Community Leader Apologises for Identity Error, Seeks Forgiveness from Leaders and Defects to UDA.

Community Leader Apologises for Identity Error, Seeks Forgiveness from Leaders and Defects to UDA.

Mohamed Kahiah, Eminent Persons Representative for the North Eastern Region, addresses the media on his defection from DCP to UDA.

By Jeff Oyugi.

Nairobi - February 3, 2026

Members of the Jihad community, the Carotid community, elders, religious leaders, politicians and members of the public gathered on Monday for a press briefing in which a prominent community figure from northeastern Kenya issued a series of public apologies, clarified earlier statements, and formally announced his defection from the DCP party to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). The briefing, which attracted wide attention, was marked by personal reflection, political criticism and calls for national unity.

Addressing the media, Mohamed Kahiah, Eminent Persons Representative North Eastern Region, began by correcting what he described as a grave error made in previous press statements, in which he had wrongly identified a Kenyan citizen, Mr. Abduweli Hassan Mohamed, as a non Kenyan. He explained that the confusion arose from the similarity of names and emphasized that Mr. Mohamed was a 25 year old Kenyan from his own area. He stated that the remarks were not motivated by personal differences but were the result of a procedural mistake.

He issued an unreserved public apology to Mr. Mohamed, acknowledging that his earlier statement had unfairly questioned the man’s citizenship and dignity. He said he regretted depriving him of his constitutional right as a Kenyan and asked both the affected individual and the wider public to accept his apology, adding that the mistake should never have occurred.

He also used the occasion to apologize to several senior political leaders whom he said he had previously addressed in an inappropriate and disrespectful manner. Among those mentioned were Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and long serving parliamentarian Farah Mahmoud. He acknowledged that his earlier language toward them had been vulgar and unacceptable, noting that such conduct went against Somali cultural values that place high importance on respect for elders and leaders.

He described the leaders as important figures within the Somali community and the Kenyan political landscape, saying they commanded respect and played a significant role in public life. He publicly asked for their forgiveness and said he was committed to refraining from abusive language going forward. He added that he sought forgiveness from God and from the leaders themselves, stressing that reconciliation was necessary for social harmony.

In a major political declaration, the speaker announced that he was defecting from the DCP party to UDA with immediate effect. He said he had served as a DCP member from the northeastern region and had also held a leadership role as an organizing secretary within a disability league affiliated with the party. He said his decision followed deep reflection and careful assessment of the political environment.

According to him, DCP had transformed into what he described as an abusive party that relied heavily on personal attacks, insults and vulgar language instead of presenting a clear agenda for the country. He argued that the party’s activities increasingly focused on targeting individuals rather than advancing policies that would benefit Kenyans. He said this approach posed a danger to national cohesion and risked inciting divisions among communities.

He further claimed that after closely studying political dynamics on the ground, including in northern Kenya and other regions, he had become convinced that DCP had little chance of winning even a single elective seat. He appealed directly to northerners who were still affiliated with the party to reconsider their position and defect to UDA, which he said offered a clearer national vision and broader support base.

As a symbolic gesture, the speaker handed over his DCP membership card to his son in law, Jaak Mohamed Sidiq, also known as Jaak Saed, and later to Sheikh Mohammed Siddiq Said, a respected elder and businessman in the community. He thanked elders, religious leaders and community members who had intervened and encouraged dialogue, saying many had dedicated their time to persuading him to return to what he termed the political fold.

He also shared personal experiences to illustrate the pressure he said he had faced due to his political stance. He claimed that his choices had strained family relationships, including disagreements with his elderly mother, whom he said strongly disapproved of political bitterness and division. He said these personal challenges reinforced his belief that politics should not come at the expense of family, faith and national unity.

He dismissed suggestions that his defection was driven by personal ambition, insisting it was motivated by principle and concern for the future of northern Kenya. He responded to claims that Somali communities isolate themselves economically, arguing that investing in different parts of Kenya, including Nairobi, was a legitimate and positive contribution to national integration. He said economic participation across regions should not be viewed as a crime but as a means of strengthening unity among Kenyans.

He criticized what he described as attempts by some politicians to isolate northern communities and accused them of fostering resentment and intimidation rather than inclusive leadership. He claimed that fear and bitterness characterized certain political spaces, even in regions where those leaders were believed to be strong.

He concluded thanking community elders, religious leaders, family members and supporters, including relatives who had traveled from abroad to attend the event. He ended by calling for unity, restraint and respect in political discourse, saying Kenya’s stability depended on leaders and citizens choosing dialogue over division. He closed his remarks by blessing the nation and expressing hope for reconciliation and peaceful political engagement going forward.