Nairobi’s Eastleigh erupt in celebration soon after Farmajo was declared winner

People celebrate the victory of Mohamed Farmajo after he was swron-in as the 9th president of Somalia. (Kulan Post)

By: Abdikadir Ukash

NAIROBI—As the former president of Somalia Hassan Sheikh conceded to Mohamed Abdullahi Faqrmajo at the tallying centre in the Mogadishu airport, Somali nationals in Nairobi poured onto the streets, waving the Somali flag higher.

In Eastleigh, a predominantly Somali neigbourhood in Nairobi, the effect of Farmajo’s win was evident: drivers hooting in celebration, women wrapped in the blue Somali flag and chatters of celebration and excitement.

Along the 12 Street in Eastleigh, traffic flow was disrupted by a charged crows chanting ‘Farmajo. Farmajo.”

“It is a historic night tonight. The people’s choice has won. We won,” Fathia Mohamed, 65, a Somali with a Kenyan citizenship said.

She added that, “After more than a quarter century of chaos in Somalia, it is time to breath in the air of renewed independence.”

Mohamed Abdullahi, 27, was busy recording the event on his phone. His friend was relaying the same live on Facebook.

“I want others to feel what’s happening here tonight,” he said.

“It is not a feeling I can keep myself to,” he added.

In South C and Parklands, the feeling was the same.

Ahmed Hassan, a student of Law at the University of Nairobi says Farmajo is a good “deal” for Somalia.

“Matters relations, hidden interests and imaginary enemies of great Somalia, Farmajo is a bad deal,” he posted on his Facebook timeline.

Former president Hassan Sheikh took to the podium minutes after the the Speaker of the Somali parliament Professor Jawari declared the result of the second round of voting: Farmajo garnered 184 votes followed in distance by Hassan Sheikh.

He told the legislators that he’d conceded and congratulated Farmajo for the victory.

“History was made. We have taken this path to democracy. And now I want to congratulate you,” Hassan Sheikh said.

Farmajo thanked the former president for the concession.

14,000 elders and prominent regional figures chose 275 members of parliament and 54 senators, who in turn chose whether to back President Mohamud for a second term or one of 21 rivals.