Abdulkadir Mohamed Haji

Long before entering formal politics, Abdul Haji earned national admiration on September 21, 2013. When Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Haji rushed to the scene armed only with a licensed handgun to search for his brother, Noordin Haji, who was trapped inside. Instead of leaving after locating his brother, he stayed behind for hours. Working alongside security forces, he helped rescue dozens of trapped civilians, including children. A photograph of him guiding a mother and her young daughters to safety became an iconic symbol of civilian bravery during the tragedy.