New date for Supkem's national polls as race hots up

Supkem Deputy Secretary General Hassan Ole Naado is eyeing the powerful Secretary General position to succeed long-serving Adan Wachu in the upcoming polls.

The long-awaited national polls for the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), the umbrella body for Muslim organisations, has been postponed again to October 23 as the race for top posts intensifies.

The elections for national officials, which were last held 10 years ago and have been postponed repeatedly in the recent months amid court battles, had been initially slated for October 16 as directed by the court.

The latest postponement is a result of a petition by Supkem's current National Executive Committee to the High Court requesting an extension to finalise preparations for the polls.

A section of current office bearers have been accused of filing or sponsoring cases in court to delay the polls that may see their exit from office.

About 179 delegates from across the country are expected to gather at the expansive Al Huda mosque in Nairobi's South B to elect Supkem's new leadership for a five-year term to replace long-serving officials.

The current Supkem chairman Prof Abdulghafur El Busaidy and Secretary General Adan, who have been the faces of Supkem for many years, will not be in the race.

Prof. El Busaidy, a former chair of the University of Nairobi’s chemistry department, has dropped out for health reasons. He served as Supkem's chair for 30 years.

Wachu, who has served in the position for almost 15 years, has also dropped out for undisclosed reasons.

Former commissioner with the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) Dr. Yusuf Nzibo has expressed interest for the position of SUPKEM chairman. At present he remains the only candidate for the position.

The deputy secretary general Hassan Ole Naado, a civil society leader, appears to be the front runner to replace Wachu in the powerful Secretary General position.

In his manifesto dubbed "Reclaiming the Lost Glory" unveiled recently, he promised to reform the management culture of Supkem and deliver results in health, education, combating human rights violations and violent extremism.

"I promise to provide a consultative-driven, membership-oriented and strategic-focused management and leadership approach," reads Ole Naado's manifesto.

Ole Naado's challenger is Adan Muhammad Maahat, a civil servant at the foreign affairs ministry.

Coast regional Coordinator Sheikh Muhdhar Khitamy will battle out for the position of Deputy national chairman currently held by Abdullahi Kiptanui.

Supkem's director general Abdullatif Shaaban will be facing off with Abdallah Kamwana who at present is the Supkem chairman for Eastern region.

Long serving organising secretary Sharrif Hussein Omar is facing opposition from Abdullahi Salat who is the Garissa branch chairman. 

Supkem has been the avenue of the Muslim community to engage with the government and other stakeholders and in the recent years its officials have faced accusations of graft and playing partisan politics instead of advancing the rights of Muslims and Kenyans at large.

[email protected]