Abdulkadir Mohamed Haji has been sworn in as the Senator for Garissa county.
He replaces his father, the late Yusuf Haji, who died on February 13 at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi where he had been undergoing treatment.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission declared Haji as the Garissa senator on April 6.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati announced that there was “no contest” and declared Haji “duly elected as the Senator, Garissa County.”
The Garissa by-election had been scheduled for May 18.
He was to contest for the senatorial seat on a Jubilee Party ticket but was the only candidate in the race.
Haji is a renowned businessman and featured among private arm holders who played a key role in the rescue mission during the Westgate Mall attack in 2013.
In his maiden speech, Haji thanked members for the support they gave his family after the death of his father.
Holding back tears, he said his family still gets messages from his father’s friends telling them what his father meant to them.