MP aspirant Hajj Omar: Lang’ata has been ignored too long

After years of joining protests, speaking out on public issues and helping young people secure opportunities, Lang’ata MP aspirant Hajji Omar Mohamed says he has decided to step into elective politics, arguing that the constituency needs leaders who understand residents' struggles and are committed to creating jobs for the youth.

Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation on Thursday, Hajji said his decision to run for Parliament was informed by what he sees as a long-standing gap between the people of Lang’ata and those elected to represent them. According to him, many residents feel unheard, while key challenges affecting the constituency remain unresolved.

"For the longest time, Lang'ata has been led by people from outside, who don't understand the problems and the pains of the people of Lang'ata, and they don't listen to the people," he said.

Hajji's bid comes as he seeks to represent a constituency that has previously been held by some of Kenya's best-known political figures. Lang’ata was represented by the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga from 1992 to 2013 under different political parties before Joash Olum, who served between 2013 and 2017. Nixon Korir, now PS for Lands, held the seat from 2017 to 2022 before being succeeded by the current MP, Felix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang'o.

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Going further, the aspirant said years of engaging in activism and community initiatives convinced him that more can be achieved through leadership and direct involvement in decision-making.

"To be honest, I feel like in our leadership, I'm somebody who has treated, I'm somebody who has complained, I'm somebody who has gone for protest, done everything, and I realized that what I'm doing is not really helping," Hajj said.

He maintained that accountability, good governance and employment creation should be at the centre of leadership, arguing that unemployment remains the biggest challenge facing young people across the constituency.

According to Hajji, nearly every ward in Lang’ata is grappling with the same problem of youth unemployment and lack of empowerment opportunities. He said many young people are willing and ready to work but are unable to find opportunities.

"We need accountability, we need good leadership, we need good governance, we need a lot of creation of employment," he said.

Karen, Mugumu-ini, Nyayo Highrise, South C and Nairobi West are the wards found within Lang'ata which are led by Members of the County Assembly (MCA).

Hajji noted that he has spent the last 12 years working on youth empowerment initiatives, including helping young people access opportunities abroad and supporting local programmes aimed at improving livelihoods.

He described his decision to seek office as a calling, saying he is taking on additional responsibilities despite an already demanding schedule because he believes serving the people is a priority.

The aspirant said tackling unemployment requires leaders who intentionally pursue opportunities and partnerships that can create jobs for residents.

Drawing from his experience in business and international engagements, Hajji said he recently held discussions aimed at attracting a company with thousands of call-centre jobs currently being outsourced elsewhere.

"I went and sat down a meeting, and I'm trying to attract that business to come to Langata, so that 10,000 people is not a joke," he said.

He argued that Kenya has advantages such as a strong English-speaking workforce and a favourable time difference with parts of Europe, factors he believes can help attract international companies and create employment opportunities for young people.

Hajji added that large firms can create thousands of jobs if leaders actively position their constituencies as attractive destinations for investment.

Beyond employment, he raised concerns about education and skills development, saying many young people fail to progress after completing secondary school.

The petroleum engineer said the country faces a serious challenge if large numbers of students leave the education system without gaining practical skills that can prepare them for the job market.

He called for greater investment in skills training, talent development and programmes that equip young people with abilities that can be applied across different industries.

According to Hajji, emerging sectors such as technology and semiconductor manufacturing present opportunities that Kenya should position itself to benefit from by developing the necessary talent and attracting investors.

He also pointed to his involvement in education and workforce development projects in different countries, including collaborations in Malaysia and ongoing work in Uganda aimed at building capacity in the petroleum sector.

Hajji said solving unemployment would go beyond improving incomes and would also help address other social challenges affecting young people.

"I feel like it just needs somebody who cares, somebody who understands what they're doing, a sober mind, somebody who's there with the intention of solving problems and creating job opportunities for these young people," he said.

He argued that many social problems stem from a lack of economic opportunities, saying stable jobs would help reduce insecurity and prevent young people from being exploited for activities that do not benefit their communities.

"Once people are stable, things would be better," he added.