For Major (Rtd) Bashir Abdullahi, the journey from the military barracks to the National Assembly marked a major shift from serving the country in uniform to representing his constituents through elective politics.
Before venturing into politics, Bashir served in the Kenya military, where he rose to the rank of Major and participated in several peacekeeping missions. His military career gave him experience in security, leadership and public service, areas that would later feature prominently in his work as a legislator.
After retiring from the military, Bashir turned his attention to politics and sought to represent the people of Mandera North in Parliament.
His political breakthrough came during the 2017 General Election, when he contested the Mandera North parliamentary seat on a Jubilee Party ticket. He emerged victorious after garnering 24,999 votes, defeating Mohamed Ibrahim Abdi, who received 14,363 votes.
His election was subsequently challenged in court. However, the High Court upheld his victory, and the decision was later affirmed by the Court of Appeal, allowing him to continue serving as the constituency's elected representative.
Bashir's arrival in Parliament came at a time when northern Kenya was facing longstanding challenges involving insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, healthcare access, electricity connectivity and limited government services.
His military background became particularly relevant in parliamentary debates concerning national security and the Kenya Defence Forces.
During the 12th Parliament, Bashir served in committees dealing with defence, foreign relations and public accounts. His experience as a former military officer gave him an understanding of security matters and the challenges faced by personnel serving in Kenya and abroad.
In June 2023, Parliament referred to Bashir as a former army Major who had participated in several peacekeeping missions. He was also involved in parliamentary discussions concerning the welfare and financing of Kenyan troops deployed on international peacekeeping assignments.
Bashir successfully defended his Mandera North seat during the August 9, 2022 General Election. Unlike in 2017, when he contested on a Jubilee ticket, he ran on the United Democratic Movement (UDM) ticket.
His re-election cemented his position as one of the region's established political figures and gave him another opportunity to raise issues affecting residents of Mandera North at the national level.
In the 13th Parliament, Bashir was appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. The position placed him in a key parliamentary role overseeing matters involving national security, intelligence and Kenya's external relations.
His parliamentary responsibilities have also extended to development concerns in Mandera North.
The constituency, like many parts of northern Kenya, has faced difficulties in accessing reliable electricity and essential public services. In Parliament, Bashir has raised concerns over infrastructure and stalled or non-functional projects.
One issue he highlighted involved a solar mini-grid in Ashabito, which he said was not functioning effectively. According to his parliamentary intervention, the electricity challenge was affecting operations at a newly established sub-county hospital.
Beyond his constituency duties, Bashir has also played a role in representing the interests of pastoralist communities.
In February 2023, he was elected chairman of the Pastoralist Parliamentary Group, bringing together MPs representing pastoralist communities from different parts of the country. At the time, the group had more than 100 members.
The position provided Bashir with another platform to push for issues affecting pastoralist communities, including development, security, infrastructure and access to public services.
His political journey has therefore been defined by two distinct careers: military service and elective leadership.
From serving as a Kenya Army Major and participating in peacekeeping missions to winning two consecutive parliamentary elections, Bashir has transformed his experience in uniform into a political career centred on national security, parliamentary oversight and the development needs of Mandera North.
His story reflects the growing presence of former security officers in Kenya's political arena, where experience gained in public service can become a foundation for seeking elective office and influencing national policy.