Senator Abdulkadir Haji (pictured) has been sworn in to represent Garissa in the Senate.

Abdulkadir was endorsed and unopposed for the seat after the death of his father Yusuf Haji on February 15, 2021.

He takes over from his father Yusuf Haji who died on February 15, 2021.

On April 6, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has declared Haji as the Senator of Garissa County.

In a Gazette Notice, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati announced that there was “no contest” and declared Abdulkadir Mohamed Haji “duly elected as the Senator, Garissa County.”

The Garissa by-election had been scheduled for May 18.

Abdul Haji who ran for the senatorial seat on a Jubilee Party ticket was the only candidate in the race.

Garissa Town MP Aden Duale said the people of Garissa had faith that he would fill his father's shoes.

"We have faith in you that you will deliver to the people of Garissa as their Senator," Duale said.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipcumba Murkomen congratulated the new senator saying he was looking forward to working with him in the remaining 17 months.

Abdulkadir carries the hopes of residents who looked up to his late father Yusuf Haji.

“Some people expect me to fill the shoes of my father, but it is not an easy task,”  the 46-year-old told Standard at a past interview.

Certain things about Abdul (pictured above) jump at you from the moment you meet him.

He is modest almost to a fault, perhaps because of his deep devotion to Islam. His actions, he says, are deliberate so as to avoid the wrath of God.

Joining politics was the subject of banter between friends, something he joked about but never seriously considered.

This is because his father had been in public service almost all his life.

“Since my father joined politics in 2002, I have always been there with him, behind him, watching him in every election and I never envied his life,” Abdul said.

Abdul cuts the image of man fulfilling a duty that was thrust upon him, like a prince who inherits a throne he did not desire but knew would fall unto him.

“From the time I accepted to contest, it did not even cross our minds as a family that we would go through this by-election unopposed,” he said.