Abdulrahman Kinana

Abdulrahman Omari Kinana is a Tanzanian politician who served as the first Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2006. He has been secretary-general of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, the ruling party, from 2012 to 2018. Kinana served in the Tanzanian Armed Forces for 20 years before retiring as a colonel in 1992. He has also served as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence. He was a member of the Tanzanian Parliament for Arusha constituency for 10 years. Kinana’s father moved to Tanzania when he was a child and hails from Somali Sheekhaal clan. A Harvard University graduate, Abdulrahman Omari Kinana is also a successful businessman. Currently the vice chairperson of the ruling party, CCM, where he was formerly Secretary General.

Kinana has also been Chairman of Tanzania Pharmaceutical Industries, Diamond Shipping Company, Tanzania Red Cross, Tanzania Red Cross the Board of Trustees – Muhimbili National Hospital, and a Board Member of Tanzania Tobacco Leaf Company. The Retired Army Colonel has been the Chairman – Committee of the Ministers of Defence and Security of the SADC States and Head of Delegations to Conferences of the Front-Line States, SADC, OAU, UN, and The Non-Aligned Movement. In 2023, he helped President Samia Suluhu Hassan who is the chairperson of CMC Party to formulate the Ministry of Planning and Investment. He also lauded Samia Suluhu for restoring National Planning Commission and placing the crucial body under the President’s Office, with an objective to speed up development plans in the country. In 2023, Mr Kinana also severally made popular remarks in public to explain the great work of implementing the CCM Election Manifesto in Tanzania.