Abdulkadir Mohamed Haji, the Westgate Mall terror attack hero popularly known as Abdul Haji, has been declared the Senator for Garissa County unopposed.

He was declared Senator unopposed on Tuesday as there was no challenger who presented nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Haji, who was vying on a ruling Jubilee Party ticket, was the only contestant in the Garissa Senatorial by-election that had been slated for May 18, hence the commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati declared the mini-poll a no contest.

Yusuf Haji. PHOTO/COURTESY

After being sworn in, Haji is set to take over from his father Yusuf Haji, who died last month after long illness.

Noordin Haji. PHOTO/COURTESY

He is also a brother to Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji.