Hiiraan Online

On 16^th July 2010, Justice Luka Kamaru declared the election of Abdirahman Olow null and void following a successful petition by Mohamud Mohamed Sirat. Olow who happens to be a former Deputy Headmaster at Habaswein Primary School (1985 – 1988) when Sirat was a student also went to court alleging that Sirat is a Citizen of Australia hence was illegal for him to contest in Kenya and also petition against him. The matter was concluded when the court declared the election of Olow irregular. This was followed by the Court dismissal of Olow’s second bid to block Sirats candidature on the ground of citizenship.

Wajir South is inhabited by four major sub-clans of Ogaden namely; Mohamed Zubeyr Makabul, Bahgerri and Gerri. Despite major contenders being from Bahgerri and Mohamed Zubeyr sub clans, the support by Makabul and Gerri are the determinant factor in the impending by election.

Wajir South politics is purely based on clan politics. Current registered voters in the constituency stands at 21,960, the most being from Makabul followed by Mohamed Zubeyr. Bahgerri and Gerri are the third and fourth in size in the constituency. Sirat hails from Bahgerri clan and he has the support of his clan. Makabul sub clan which is the biggest sub clan in Wajir South also supports Sirat. This obviously puts Sirat as the most popular candidate for the seat. Senior government officials from the constituency blame Olow for favoring his clan in appointments and are reportedly organizing themselves to visit the ground and campaign against him. The Makabul particularly accuse Olow for being nepotism during the seven and half years he has been on the seat. Disbursement of the CDF fund and allocation of bursaries and contracts by the former MP would either haunt him or favour him the forthcoming by-election. This depends on his impartiality in managing the funds.

Historically, all former MPs were either from Makabul or Mohamed Zubayr. History will be made if Sirat will be elected in the by-election as he hails from a minority clan. As things stand now, Sirat seems to be the most favourable candidate as he commands support from Bahgerri, Makabul and Gerri. Olow is also disadvantaged as he is likely to split Mohamed Zubeyr vote with the less known youthful candidate, Ahmed Ali Muktar, who also hails from the same sub clan with him. Meanwhile, Sirat also got the backing of Awil Adan Ahmed, a youthful graduate from University of Nairobi who stepped down in his favour. Awil hails from the Makabul clan.

In the recent by-elections, PNU has failed for recapture most of its seats except for the Matuga seat in which Ali Chirau Makwere reclaimed his seat. Despite claims that PNU used government officials and favors from the government during the campaigns, most of their candidates could not capture the seats. In Wajir South, PNU is accused of reinstating chiefs who were earlier interdicted for being involved in corruption and creating several positions of sub chiefs to lure members of sub clans to vote for PNU candidate.

Most constituencies in North Eastern Province are unique as compared to others in ‘Kenya’. Voters in most constituencies normally come from the neighbouring countries of Ethiopia and Somalia. Wajir constituency borders Somalia and the Mohamed Zubayr inhabit most districts in Jubaland. There are also a sizeable number of Makabul and Bahgerri in Badade district and Haye village of Afmadow. Already allegation of planned disruption of the by – election by armed groups in Somalia supporting one of the candidate is rife and there is need for government security apparatus to ensure that the common border is well manned to curb cases of insecurity. My hint for the government; Close the border for a week prior to the by-elections to avoid insecurity or complains that voters were ferried from Somalia.  This happened during the last Presidential elections in Somaliland on the Somaliland/Ethiopia border and it worked well.