Miraj Abdillahi: From Roadside Food Seller to Senator

Miraj Abdillahi had always dreamed of serving her community and uplifting their lives, but growing up in a poor background limited what she could do for them.

She aspired to get into parliament and make laws that would improve lives, but politics is hard to crack when you have no financial muscle and even harder if you are a woman.

Speaking to WoK, Miraj narrated her struggles in Mombasa, from the days she sold viazi karai (fried potatoes) and porridge.

”I never gave up my dreams even when times were hard I kept fighting to succeed in life”, Miraj said.

Miraj said residents and tuk-tuk drivers were her customers, and this sense of community and bond with them motivated her to change their lives.

Miraj, nicknamed Mama Haki by her supporters embarked on the pursuit of her dreams, she stumbled for a while as she sought the Mombasa Woman Rep seat, but this did not make her lose focus.

In 2022, Miraj dreams and aspirations become a reality when her party UDA nominated her to the Senate.

”It was a special moment not just for me but for everyone in Mombasa and the country as a whole, Indeed a child of mama mboga can sit at the top”, Miraj said.

As a senator, Miraj Abdillahi has fought for land issues that have locals and advocated for the opening of skies in Mombasa to boost tourism.

Miraj said she had always aimed at improving education and with her Mtoto Asome initiative she has managed to provide education to children from less privileged homes.

In 2023 she launched an empowerment program for youth and women.

According to her, the initiative aims to empower small-scale businesses, promote gender equality, tackle unemployment, and foster responsible parenting.