By Boniface Ongeri
NORTH EASTERRN; KENYA: No political party carried out nominations in North Eastern Province.
This is after aspirants for various elective seats secured direct tickets long before the set date to avoid acrimony associated with party polls. In a region where clan politics still determines one’s rise to any political office, parties are only used as vehicles to achieving that goal.
As a result, rivals for gubernatorial, senator, parliamentary, Women and County Representatives avoided the party primaries headache by picking different parties. The last time nominations took place was in 2002 where former Dujis legislator Hussein Maalim and former Fafi MP Ibrahim Mohammed Salat came up against each other for the Kanu slot.
It also ended in disarray after chaos erupted and police had to disperse the crowd with teargas. Since then, primaries in the region are regarded as a waste of time and a formality to stamp on irregularities. Most aspirants say it is a waste of finances as party leaders normally have their favoured candidates.
Close association
In Garissa County, Ali Korane, Mohammed Shurie, Harun Yussuf and Nadhif Adam will vie for the governor’s post on The National Alliance (TNA), United Democratic Front, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Wiper party tickets. Former Dujis MP Aden Duale was given a United Republican Party (URP) nomination slot for the seat as a result of his close association with Jubilee Alliance running mate William Ruto.
He will come up against Nassir Jofle, who was given a direct ODM nomination on the eve of the exercise to the chagrin of Omar Sheikh Ali. Ali claimed that Jofle was given direct nomination at the request of Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim, who is Jofle’s cousin. Ali said he would demand Sh150,000 he had paid to be considered for the nominations.
Fighting it out
In Wajir, former Cabinet minister Mohamed Abdi Muhamud (Jubilee alliance), businessman Mohamed Mursal of the Kenya National Congress (KNC), agriculturalist Abdirahman Maalim Abass (Safina), accountant Ahmed Abdullahi Mohammad (CORD) and varsity don Mahamed Omar Maalim Bardad (Wiper party) are fighting it out for the governor’s seat.
Former Wajir West legislator Adan Keynan and his Wajir East counterpart Mohammed Elmi will contest Eldas and Tarbaj constituencies on an ODM ticket.
