St. Cloud, MN – The Somali and East African community of St. Cloud turned out in large numbers to welcome a special guest from across the world: Honorable Mohamed Adow, Member of Parliament for Wajir South, Kenya. The event, moderated by Abdi Daisane, brought together a diverse audience and a lineup of respected community speakers, all eager to engage with and hear from a man who has long been a voice for justice, truth, and progress. During the event, Daisane shared a personal connection — he once attended Sankur Boarding School.
A longtime St. Cloud resident, Daisane is a local entrepreneur with multiple businesses in the area. He also ran this year for State Representative in District 14A, continuing his commitment to community leadership and civic engagement.
Omar Aden Ahmed, a politician from Northern Kenya and longtime friend of Hon. Mohammed Adow, welcomed him to Minnesota, organizing both the Minneapolis and St. Cloud Event. Known as “the People’s MP,” Omar has previously shown interest in running for the Wajir South seat and is widely respected among youth, elders, and women in Kenya. A philanthropist, he was nicknamed “Jini Boqor” by the late Garissa Senator Hon. Haji for his unique access to high-level spaces, a sentiment echoed by Kamkunji MP Hon. Yussuf Hassan. Now based in Lakeville, Minnesota, Omar serves as a key representative of Kenyan Kwanza in North America.
The gathering was not only a celebration of Hon. Adow’s visit but also an opportunity to reflect on the power of leadership, the strength of community, and the importance of global connections between the diaspora and home.
One of the most heartfelt moments came when Dr. Ismael Khalif, the owner of Afya Pharmacy in St. Cloud and a childhood friend of Hon. Adow, took the stage. He shared personal stories of their upbringing in Garissa County, where they both attended County High School. The two later went on to study in Kenya. Adow studied at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC), a premier journalism school in Kenya.
Mohamed Adow’s journey is as inspiring as it is impactful. After completing his studies, he worked for the BBC, gaining global recognition for his storytelling and coverage of East African affairs. He later joined Al Jazeera, where he continued to report on critical issues affecting the Horn of Africa and beyond. His commitment to truth and justice eventually led him to pursue political leadership — a move that culminated in his successful election as Member of Parliament for Wajir South.
During his address in St. Cloud, Hon. Adow spoke passionately about the need for accountable leadership, the importance of education, and the value of the diaspora in shaping Kenya’s future. He emphasized unity and mutual support, calling on communities abroad to stay engaged with their roots and to use their platforms to uplift others.
The event was a powerful reminder of how interconnected our global communities are, and how one individual’s journey can inspire generations on both sides of the ocean.
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