Dr. Yusuf Hassan Wraps Up North American Tour

Dr. Yusuf Hasan Abdi, the parliamentary candidate for Kamukunji constituency,a cosmopolitan group of seven neighborhoods which include the Nairobi suburb of Eastleigh, wrapped up his tour of North America with a last stop at Chicago, U.S.A. on Wednesday, July 20 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

A flyer hanging inside the conference hall where Abdi spoke  on Wednessday

Against the backdrop of smothering heat waves across most of the States, Abdi spoke at the East African Community Center, a nonprofit that serves the Somali community in Illinois, to a crowd of a hundred people gathered to listen to his agenda for Kamukunji.

"I grew up, schooled and got my first job in Kamukunji," said Abdi. "I have been an activist for change from an early age."

The largely receptive crowd also probed the candidate on his political and development agenda.

"Would you be different than other politicians who make promises to get elected but forfeit on their pledges once in office?" asked Mohamed Aden, a Kenyan who recently moved to Illinois.

Abdi emphasized how his work for political change in Kenya forced his family's flight into exile in Tanzania before finally relocating to the UK.

He explained how he founded organizations that fought for political reforms when Kenya was under one-party system and that his election to parliament will help him in his efforts to expand democracy and social justice.

Abdi (right) in white shirt and blue tie poses with supporters.

Abdi was elected the first chairman of Ukenya, an opposition party he co-founded with other fellow Kenyans from different ethnic demographics, an indication of his ability to work for a peaceful, democratic Kenya without tribal ethnocentrism.

Abdi who also founded Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners,a civic rights organization that agitated for freedom,justice and improved human rights practices, promised to "reduce youth unemployment rate and improve security, and infrastructure," outlining his top three priorities if elected.

He explained that he intends to rebuild the Kamukunji road transport system, protect its residential rights,and defend it's political and economic interests.

When asked why he ran for Kamukunji which never had a Somali member of parliament and why he thought he was the right candidate for the job, Abdi's response was quick and simple.

"Obama's 2008 election to the U.S presidency inspired me," he said."I would like to use my vast humanitarian, communication, law and diplomacy experience to promote dialogue and build my country."

A July 29, court ruling is slated to pave the way for the date of the by-election.

Abdi is a former senior policy adviser to the U.N. in New York and a former journalist who served as the head of BBC World Service for Africa and senior editor of Voice Of America.

He has a PhD in Communications from Wits University in Johannesburg, and double master's degrees, one from University of London specializing in Politics and Public Administration and another in Law and Diplomacy from Tuft University's Fletcher school of Law and Diplomacy in Boston.

Abdi's U.S tour was apart of a larger mission to explain his bid to win the constituency and to ask the diaspora Somalis to encourage their families in Kamukunji to come out and vote on the election day.