Former Wajir governor is ready for a handshake with his successor, but on one condition

By: Abdikadir Ukash

NAIROBI—The former governor of Wajir Ahmed Abdullahi now says he is ready for a handshake, adding that he never rejected pleas to extend an olive branch to his successor, Mohamed Abdi.

Speaking at his residence in Wajir town for Iftar dinner, Ahmed said the reconciliation would not mean a halt in the court process.

The former governor and aspirant in the last elections, Ahmed Muhumed have challenged the election victory of Wajir governor at the High Courts on September, one month after the polls.

On January, Justice Mabeya ruled in favour of the petitioners, saying the embattled governor did not have a valid degree. He added that the election was not conducted as per the electoral laws of the country.

Lost his case at the High Court, Mohamed Abdi moved to the Appeals Court flanked by his main backer, Eldas MP Aden Keynan.

On April, a three-judge bench upheld the High Court ruling. The governor has since moved to the Supreme Court.

“If they want reconciliation, I am ready and I have always been ready. But they have to stop challenging us at the courts so that we can ask the people of Wajir to renew our mandate,” Ahmed Abdullahi said.

He was in the company of the Women Rep, Fatuma Gedi and Wajir West MP, Ahmed Kolosh.

He was reacting to Mohamed Abdi’s remark three days earlier at his residence in Wajir when he called on his predecessor to accept the reconciliation.

“The elders have spoken and we are ready to embrace sprit of handshake,” Abdi said.

“Expect the unexpected,”Eldas MP Aden Keynan told his constituency at an Iftar dinner in Nairobi last week.