“Haji lands NIS job after Ruto taps Somali-Kenyans for security sector – a perplexing boom of unexpected alliances!”

The nomination of Noordin Haji to the National Intelligence Service [NIS] by William Ruto has caused quite a stir. It’s a remarkable moment for Kenya-Somalis who have been historically marginalized. Haji was appointed despite leaving the position six years ago to become the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP]. He used to be a close associate of former President Uhuru Kenyatta but silently moved to Ruto’s camp before the 2022 elections. With Ruto’s almost complete majority in the National Assembly, Haji’s nomination will likely be approved. He’s the son of the late Yusuf Haji, a former Defense Minister and longtime Garissa politician.

Ruto has consistently shown immense trust in Kenya-Somalis, which is an unprecedented move from previous leaders. Last year, he appointed Aden Duale, another seasoned Garissa politician as the minister of defense, a critical role in national security. Mohamed Amin was also appointed as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations [DCI], and Brigadier Abdikadir Burje was recently picked for Military Intelligence. These men are from the historically neglected Northern Frontier Districts [NFDs], a region that has been excluded by previous regimes.

Duale was part of the ministerial team which made key decisions in reopening the border between Kenya and Somalia in three phases. This decision was made critical because of the security situation in Somalia. These men who are now critical in security circles have a responsibility to safeguard the security of ordinary citizens.