Wajir At Crossroads: Why County 008 Deserves A Fresh Start

 

Wajir now at the crossroads, and this is a good place to be. It is at this juncture that the people of Wajir are forced to make decisions about the future that they desire. Evil thrives in darkness. Bad things happen when good people say nothing. 

Wajir’s politicians- rather the clan influence peddlers (Sultans) and the wheeler dealers masquerading as leaders - have taken it this far and we should commend them for forcing Wajir to see what it refused to accept. Wajir should refuse to resign itself to poverty of ideas, irrationality, self-hatred, failed devolution and a cursed future.

For how long should Wajir tolerate bad leadership? A decade of misgovernment has bankrupted the county resulting to absolute poverty, joblessness, arrogance of the ruling class, indiscriminate killings due to clan clashes and wanton theft of devolved resources by all of the politicians and the privileged ilk.

Wajir should not accept to be dominated by the few privileged groups - that sip coffee in upmarket buildings that were bought with looted devolved funds - purporting to draw a roadmap for county 008. A plan that only fits their selfish interests and not the aspirations of the people of Wajir. 

When a county is led by a leader, who has deficit of leadership qualities, intellectual vacuity, and moral and spiritual aridity, that county will be doomed. It takes a great political leader, who is visionary, to remake a damaged county and set it on the pathway to a successful devolution and true economic prosperity.

Wajir’s Millennials and smart generation must realize that their collective efforts would put asunder the mythical grip of the clan power brokers and the privileged few and achieve their most desired political goal of good governance. Devolution is a game changer and it’s unfortunate that Wajir has not benefited from it, the billions devolved  in the last decade notwithstanding. 

The young generation should not be bystanders in the management of the county affairs. They should detest the illegality of politicians representing themselves and not those who elected them into office. They must see beyond the preoccupation of their clans. They must reject the idea of a county government whose operational expenditure always exceeds its developmental budget —a county executive whose members hardly propose any meaningful county development plan. 

The 2022 elections should be the dawn of a new era for Wajir and it should not let the sun go down on this momentum.. So how does Wajir get out of the current political crisis? Go beyond the petty sub- clan thinking - which hasn’t served anyone any good - and recall your MPs, governor, and all representatives. 

Wajir should cause  a ballot revolution and simply elect officials that care like Hussein Abdi Bare of Tarbaj and demand that they serve well, and respect your vote for respect is reciprocal even though unuh know say I special, as Burna Boy sung! 

The Boy From Mandera Who Conquered Medical School And Now Saving Lives and Livelihoods

 VOICES OF THE NORTH

First, it is a service to humanity for which he is known. Starting from childhood – those who know him well may tell you more – doctor Abulhamid’s tradition has always been to care for the less privileged and use whatever at his disposal to improve the lot of others. For the good doctor, philanthropy and service to the community are generational values and virtues but that is a story for another day.

Born in Mandera, Northeastern Kenya, the sight of malnourished, traumatized and overly sick people who could not access basic healthcare has been a daily occurrence for Abdulhamid in his formative years. While in school, he promised himself that he will work hard, join medical school and comeback to save the situation and help his kinsmen get out of the misery.

After completing Mandera High school, the young bright boy secured a slot in medical school at Egerton university. After graduation he worked at Garissa County Referral Hospital as a medical doctor attached to the department of surgery and came face to face with the stark reality of the difficulties folks from the villages endured to have an access to safe surgical interventions and it was at that point he realized he had to act and do something to end their suffering and Safe Surgical Aid was born!

The initiative covers people who ordinarily cannot afford to pay for lifesaving surgeries. These people live on the threshold of poverty that having a three meal a day is a luxury let alone footing the cost of a surgery. The Safe Surgical initiative is a fresh perspective into giving back to one’s community. In a society where people die of small ailments and other uncomplicated diseases whose treatment can be handled in public hospitals -  In Northern Kenya counties health centers are in filthy state, patients share beds and are advised to purchase prescribed drugs in private chemists where probably drugs meant for the public is sold and money budgeted for healthcare is usually looted. NEP’s healthcare is generally sick and needs surgical intervention!

Safe Surgical AID was set up in 2021 and has so far undertaken over two thousand surgeries in the counties of Mandera, Garissa and Wajir in partnership with international and local organizations involved in health-related issues and other charitable works across the country.

Doctor Abdulhamid’dis love for medicine has continued to manifest in his commitment to helping to build a healthy population that can contribute tremendously to the aspiration to reset, rebuild, and grow Kenya. Below is our one on one interview with him.

 

Who is Abdulhamid Noor?

I am Abdulhamid M. Noor, born and brought up in MetaMeta Town – What used to be the liveliest part of Mandera town entertainment wise - of Mandera County.

Schooled at Mandera DEB primary and Mandera secondary school.

What is your professional background?

I am a medical doctor by profession, did my MBCHB degree in Egerton university school of medicine, Nakuru County where I graduated in December 2015.

Now pursuing Masters Degree in Urology at the University of Nairobi.

Am assionate about good governance and accessible free health care services for all Kenyans.

After I graduated from Egerton, I worked at Garissa County Referral Hospital as a medical doctor attached to the department of surgery till I was released for the post graduate program that I’m currently pursuing.

Tell us more about the charity work you are involved in Northern Kenya

In Garissa I saw the difficulties folks from the villages, refugee camps, and those from across the border in Somalia endure to have an access to a safe surgical intervention, how many kilometers they cover to see a doctor and the long surgical list that they endure to have their day in theatre and it was at that point that I realized I had a responsibility to end their suffering and Safe Surgical Aid was conceptualized.

I co-founded Safe Surgical Aid with Dr Khadija Hassan and Alibashir Mohamed.

 Safe Surgical Aid is a non-profit organization that provides Safe and free surgeries in where there is no access especially the marginalized communities in Asal counties, refugee camps and parts of the coastal towns.

Since we started we have done more than 2000 cases of surgeries involving the eyes, ears, nose and throat, cleft lip and palate. We also perfomed obstetric fistulas and gynecological surgaries. We plan to expand the services across the region in the fullness of time.

What adjective will you use to describe yourself?

I am a true Northerner in its actual sense, born in Mandera, married from wajir, working in Garissa, I should be the poster boy for the region.

I am one among the many ordinary Kenyans who are doing God’s will in advancing the country and by extension the region. Quite patient and dedicated in what I intend to achieve, if I don’t get it today I wait for another day and replan to attain it.

My dream is to see every Kenyan have access to free, safe and accessible health care in their own towns and villages, where every county has a progressive healthcare system for all its residents. Thank you.