county.
Escorted Haji
Northeastern region which has Garissa, Mandera and Wajir and by extension, Isiolo and Marsabit counties that are predominantly pastoralists, has elected leaders drawn from Jubilee, Wiper, ODM, Kanu, Economic Freedom Party, Kenya Patriotic Party who have taken different paths in national politics .
In a rare show of solidarity Korane and his predecessor Nathif Jama, Senator Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo), Mohamed Mohamud’ (Mandera), Godana Hargura (Marsabit), Duale and his Aden Keynan escorted the young Haji to the Jubilee headquarters to collect the ticket.
Duale, a strong ally of the DP the respect the late senator commanded in the region forced those interested in the seat to shelve their ambitions.
“We have agreed that despite our political differences despite our clans differences despite religious orientation, the best we could do for the late Senator Haji is that for the remaining period, it is paramount that his son who is also a member and a leader in the Jubilee Party, and who was his right-hand man on Mzee be our flag bearer,” Duale.
Clan elders’ decision
Unlike in other regions which have kingpins who voice and help in giving political directions of the communities, the region which has several sub-tribes largely depend on the decision of clan elders who have the power to ask a candidate to drop out of the race through negotiated settlements like it happened in 2017 when some leaders were asked not to defend their seats.
In Garissa County political competition has been a major source of clan animosity and hostilities due to clan-based favoritism.
It is dominated by the Ogaden Somali community, which has three major clans, the Abdulwak, Auliyan and Samawathal with the late senator belonging to the latter.
The Auliyan clan dominates Lagdera and Dadaab, while the Abuduwak clan which in 2027 endorsed Korane, of the governor against Jama from the Auliyan clan, has three constituencies, Garissa Township, Fafi and Balambala.
Unlike Mandera, where Garre and Murule Council elders sought inter-clan unity and harmony to choose 2017 candidates, individual clan interests seem to have triumphed in Garissa.
Eldas MP Keynan, who joined Parliament in the same time with Haji, said the unity of the leaders in supporting his some of a reflection of the late senator’s political influence saw him become a father figure in the region.
“The support for Abdul, you can see the face of the northeastern region. I was privileged to have joined Parliament at the same time with the last senator Haji when I was a very young legislator and he had just retired from the Provincial Administration.
The kind of mentoring and guidance that he has given us is what kept us together,” said Keynan.
“Even after his death, the entire leadership of Northern Kenya, with their diversity with their different political ideologies are united in supporting the cause that he stood for,” Keynan said.
Senator’s influence
Born in 1940, Haji, a former provincial administrator rose to be the most prominent civil servant from the Somali community, and when he joined politics in 1998 as a nominated MP, he rose to be a commanding figure in the northeastern and a powerful Cabinet Minister in President Daniel Moi and his successor President Mwai Kibaki’s governments.
Dullo who is the Senate Deputy Majority leader said the support of Abdul by other leaders and clans from Garrissa and beyond was a reflection of how Haji commanded respect and influence among them.