Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) award recipient endorse Wajir governor for a second term

PRESIDENT Uhuru confers Mama Fatima Mohamed Mire with the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (E.B.S) at State House, Nairobi.

WAJIR—Wajir governor on Thursday received a boost in his campaign to retain the seat after he was endorsed for a second term by Mama Fatuma Mohamed Mire who received the Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) on December.

She was conferred with the award during a ceremony at the State House in Nairobi in recognition of her outstanding  services rendered to the nation in various capacities and responsibilities.

Speaking when she accompanied the “corner tribe” section of Wajir residents during a visit to governor Ahmed Abdullahi in Wajir, Mama Fatuma said she would back Ahmed for a second term.

“We cannot deny what we can clearly see,” the former peace activist said.

“He (Ahmed) has done enough in the first term and its the nature of the human being to complain,” she added.

She noted that in the last elections, Wajir County residents voted for the incumbent “without actually knowing him in person.”

“If what he was able to achieve with the first term is for all to see, why should we deny him to serve for a second term,” she said.

She added, “Some people will gossip that I’d been given something…but I know I will end up at the dark hole (the grave) .”

Mama Fatuma was among the first women who formed the women peace group—Women for Peace. She’s worked for peace in Wajir at the height of the clan violence in the early nineties.

Fiona Flintan, an author who once wrote about her activities said, “She is a woman who is not paid a cent to do the work she does that gives her all the sleepless nights and all the walking from one end of the town to the other in the hot scorching sun of Wajir. She always has a smile on her face and a piece of advise and can also be fierce and tough if you trying to destroy the peace or not listening. I pray that I could get just some of the courage, determination and perseverance that she has.”

Mama Fatuma’s endorsement comes barely a week after Mzee Ali Weid, a cousin of the rival gubernatorial candidate Amb. Mohamed Abdi Mohamud called on the Degodias to allow the governor to continue the projects he started during his first term.

“Let us allow him (Ahmed Abdullahi) to continue what he started,”  Mr Ali said.

“The governor has performed relatively well in the last four years and we can’t even allow him to serve his fifth year without frustration?” the former chief asked.