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With the Mwalimu off the list, Ugas chances of unseating current govenor highly unlikely

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By: Ali Haji In Kathmandu, Nepal.

Towards the end of last month, the clan leadership of the Fai sub-clan in Wajir County declared that one Ugas Sheikh Mohamed will be the man to wrestle for the gubernatorial position against the incumbent Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamed. The relatively little known Ugas was reportedly picked in a pure game of luck as he was the weakest link during the nominations.

Ugas Sheikh Mohamed. He was was fronted by the Fai elders to vie for the gubernatorial seat in the next elections. Photo/ Facebook

Ugas Sheikh Mohamed. He was was fronted by the Fai elders to vie for the gubernatorial seat in the next elections. Photo/ Facebook

The nominations were done such that every Fai candidate who had political ambition in the various elective post was invited to submit his/her proposals where the clan professionals were asked to vet and submit a list. The process was done to upheld transparency and clan unity.

Among the Fai delegates, Mohamed Duale was reported to be the most popular but because he comes from Mandera and the smallest sub-clan in the Fai, some of the clan elders ruled him out and it was later decided that whoever luck favors between Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Mohamud and Ugas Sheikh will carry the day.  Ugas’ name came out.

Mohamud Duale is a development worker who owns a local NGO while ambassador Mohamud represents the Kenyan government in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, Ugas is a businessman who was considered the weakest link in terms of financial strength, political (he vied for Tarbaj constituency in the Last General Elctions) and even popularity within Wajir County.

Who is Ugas?

Ugas was born in Wajir, went to Tarbaj and Wajir High School and later relocated to the United States where he did community work through Baitul-maal USA. Ugas is an Information Tecnology specialist but was mainly a businessman while in Nairobi. In 2013, he contested in Tarbaj constituency but lost the seat to the incumbent Mohamed Elmi.

Ugas was once embroiled in a court case where immigration authorities threatened him with deportation to the US after he failed to denounce his American citizenship, or residence. However, following the promulagation of the current constitution in August 2010, double citizenship is now legal status in Kenya.

The fall out

Just three weeks after the Mansa announcement was made, cracks are appearing in the grand plan as the clan members who feel shortchanged in the nomination gear up to rebel the decision and chart their own destiny.

Ambasador Mohamed Abdi Mohamud’s camp, whom many expected would be picked for the gubernatorial seat, is also believed to be considering to reject the outcome and might soldier on, or seek the support of another candidate. It is not known why the Fai elders got rid of Mohamed Abdi for the second time after he suffered similar fate in the 2013 elections.

According to persons privy to the nomination process, this particular rejection made the elderly ambassador bitterer and might announce an unexpected move in the near future despite a spirited effort by the clan elders to resolve the post-nomination disputes.

“The mere fact that the elders did not open the application of Ambassador Mohamed Abdi is enough to make him angry. The ambassador finds it difficult to digest,” one clan elder who supports the candidature of the Mwalimu intimated to me.

The nomination of Ugas as the next gubernatorial contender has left a bitter test on the mounth of Eldas Member of Parliament, Adan Keynan who banked on the hope of the Fai clan elders nominating the ambassador since he need no introduction thanks to his lengthened presence in the regional politics since 1997 when he first represented Wajir East in in the Parliament on a Kanu ticket.

An Ugas nomination has thrown spanner in the works of veteran politicians in the county who wanted to get rid of the political first-timers, among them the current governor, and retain the old ways of doing politics.

With the Mwalimu likely out of the picture and followed suit by senator Abdirahman Ali Olow coupled up with the retiring of Tarbaj legislator after his terms ends in 2017, Keynan remains the only remnant from the past.

County political observers say the selection of the relatively little known Ugas has favored the incumbent governor Ahmed Abdullahi whom many now predict will easily cruise to victory In August 2017. Abdullahi’s development track record, the lack of another credible candidate to oppose him and his support from major sub-clans in Ajuran, Ogaden and Degodia will favor him in the next polls.

Ali Haji is a United Nations volunteer at the Nepal capital Kathmandu. He is an IT specialist who uses his expertise to mobilise support in the digital plartforms following the  April 2015 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed over 8000 people.

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