Mohamed Abdi is worried more by his allies than competitors for the county top job

Mohamed Abdi Mohamed at the launch of his line-up at a hotel in Nairobi. (Kulan Post)

WAJIR—Mohamed Abdi Mohamud, the Jubilee gubernatorial candidate in Wajir County  is going through a rough patch in his campaigns thanks to sections of his supporters and political allies.

People involved in the campaign of the former Saudi envoy say he is worried more by his allies than his competitors for the job.

In 2013 at the onset of devolution, Mohamed Abdi was asked by the Degodia elders to step aside for the incumbent, Ahmed Abdullahi. The decision to sideline him was hugely influenced by Mohamed Ibrahim Elmi and Aden Keynan of Tarbaj and Eldas constituencies respectively.

However, Mohamed Abdi dismissed the decision and hit the campaign trail. He came second in the voter tally. He conceded and was appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Four years later, he came back seeking to replace Ahmed Abdullahi. Unfortunately this time round, the elders could not unite and rally behind a single candidate and the race was declared open.

Again unlike in 2013, Mohamed Abdi enjoys the support of the two men who previously were opposed to his candidature—Mohamed Elmi and Aden Keynan—after they fell out with the governor.

Former Wajir North legislator Abdullahi Ali Kabreta has also joined the bandwagon as the senator.

Now, this is where the floodgates of his political dilemma begins. What started as an alliance of the rebels is now proving a headache to deal with.

Adan Keynan is from Eldas constituency and Abdullahi Ali hails from the North. This two regions have been at loggerheads since Eldas was carved off from Wajir West following the 2009 census.

People at Wajir North support their own; Abdullahi Kabreta for senator but don’t trust Mohamed Abdi due to his affiliation with Aden Keynan.

Section of their counterparts in Eldas want to vote for Mohamed Abdi, but would find it hard to trust Abdullahi Kabreta as the county senator.

The height of this dilemma was played out in public on the weekend in Wajir North and Eldas. The campaign advisors of Mohamed Abdi observed that if they go with Abdulahi Kabreta to Eldas, it would spell doom for his election bid.

Mohamed Abdi campaign team are also awake to the fact that Mohamed Ibrahim Elmi is not a celebrated figure in Wajir South despite the deputy governor, Mukhtar Ali coming from the constituency.

According to opinion leaders in Wajir South, they believe that Mohamed Elmi is the force behind the relocation of the abattoir meant for Habaswein to Tarbaj.

Mohamed Abdi has the most seasoned politicians on his team, but it appears he is not comfortable with their past political dealings.