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Member of Parliament, Kamukunji
Born
1953(73 yrs)
Region
Nairobi
Constituency
Kamukunji
Public Views
Experience
Documented career positions
Yusuf Hassan Abdi (born 1 March 1953) is a Kenyan politician, diplomat, social activist and former journalist who has represented Kamukunji Constituency in the National Assembly since winning a by-election in August 2011. He has since been re-elected multiple times, most recently in the 2022 general election, and is associated with the Jubilee Party and the broader ruling coalitions of the day. Before entering elective politics, he built a distinguished international career: starting as an announcer/producer at Voice of Kenya (now KBC), he went on to work for the BBC External Service in London, co-found and serve as Senior Editor of the Africa Events magazine, and later joined the United Nations system. At the UN and UNHCR he held senior communication and policy roles, including Head of External and Media Relations for UNHCR in Southwest and Central Asia, senior spokesman for UN operations in Kabul, Senior Policy Adviser to the UN Secretary-General in New York, Director of the UN news service IRIN, and Senior Global Communications Advisor/Regional Communications Manager for UNHCR in Southern Africa and East Africa. Hassan’s parliamentary career has been shaped by both resilience and constituency-focused advocacy. He became a leading voice for Kamukunji’s diverse and largely urban, Somali and business communities, frequently raising issues of security, infrastructure, refugees’ rights and urban marginalisation on the floor of the House. In December 2012, he survived a targeted grenade attack in Nairobi’s Eastleigh neighbourhood that left him seriously injured and requiring extensive reconstructive surgery, yet he went on to win re-election while still recovering, an episode that reinforced his image as a determined representative. He is multilingual—fluent in Somali, English and Swahili, with working knowledge of Arabic, French and Spanish—and holds degrees and qualifications from Middlesex University, Birkbeck (University of London) and The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, underpinning his role as a globally experienced legislator with deep roots in Nairobi’s inner-city politics.
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Member of Parliament for Kamukunji (2011-Present)
Former Journalist, BBC
Former Senior Official, United Nations (UNHCR, UN HQ)
In 2017, the High Court dismissed an election petition filed by his political rival, Ibrahim Ahmed, which challenged the validity of Yusuf Hassan's re-election. The court struck out the suit after the petitioner failed to deposit the required security fees within the stipulated time.
In 2019, he was reportedly among several Members of Parliament investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) regarding allegations of holding dual citizenship, specifically with the United Kingdom, in violation of constitutional requirements.
News articles featuring Yusuf Hassan
Survivor of a 2012 grenade attack in Eastleigh
Started his career in 1974 as an announcer and producer with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, then known as the Voice of Kenya.
Worked as a reporter for the Kuwaiti newspaper Arab Times beginning in 1978.
Served as a producer for the BBC External Service in London between 1979 and 1984.
Co-founded and served as Senior Editor for 'Africa Events' monthly magazine from 1979 to 1984.
Elected Chairman of the Ukenya opposition group in the United Kingdom in 1987.
Served as the inaugural Director of Operations for Namibia's national radio and television broadcaster in 1990, assisting the country's post-independence transition.
Worked as a senior broadcaster for the Voice of America's Africa Division from 1992 to 1994.
Joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1994, beginning a career in international diplomacy.
Served as UNHCR's Head of External and Media Relations in Southwest and Central Asia, based in Islamabad, from 1999 to 2001.
Acted as the senior spokesman for United Nations operations in Kabul in 2001 and 2002.
Served as a Senior Policy Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General in New York from 2002 to 2006.
Appointed as Director of IRIN, a United Nations news organization, serving from 2006 to 2007.
Elected as the Member of Parliament for Kamukunji Constituency in a by-election in August 2011.
Named 'Hiiraan Online Person of the Year' in 2012 for his leadership, social advocacy, and resilience.
Re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Kamukunji Constituency in the 2013 general election.
Re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Kamukunji Constituency in the 2017 general election.
Elected to a fourth consecutive term as the Member of Parliament for Kamukunji Constituency in the 2022 general election.