Yusuf Mohamed Haji is the Garissa senator serving his second term in office.
Haji was first elected in 2013 on United Republican Party (URP) ticket before retaining the seat in 2017 general election on a Jubilee Party ticket.
The senator is among long-serving politicians and public administrators in the country.
Prior to joining politics, Haji served as Defense Minister in retired president Mwai Kibaki’s government.
He also served as provincial commissioner.
Born and raised in Garissa, here is Hajis’ first job.
Haji began his professional career in provincial administration and management as District Officer (DO) in 1970.
He was appointed as Garissa DO after completing his studies in public administration and management.
The Garissa senator then rose through the ranks to become a Provincial Commissioner (PC) and served in Coast and other parts of the country.
He resigned as PC in 1997 to venture into politics and was elected as Ijara MP on KANU ticket.
Between 1998 and 2002, Haji worked as an assistant minister in the office of the president.
He won re-election for Ijara seat in 2002 election.
In 2007, Haji again won re-election for Ijara constituency.
He was appointed Defense Minister in the coalition government.
The senator now chairs the building bridges task force that came to place after the March 9 handshake between former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Haji is unlikely to seek re-election in the 2022 general election though there is speculation that he could bid for the Garissa governor seat.
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