The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has declared Abdulkadir Mohamed as the duly elected Senator for Garissa County saying there is no contest for the seat.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati made the announcement in Gazette Notice dated April 6, 2021.
“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by Articles 88 (4) and 98 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Kenya, section 4 of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, 2011, sections 13(3), 16, and of the Elections Act, 2011, Part III, VI to IX and Regulations 51, (2), (4) and (5) and 53 of the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission makes a declaration of no contest and DECLARES the person listed in the 1st and 2nd Column to the Schedule DULY ELECTED as the Senator, Garissa County,” reads the notice.
Abdulkadir Mohamed, who is the son of the late Senator Haji, was the Jubilee Party candidate for the seat.
Abdulkadir replaces his father, the late Yusuf Haji, who died in February this year.
Community leaders, elders and professionals from Garissa County had endorsed Abdulkadir Mohamed for the position as a show of honour and respect to his late father.
He is the younger brother to Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji.
The new Senator, a renowned businessman, is more famously known for his heroic role in the Westgate Terror Attacks in 2013.
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His brave act earned him favor among elders from the North Eastern region who argued that Abdul was the most ideal candidate to succeed his father after the seat fell vacant.
A section of politicians lauded the senator for his new position.
“Congratulations to Hon. Abdul Kadir Mohamed Haji for the declaration of no contest for Garissa Senate by-election scheduled on 18th May, 2021 by the IEBC. We have faith in you that you will deliver to the people of Garissa as their Senator,” Former National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale stated.
Garissa Governor Ali Korane expressed his earnest willingness to support him as he starts to execute his mandate to represent Garissa at the Senate and to protect the interests of the counties as envisaged in Art. 96 CoK.
Haji becomes the third politician to be elected unopposed in a by-election in Kenya. Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria clinched the seat unopposed after his main opposer Kiarie Kamere of New Democrats Party quit the race in the 2014 by-elections.
Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi also succeeded his father Moses Mudavadi as Sabatia MP in 1989.
