Ali Sheikh
Wajir.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale urged residents of North Eastern Kenya to embrace the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA) and register as voters ahead of the 2027 elections, framing healthcare access and political participation as twin pillars of the region’s progress under President William Ruto.
Speaking as chief guest at the coronation of Sultan Abdirahman Sultan Hussein, the newly installed leader of the Bahgeri sub-clan, Duale praised SHA as a transformative step toward dignity and financial security.
“Registering for SHA means no more families selling livestock or out-of-pocket burdens to pay hospital bills. It is the gateway to affordable, dignified healthcare for every Kenyan,” he said at Shalete Primary School in Wajir County.
“And as you secure your health, secure our future: register to vote for President Ruto, whose bold leadership has broken the chains of exclusion that held this region back for decades,” Duale added.
The coronation, attended by hundreds of community members, marked a significant moment in the Bahgeri clan’s lineage. Sultan Abdirahman now becomes the community’s cultural and political figurehead, entrusted with preserving heritage, mediating conflicts, and guiding the clan’s evolving role in national affairs. His ascension echoes the historic authority of Somali sultans, known as Boqor, Ugaas or Garaad, who for centuries shaped trade, diplomacy, and statecraft across the Horn of Africa.
Duale, the only Somali in Kenya’s Cabinet, used the occasion to applaud Ruto’s efforts to dismantle barriers long faced by North Eastern communities. He highlighted reforms such as the abolition of intrusive vetting for citizenship documents, fast-tracked issuance of IDs and passports, and accelerated investments in roads, water infrastructure, and health facilities.
“For too long, our people were denied their fair share in development. President Ruto has ended that era,” Duale said to thunderous applause.
Wajir Deputy Governor Ahmed Muhumed emphasized that traditional authority remains deeply embedded in Kenya’s governance framework. He noted that the 2010 Constitution recognizes the role of elders and sultans under Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, underscoring their continued relevance in modern statecraft.
“Sultans like Abdirahman are not relics, they are peace-builders enshrined in law and vital to our democracy,” Muhumed said.
Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) Commissioner Fatuma Gedi, a member of the Bahgeri community wished the new sultan well in his responsibilities.
“May your reign bring wisdom to disputes, strength to our traditions, and unity to our path forward,” she said.
In a symbolic gesture of gratitude, the Bahgeri community presented Duale with a she-camel, a traditional honor bestowed on leaders who have demonstrated exemplary service. The gift underscored the deep appreciation for Duale’s role as the region’s most senior government official and his advocacy for long-marginalized communities
Those who graced the event included MPs Adan Keynan (Eldas), Abdirahman Mohamed Abdi (Lafey), retired Major Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North), Mohammed Adow (Wajir South), and nominated MP Abdisiirat Ali; Northern Water Works Chairperson Nasri Sahal; Kenya Maritime Authority Chairperson Ahmed Kolosh; former Wajir Senator Abdirahman Ali Hassan; UNHCR Special Envoy Mohamed Abdi Affey; and Dr. Hassan Mohamed Adam, proprietor of Nairobi South Hospital.