HASSAN OMAR
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 23, 1973 |
| GENDER | Male |
| OCCUPATION | Politician |
Biography
Hassan Omar is a Kenyan politician who now serves as the Secretary General (SG) of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, succeeding Cleophas Malala.
He was born in Mombasa and hails from a prominent family as his mother was a member of the Mazrui family, one of the wealthiest clans in Kenya, having ruled parts of coastal towns in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Education
Omar began his education at local schools before moving on to Lenana School for his high school studies. He briefly trained with the Kenya Airforce but left to pursue a law degree at Moi University.
While at the university, Hassan emerged as a radical student leader and was expelled after leading a strike demanding that the university drop the name of Daniel Arap Moi, who was accused of being a dictator and an academic dwarf.
However, in 2003, after President Mwai Kibaki’s election, Omar was allowed to return to complete his studies following the nullification of his politically motivated expulsion. He graduated in 1995 with a law degree.
After completing his education, Omar was appointed to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC), where he served until 2012 when he resigned to enter politics.
Political Career of Hassan Omar
In 2013, Omar was elected Mombasa Senator on a Wiper ticket. He later became the party’s Secretary General. In 2017, he sought to unseat Governor Hassan Ali Joho but emerged a distant third.
However, he resigned from the Wiper party and has since switched loyalties to President William Ruto.
The former Senator played a key role in Ruto’s 2022 victory, serving as one of the strategists on his presidential campaign team.
He is reported to have lobbied the civil society to support the president’s bid and is also a ground mobiliser in the coast region.
Additionally, he led the campaigns for Ruto-allied independent candidate Feisal Bader who won the Msambweni by-elections.
Omar is the former Senator of Mombasa County, having served in that role from 2013 to 2017.
Other Positions Held
Other positions held by Omar include Former Chairman of the Moi University Students Organization (MUSO) and Former Chairman of the Council for University Students of East Africa (CUSEA).
Hon. Hassan Omar has been actively involved in numerous human rights initiatives, both locally and internationally. He also served as a Commissioner and Vice Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
Additionally, he has contributed to constitutional commissions and played a key role as a lead government representative in the promotion and protection of human rights in Kenya.
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