By Our Reporter | Wajir Today | Wednesday, 17 December 2025
An aspirant for the Wajir Woman Representative seat in 2022 elections has warned that a renewed rise in clan-based rhetoric risks destabilising the county and undoing decades of hard-won peace.
Asha Hassan Mohamed, popularly known as Asha Kiwi, said that she was “deeply concerned” by what she described as an alarming resurgence of divisive language in Wajir’s political discourse.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ms Mohamed cautioned that inflammatory clan narratives threatened to reverse the progress made in fostering harmony and cooperation among the county’s diverse communities.
She said Wajir had, for decades, stood out as a symbol of peace in a region often affected by inter-communal tensions, largely due to locally driven initiatives such as the Wajir Peace and Development Committee formed in the 1990s.
She said the county’s stability was built through the collective efforts of elders, women, political leaders and ordinary citizens drawn from all major clans, including the Ajuran, Degodia and Ogaden.
“These efforts allowed communities to move beyond historical divisions and build political alliances grounded in shared development goals rather than narrow clan loyalties,” she said.
Ms Mohamed noted that Wajir had long moved away from a political culture in which clan allegiance dictated leadership choices, arguing that unity had delivered stability, development and a stronger voice for the county at the national level.
However, she warned that recent statements by unnamed actors risked dragging the county backwards.
“It is regrettable that some voices are attempting to revive inflammatory clan-based rhetoric,” she said, adding that such language “sows’ suspicion, undermines trust and threatens to fracture the social fabric” painstakingly built over the years.
She rejected the use of clan identity as a political tool, insisting that leadership should be defined by ideas, integrity and service to all communities rather than by mobilisation along ethnic or clan lines.
Ms Mohamed urged residents to remember their shared faith, culture and history, describing these as binding forces stronger than divisive narratives.
“Our strength lies in our diversity and in our ability to work together for the prosperity of every ward, every constituency and every family in Wajir,” she said.
She called on political leaders, future candidates and influential figures to rise above what she termed “divisive tactics” and instead focus on inclusive development and responsible leadership.
She also appealed directly to the youth, women and elders to reject hate speech and defend dialogue as the foundation of peaceful coexistence.
Ms Mohamed concluded by urging residents to remain vigilant in safeguarding unity, warning that peace could not be taken for granted.
“Wajir must continue to be a county where cohesion prevails, opportunities are shared and no one is marginalised because of their clan,” she said.
Her remarks come amid growing concern in Wajir over the tone of local political debate as early campaigns for 2027 elections begins.
