Mohamed, 30, named Uongozi Show winner

The Uongozi finalists. NATION MEDIA GROUP

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

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Adan Mohamed of Mandera is the winner of the Uongozi Reality Show, a leadership and integrity campaign that has been running for the last six months.

Besides pocketing Sh1.2 million, Mr Mohamed, 30, will also visit six countries for six months on a tour of various leadership centres.

The father of five will also receive a Sh5 million grant to develop a community project of his choice.

“I intend to set up a borehole project in Mandera to irrigate a number of farms. The revenue from the farms will educate orphans.

“I look forward to helping the community diversify from pastoralism to crop growing,” he said after being announced the winner at the National Museum in Nairobi at the weekend.

Mr Mohamed comes from Elgolicha Village, Elwak, in Mandera South constituency and speaks Arabic, Garreh, Kisomali, Borana, English and Kiswahili.

Best decision

“I have learnt a lot about integrity, humility, the rule of law and importance of involving the community in projects that are supposed to uplift their lives,” said Mr Mohamed, who recently graduated from Mount Kenya University with a Bachelor of Science degree in medical laboratory science.

Mr Mohamed, who admits he is a workaholic and can be domineering, says paying school fees for two orphans from his village has been the best decision he has ever made.

“I am a very religious, honest reliable and trustworthy person and I admire the work of Dr Abbas Gullet, Bill Clinton, and Reverend Timothy Njoya among others,” the research technologist at Kemri/Wellcome Trust in Kilifi said.

The runner-up, Mr Solomon Mulera Wanyama, said the Uongozi campaign had taught him that it was important to not only focus on one’s ambition as leadership was also about the dreams and aspirations of the people.

Mr Mulera, 24, from Changamwe constituency in Mombasa describes himself as organised, determined, patient and humble.

He is a student at Mombasa Polytechnic University studying for a BSc in mechanical engineering. He has a diploma in mechanical engineering from the same institution.

During the contest, he said his left leg was amputated due to neglect by medical personnel who did not treat him on time after an accident.

The six-month Uongozi campaign is an initiative to use the media to highlight what good leadership is about and showcase the attributes Kenyans need to look for when choosing their leaders.

The programme attracted 12,100 applications from the 47 counties. These were shortlisted to 235, five from each county, who then attended four regional auditions in Kisii, Garissa, Oloitoktok and Kitale.

The final 16 candidates were placed in the Uongozi house.

Each week, one or more contestants was sent home. The final two, Mr Mohamed and Mr Mulera, had one week to campaign for support from Kenyans to vote for them.

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