Let’s see clan diversity on jobs, resources in Wajir

By Ibrahim S. Mohammud

Wajir County has just elected her maiden governor and progress shall depend largely on how he steers the ship of leadership. We congratulate him for this unenviable task.

His background and skills in the corporate world, is a great boost to his current status as Governor. We also promise him support and urge him to consult widely whenever need arises because we appreciate that Wajir County belongs to, and depends on all of us for speedy development and progress.

There are critical challenges facing Wajir County. Wajir has a population of 661,941. It has an estimated voting-age population of 308,596. However, it has only 118,091 registered voters (because of lack of IDs and other factors). At the last general election Jubilee Alliance’s Uhuru Kenyatta garnered 38.83% of the total votes cast while CORD’S Raila Odinga garnered 45.59% of the votes. This reflects the social, economic and political diversity across the vast county.

At National Assembly level, ODM won five seats while URP won one (1).

At the County Assembly, the results were: ODM(7), TNA (6), WIPER (4), FORD-K (2), NARCK–K (2), URP (2), MUUNGANO (2), NARC (1), KNC (1), UDF (1), AGANO (1) and Safina (1).

This data is sufficient evidence that Wajir County is united in diversity.

It is, therefore, crucial that leaders be sensitive to the socio-cultural, economic and political inclinations of every

corner of the county. It is a given that democracy runs on the principle of inclusion as opposed to exclusivity.

To maintain harmony and sustain development in the vast county, leadership and resources have traditionally been arbitrated through clan lines. This is the reality on the ground and the realistic formula that has worked successfully for generations. It reduces tensions, defuses clan rivalries and ensures peaceful co-existence among the people.

Historically, when clan-interests were arrogantly dismissed and suppressed, clan wars spontaneously broke out with terrible consequences. Examples include the Wagalla Massacre of 1983;

between the Degodia and Ajuran; because the Degodia dominated the local civil service. Between 1999 and 2000 inter-clan wars between the Gare and Ajuran clans claimed so many lives because a Gare chief had been imposed on the Ajuran at Arestamo. These are regrettable and unfortunate incidents that were born and bred by arrogance, corruption and marginalisation.

Clan elders had decided long ago that positions and resources of the county would always be divided as follows; Degodia 30%; Ajuran 30%; Ogaden 30% while 10% would be reserved for the tiny corner tribes and clans. This is the workable, practical and suitable formula for ensuring justice, peace, prosperity and progress of the vast and diverse county.

However, the entire county was alarmed when the new governor Hon. Ahmed Abdullahi Mohammed unveiled his County Assembly Public Service Board. It comprised Degodia (5), Ajuran (1) and Ogaden (1).

Sh7,983 per person

And before the county could recover from this shock, we were thrown into consternation when the governor unveiled his Cabinet, comprising Degodia (5); Ajuran (2); Ogaden (2); Corner tribes (1) and the Chief of Staff (Degodia).

This is the face of manifest injustice. This is extreme impunity, marginalisation at worst, arrogance personified, and devolution of corruption to the county.

The governor conveniently forgot that Wajir County comprises of 30 wards that require equal attention in jobs and resource distribution.

The Governor also ignored the reality that all these wards equitably have highly educated, qualified and skillful sons and daughters who merited equal treatment for the public positions. The Governor failed to appreciate the fact that skewed public appointments and un-balanced resource distribution is a recipe for clan tensions, inter-clan rivalries and other unmitigated disasters. The Governor dismissed the spirit of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which prohibits all forms of discrimination, marginalisation, tribalism and nepotism.

We, the concerned citizens of Wajir are apprehensive that unless the governor rectifies these deliberate blunders, we are staring at tensions of huge proportions.

Furthermore, according to Mr. Micah Cheserem, Chairman of the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), Wajir county shall receive Sh5,290,000,000 this financial year, from the central government.

This translates to Sh7,983 per person for redressing the pathetic poverty index in the county. It is curious and puzzling how a governor with such suspect intentions, will be trusted to use the devolved funds justly and fairly.

In Wajir, there are for example, people who can only get water from more than 50 km away, including those from Qanjara, Weithali, Adan Awale and Kurman centres. What will happen to them if the governor does not come from their clan? This cannot be the change we voted for or impunity we voted against.

Writer was TNA candidate in last general election in Wajir West constituency.

Related Topics

Wajir County clans