ALHAMDULLILLAH :
All Praise be to Almighty Allah.
The Most Gracious,
The Most Merciful. Proud Muslim, Kenyan and Pan Africanist. Africa is my continent/race.
The change Mandera County deserves: my perspective on the challenges and development gaps
Mandera County stands at a critical juncture grappling with significant development gaps that demand transformative leadership. As of September 2025 the county continues to face challenges in infrastructure development, prudent resource utilization and youth engagement despite outlined plans in the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023-2027.
The persistent disconnect between governance and community needs is evident in the alarming voter apathy with only 64% turnout in the 2022 elections and many youth not seeing the need to participate in the democratic process as they feel the status quo doesn't represent any meaningful change.
The county’s development gap is particularly visible in its struggling infrastructure and limited economic opportunities which hinder progress despite the strategic objectives set forth in the Annual Development Plan 2024/2025.
Youth disenfranchisement remains a pressing concern with many young people excluded from political processes as well as widespread socio-economic challenges affecting the youth like unemployment and substance abuse.
Without urgent intervention, Mandera County risks perpetuating a cycle of underdevelopment and marginalization that contradicts its vision of becoming a regionally competitive and self-reliant county. This underscores the need for leaders who can bridge the gap between policy and tangible outcomes.
Hon. Abdi Yussuf Noor
Governor Candidate - Mandera County 2027
X (Twitter) Handle: @AbdiYussuf254
"Change we believe in"
Celebrating 100 Years of Jamia Mosque Nairobi
Today marks 100 years since the foundation stone of Nairobi’s Jamia Mosque was laid, a moment that began the transformation of a simple vision into one of East Africa’s most iconic religious and architectural landmarks. The vision for Jamia Mosque Nairobi was conceived in 1902 when Maulana Sayed Abdullah Shah a respected religious leader approached the colonial government for land on which to build a mosque.
Held in high regard, Maulana Sayed Abdullah was granted permission to choose any site he wished. When presented with a map of Nairobi he placed his finger squarely in the middle on a parcel of land which was then a little more than uninhabited swampland.
Although the mosque was founded in 1902, construction did not begin until 1925. The delay stemmed partly from an edict that prohibited Indians and Arabs from owning land in Nairobi, as well as financial constraints. To raise funds, the Anjuman Islamia Muslim Association launched a wide appeal across East Africa between September 1925 and December 1927, with contributions also arriving from as far away as the Muslim community in Durban, South Africa.
The construction of Jamia Mosque Nairobi took 8 years and was completed in 1933. It was officially opened on Friday 18th August 1933, in a grand ceremony attended by thousands of Muslims from diverse communities such as the Punjabis, Arabs, Swahilis, Somalis, Nubi's and others who marched in procession from the Indian National Bank, now the Kenya National Archives to the new mosque located some 750 meters away.
The inauguration was led by Sayyid Khalifa bin Harub the Sultan of Zanzibar who declared the mosque open for prayers. The celebrations continued for two days featuring speeches, sermons, prayers and poetry in Urdu, Arabic and Swahili.
At its completion Jamia Mosque Nairobi was not only the tallest building in Nairobi but also the largest mosque in East Africa. Over the past half century it has been expanded twice to accommodate Nairobi’s growing Muslim population. Today it stands as both a place of worship and a living monument to the faith, resilience and foresight of the community that built it.
Corruption in Mandera County: the main driver of the injustices of marginalization and underdevelopment
In Mandera County rampant corruption continues to erode public trust in governance and weaken institutional effectiveness.
Amongst the biggest challenges in the grave scandals of corruption facing Mandera County is misappropriation of resources meant for development into private projects.
The independent institutions which are supposed to fight graft are toothless or are in bed with the status quo. There are no files forwarded by the EACC against the incumbent and his predecessor despite numerous complaints by the electorates on the rising cases of corruption.
Had the honor of meeting and interviewing the legend, Abdilatif Abdala, the first political prisoner post independence, incarcerated by Kenyatta for speaking out. Jailed for 3 years. A poet, a political activist, what a man!!! We’re here coz he fought for us❤️❤️
@SafaricomPLC, @Safaricom_Care I am very disappointed with your services, Mpesa reversal taking more than 18 hrs, I am out of the country and can't call customer care number.