Clan elders endorse Omar Sala for Mandera East MP

Omar Sala, is lifted shoulder-high after he was endorsed by his family Egal Sharmarke, at Nairobi Sir Ali Muslim Club./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Former MP Omar Maalim Sala got a boost in his bid to recapture the Mandera East parliamentary after elders from his Sharmarke sub-clan of the Murule community endorsed his candidature.

But the endorsement is less a straightforward coronation than an attempt to resolve a deeper dispute within the Sharmarke fraternity, where the Ali Sharmarke and Egal Sharmarke sub-clans have struggled to agree on a common candidate.

The decision of the elders, led by Sultan Mohamud Khalif, followed months of consultations aimed at finding a formula acceptable to both sides.

The failure to reach consensus underscores the delicate clan negotiations that continue to shape electoral politics in Mandera East, where the ability to consolidate support can be as important as an individual candidate’s political profile.

Sultan Mohamud said elders considered several options, including a proposed Yes-or-No ballot through which the competing sides would submit themselves to a process to determine who should run.

Mohamud said the Ali Sharmarke sub-clan declined to participate, leaving elders to proceed with the Egal Sharmarke faction, which eventually rallied behind Sala.

“After we were unable to agree on consensus, we opted for every community to try its luck, with Egal Sharmarke saying they were ready with any method to solve the stalemate, but they could not convince Ali Sharmarke,” he said.

The disagreement is significant because the Sharmarke community’s influence in the constituency depends not only on its numbers but also on its ability to negotiate as a united bloc.

Omar has received another boost Abdi Maalim Hassan, who withdrew from the race and backed his bid.

His withdrawal removes a potential contest within the same political base and gives Omar greater room to consolidate support among sections of the Sharmarke community.

However, some quarters have challenged the endorsement.

Ahmed Madey, a former Mandera CEC, has questioned the process used by the elders to settle on Omar.

Madey argued that an undertaking with such political consequences could not reasonably have been concluded in less than 30 minutes.

He described the process as unfair and alleged that it was intended to undermine his ambitions.

“History repeats itself. In 1992, the late Hon. Abdullahi Sheikh Adhan, popularly known as Abajana, was subjected to injustice by the same elders, but he went ahead to campaign and triumphed. We will do the same and go directly to the electorate,” Madey said.

The dispute has renewed calls for unity within the wider Sharmarke fraternity.

Sultan Mohamud said elders involved Halane Sharmarke, regarded as a brother to the two principal sub-clans, and Arfahow, considered an uncle to the three groups, in mediation efforts.

Ugas Abdullahi Abass has also urged members of the Ali Sharmarke fraternity to place the interests of the wider community above their internal political differences.

Omar has previously represented Mandera East in Parliament, served as Mandera county deputy governor between 2013 and 2017 and is the currently speaker of the county assembly.

That record gives him experience at both national and county levels and allows him to present his bid as a return to a political role he has previously occupied.

He cited construction of schools, electricity connections and water pumps as some of the projects he has delivered.

“I have a lot to do. Having served one time as area MP, I can now pick from where I left. Our agenda is people-centred and sustainable, averse to lip service,” he said.

Omar Sala,[standing] after being endorsed by the Sharmake Sub-clan of Murule led by Sultan Mohamud Khalif yesterday./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Ahmed Madey, Mandera East parliamentary aspirant, speaking to the press on Saturday last week./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Ahmed Madey, Mandera East parliamentary aspirant, with his supporters./STEPHEN ASTARIKO