AfricaPress-Kenya: The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Tuesday, April 6 declared Abdulkadir Haji, popularly known as Abdul, as the Senator for Garissa County.
IEBC made the declaration after he became the only contestant in the slated by-elections and was therefore elected unopposed.
Abdul takes over from his father Yusuf Haji who succumbed to a long illness at the Agha Khan hospital in Nairobi. 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.
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.
“Congrats Garissa Senator-elect Hon. Abdulkadir Mohamed Haji for being elected unopposed. I express my 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,” Garissa Governor Ali Korane stated
Haji becomes the third politician to be elected unopposed in a by-election. 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.
