By Abdullahi Jamaa | Sunday, November 8, 2026
Former Principal Secretary Dr Fatuma Hirsi Mohamed has declared her intention to contest the Wajir South parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election, calling for greater representation of women in political leadership and community decision-making.
Dr Hirsi, said women in Wajir South should be given equal opportunities to contest elective positions rather than being confined to designated women’s representation roles.
She argued that women played a significant role in political mobilisation, community development and electoral participation but remained underrepresented in key leadership structures.
“Women should be free to contest every elective position for which they qualify,” she said, adding that candidates should be judged on integrity, competence, service, accountability and results.
Dr Hirsi cited the 2022 voter registration figures to illustrate women’s potential influence in local politics, saying women accounted for approximately 47 per cent of registered voters in Wajir County.
She also noted that Wajir South had more than 58,000 registered voters during the 2022 election cycle, making it the constituency with the largest voter population in the county at the time.
She said the figures demonstrated the importance of women’s participation in shaping political leadership and development priorities.
The former PS said her campaign would also focus on dismantling social and cultural barriers that discourage women from seeking political office, arguing that cultural values should not be used to exclude qualified women from public service.
“Culture should strengthen our communities, not prevent capable people from serving the community,” she said.
Dr Hirsi urged men, elders and religious leaders to support women’s political participation, saying fathers, husbands and brothers had a role to play in creating an environment in which women could pursue leadership without discrimination.
She also called on women to obtain national identity cards and register as voters, arguing that their numerical strength could translate into greater political influence if they actively participated in elections.
The former PS further urged women in Wajir South to overcome clan, political and social divisions, saying their shared interest in leadership representation should take precedence over individual political preferences.
“We do not have to belong to the same political party. We do not have to support the same candidate. But we must agree on one thing: the women of Wajir South deserve a meaningful space in leadership and decision-making,” she said.
She also proposed identifying and mentoring young women to prepare them for leadership in the 2027 elections and beyond, with particular emphasis on building their understanding of public policy, devolution, public finance and development.
Dr Hirsi traced the initiative for women’s political empowerment in the constituency to a forum established in 2013, saying its next phase should focus on translating advocacy into actual leadership opportunities.
