Author: Abdihakim Siyad

Garissa County has entered what could become its most consequential political contest in years after an extraordinary public confrontation between Senator Abdul Haji and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale exposed a bitter struggle over political influence, clan alliances, traditional leadership, and the race for the county’s top seat. What had largely been whispered in political circles has now exploded into the open, with both camps positioning themselves for a battle that could reshape Garissa’s political landscape ahead of the next general election. The turning point came during a town hall meeting in Garissa, where Senator Abdul Haji abandoned diplomatic language…

The Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest and most strategically important maritime corridors, is once again at the centre of escalating tensions in the Middle East after Yemen’s Houthi movement announced a ban on Saudi ships and vessels using the waterway. The declaration, which the group says takes effect from July 20, 2026, marks a significant escalation in an already volatile regional conflict and has renewed fears of a wider disruption to global trade, energy markets and regional security. In the same announcement, the Houthis urged Yemenis to prepare for war, take up arms and be ready to join…

The political landscape of Wajir County was rocked to its core when County Woman Representative Fatuma Abdi Jehow touched down in the strategic northern outpost of Bute, only to be met by an unrelenting wall of hostile protests, echoing chants of “One Term,” and visible public anger. What was intended to be a triumphant return and service delivery tour to Wajir North Constituency rapidly unraveled into a political firestorm that exposes the fragile foundation of her re-election ambitions and highlights deep-seated structural grievances across Northern Kenya. At the center of this storm lies an explosive financial discrepancy that has ignited…

The race for Wajir’s political future may have quietly begun. For the first time, Wajir Governor and Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi has publicly hinted that he could contest the Wajir Senate seat in the 2027 General Election, while at the same time dismissing speculation that he is actively seeking a Cabinet position in President William Ruto’s administration. Speaking during an interview on the Geedfadhi podcast, the second-term governor offered his clearest indication yet of where his political journey could be headed once his constitutional tenure as governor comes to an end.His remarks are already generating debate across Wajir’s…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has formally asked the country’s parliament to approve a two-year extension of Turkey’s military deployment in Somalia, a move that underscores Ankara’s growing strategic, security and economic interests in the Horn of Africa. If approved by the Grand National Assembly, the new mandate will allow Turkish troops to continue operating in Somalia and its maritime zones from July 27, 2026, until July 2028. The extension comes at a time when Somalia continues its long-running military campaign against Al-Shabaab while simultaneously rebuilding its national defence institutions after decades of conflict. In the presidential motion submitted to…

President William Ruto remains the man to beat in the race for the 2027 General Election, but the political terrain beneath him is shifting rapidly. While opinion polls continue to place him ahead of every individual challenger, recent political events most notably the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election have injected fresh uncertainty into what many had assumed would be a straightforward re-election campaign.The Ol Kalou outcome has become far more than a constituency contest. It has evolved into a national political barometer, offering both government and opposition camps an early glimpse into the mood of voters less than two years before…

For decades, journalism in North Eastern Kenya was largely viewed as a profession dominated by men. Cultural barriers, limited opportunities and deeply rooted stereotypes kept many women away from newsrooms, field reporting and leadership positions in the media. The profession was often perceived as demanding, risky and unsuitable for women, leaving many talented voices unheard. Today, however, that story is slowly changing. Across Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties, women are steadily claiming their place in journalism. They are reporting from conflict zones, producing radio programmes, writing investigative stories, managing digital platforms and highlighting issues that directly affect their communities. Their…

As the political season gradually gathers momentum ahead of Kenya’s next General Election, a familiar pattern is once again unfolding across North Eastern Kenya. Long before official campaigns begin, negotiations are already taking place in homes, hotels, community halls and elders’ meetings. Across Wajir, Garissa and Mandera, clans are carefully positioning themselves, weighing political alliances and seeking consensus on who should carry their banner for the various elective seats. This tradition, commonly referred to as negotiated democracy, has shaped the region’s politics for years. It has often minimized divisive election contests, but it has also raised an important question that…

The political message from Ol Kalou was loud, unmistakable and impossible for the Kenya Kwanza administration to ignore. What was expected to be a straightforward victory for the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) instead ended in a stunning defeat, handing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) a symbolic and potentially consequential win in the heart of Mt. Kenya. On paper, it was only a by-election. In reality, it has become one of the most closely scrutinized political contests since the 2022 General Election because of what it may reveal about the shifting political mood in…

The world’s maritime arteries are once again under unprecedented pressure. From the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, geopolitical tensions have transformed some of the world’s busiest shipping routes into strategic battlegrounds. The conflict involving the Houthis in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the United States and Iran has gone far beyond a regional security crisis. It has evolved into a global economic challenge whose consequences are being felt from Asia to Europe and increasingly across Africa. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz are not simply narrow waterways on a map. Together, they form the backbone of global…