PARANET Challenges Clan-Based Politics in Wajir, Urges Journalists to Defend Democratic Accountability

 

By Ahmed Salat Ali Aaran Tv Ke 

Wajir, Kenya — The Pastoralists Rights and Advocacy Network (PARANET), in partnership with Media Citizen Fronts, has convened a high-level dialogue with journalists in Wajir County to interrogate the entrenched practice of negotiated democracy and its impact on governance, accountability and development in Northern Kenya.

The engagement, held at Heritage Hotel in Wajir Town, brought together more than 20 journalists drawn from mainstream media houses, digital platforms and freelance practice. The forum focused on the role of the media in safeguarding democratic principles amid growing concerns over the dominance of clan-based political arrangements in the region.

A Norm Under Scrutiny

In much of the North Eastern region, negotiated democracy — a system where clan elders broker political positions before elections — has become a customary pathway to leadership selection. While its proponents argue that it fosters unity and minimizes conflict, critics say it has weakened competitive elections and eroded transparency.

Addressing participants, PARANET Programme Officer Ahmed Abdirashid described negotiated democracy as a “double-edged sword” that requires critical examination.

“Where tribal political structures dominate, the question of accountability is often lost,” he said. “When leadership positions are predetermined through clan agreements, transparency becomes a bottleneck and development suffers.”

He urged journalists to play a proactive role as the 2027 General Election approaches, challenging them to scrutinize political pledges and ensure leaders are held accountable beyond negotiated settlements.

“Journalists must report objectively and patriotically. The electorate deserves leaders of substance, not products of opaque political compacts,” he added.

Democracy at a Crossroads

Governance expert Ahmed Alas, who facilitated the session, described democracy as inherently ambivalent — capable of producing both positive and negative outcomes depending on how it is practiced.

“The process of negotiated democracy is often opaque,” he observed. “Journalists are called in only when deals are sealed. It becomes transactional rather than merit-based, and in some cases, election outcomes appear predetermined.”

He argued that adherence to constitutional processes and open competition could gradually dismantle undemocratic practices. According to him, orienting aspirants along purely clan lines has contributed to poor leadership outcomes in the region.

Journalists Speak Out

The dialogue featured spirited contributions from veteran and emerging journalists.

Veteran journalist Abdullah Jamac called for the abolition of negotiated democracy, terming it “a curse that has distorted our democratic pattern.”

“It has enabled corrupt and incompetent leaders to ascend to power, affecting service delivery to wananchi,” Jamac said. “It also silences journalists, because by the time the process reaches the public, decisions have already been made.”

Another journalist, Isaadin, cautioned media practitioners against falling prey to political manipulation. “We must remain mindful of our role and resist political gerrymandering disguised as consensus,” he said.

Hassan Noor Elmoge noted that clan-based coronations have undermined the democratic gains achieved since Kenya’s independence.

“The system has gagged women and marginalized capable candidates,” he argued. “If we are serious about reform, civic education on the negative impact of negotiated democracy should be integrated into learning institutions.”

Participants overwhelmingly agreed that the intertwining of negotiated democracy with clan politics has contributed to corruption, nepotism and favoritism, stalling development in the North Eastern counties.

Call for Professional Vigilance

Abdirahman Rashid Farah, a pioneer of Media Citizen Fronts, steered the discussion through comparative questions that sparked robust debate among participants. The session created what attendees described as an open and reflective space for media practitioners to reassess their professional responsibilities.

In closing remarks, Ahmed Abdirashid appealed to journalists to remain impartial and courageous in shaping the region’s democratic future.

“The media must be professional and independent. Democracy thrives when journalists question power without fear,” he said.

Toward a Transformative Shift

PARANET’s initiative signals a growing push by civil society actors to reform governance structures in Northern Kenya. The organization is advocating for a transition from elder-brokered political settlements to open, competitive and constitutionally anchored electoral processes.

As the countdown to 2027 begins, the Wajir media fraternity now faces a defining challenge: whether to remain observers of negotiated political outcomes — or become active defenders of democratic accountability.