When Idriss Mohammed, a human rights and political activist based at the Coast first stepped into the world of activism, his heartbeat with utmost satisfaction on his first achievement in life.
He discovered that he was made for this - he was to be the voice of the voiceless in the society.
The 24-year-old Taita Taveta-born activist narrates that he never thought his life would take this curve until he attained the age of 18. As is the norm, he applied for the national identification card but he got turned away which marked the beginning of his activism.
“I remember going to the registry offices in Taita Taveta and I got turned away and told that I should go apply for an ID in Mandera. I was disappointed by this statement and this is when I first organised a protest and it bore fruits. We had transfers and interdictions of negligent public officers thereafter,” he recounts.
In an interview with Hivisasa on Wednesday, Mohammed observed that he was pushed by the public to advocate for their rights and he obliged. To him, fighting for the public good was much more satisfying despite having pursued a diploma in Computer Information Technology (CIT) from Mombasa Institute of Professional Studies College.
“They saw the willpower in me and they pushed me into activism because there is oppression in life and someone needs to stand and speak for the oppressed,” offered Mohammed who runs several businesses in Mombasa and Taita Taveta.
“There was this time KWS wanted to evict people in Taita Taveta and I stood tall and spoke out. It was tough but today, people have built permanent residences on the land that KWS wanted to evict them from.”
Idriss Mohammed, (in a grey Maasai garment) at a past event. [Source: Idriss Mohammed]
In the run-up to August 8, 2017, general elections, he thrust himself into the race for Marungu MCA in Taita Taveta under a Maendeleo Chap Chap ticket but never made it to the county assembly. This, he said, did not dampen his spirit because he performed well in the polls.
He is planning to thrust himself into national politics in the 2022 general elections.
“I am in support of Alfred Mutua (Machakos Governor) and I am optimistic I’ll be the national youth point man in his campaign. He has seen my capability and I know that in future, I will be a political appointee to represent the people of Kenya just like we have my friend Chipukeezy representing us in NACADA,” stated Mohammed.
Nevertheless, his activism career has not been without challenges. He has been arrested, his life threatened severally especially due to his strong anti-radicalism stand in Mombasa and exposing land grabbers.
He is also ridiculed by people who feel that he is popularizing himself while others don’t take what he does seriously.
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