Wajir West election lose set to shape Wajir County politics

Ahmed Mohamed Kolosh, the Wajir West MP who lost his seat on Friday. (Courtesy)

WAJIR—-The High Court on Friday invalidated the election victory of Ahmed Mohamed Kolosh in a petition filed by the runner up in the Wajir West parliamentary polls, Ibrahim Sheikh.

Justice Francis Tuiyot said that the petitioner had proved that the results in two polling stations—and Korich—were manipulated in favour of Mr Kolosh.

The judge ruled that he would not declare Ibrahim Sheikh the winner, saying he would give the voters in Wajir West another opportunity to choose their representative.

Yesterday’s court ruling has a ripple effect on the county politics due to the nature of Wajir County politics and the highly awaited ruling of the Appeals Court.

Ahmed Kolosh has held several meeting in Nairobi and Wajir ahead of the of the ruling to which he knew it will not favour him.

He was rooting for a Mataan unity. Mataan is the largest cluster-clan of the Degodia. Kolosh is from the same backyard as the former governor of Wajir, Ahmed Abdullahi who is similarly seeking to unite his stronghold ahead a possible by-election if the Court of Appeal upholds the High Court ruling.

Ahmed Kolosh and Ahmed Abdullahi have one mission right now and their combined effort is a new dawn for their backyard who voted for different candidates in the last year’s elections.

However, their unity will mean a lose for the former governor who shares close political relations with the Waqles of the Ajuran clan to which Wajir West petitioner belongs to.

His divided loyalty could mean a repeat election lose and a political boost for Ahmed Muhumed who will bank on the Wajir North support in his bid to be the holder of the county’s top job.

Ahmed Kolosh is also facing rebellion from the constituency led by the Jubilee team who said they would prove it difficult for him to reclaim the seat on an ODM seat.

“We will form a strong axis…we are strategising on how to have him (Ahmed Kolosh) not reclaim the seat on an ODM ticket,” Abdijabar Mohamed, the Wajir West Jubilee co-ordinator told Kulan Post.

Ahmed Kolosh met with the Deputy President, William Ruto in a bid to back his case while riding on the Ruto-Gideon political rift since his challenger was from Gideon’s KANU.

The KANU party has celebrated the High Court ruling on Friday.

Ahmed Kolosh said he accepted the court ruling. It’s not clear if he will appeal the ruling.