By Abdikadir Sugow
KENYA:Following the decision by a 21-member council of elders to endorse preferred candidates for the forthcoming elections in Mandera County, inter-clan political rivalries resurfaced during the party primaries.
The simmering rivalries appear to be going against the elders’ declaration, with two groups revolving around party re-alignments. The latest entrants who owe allegiance to the ODM and TNA are stacked up against the elders’ choice - the William Ruto-led URP.
Inter-clan political rivalries are now further complicating the political equation for the major parties, with Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM angling for a stake in the county after big gains in Garissa and Wajir counties. TNA leader Uhuru Kenyatta has also joined the fray in Mandera.
The elders’ choice of for the position of governor, career pilot and former Director of Flight Operation for DAC Aviation East Africa, Ali Ibrahim Roba (URP), is no longer unopposed.
Although he still enjoys the elders’ blessings and has impeccable credentials, Roba is now expected to face stiff competition from Ahmeddubow Abdinoor (ODM), who hails from the majority Quranyowa sub-clan of the larger Garre clan, to which the URP candidate also belongs.
And not ready to be left out of the game, the TNA group has thrown their hat into the ring with a former local council clerk, Abdikadir Adan Chitto, also bidding to become Mandera Governor. Roba and Chitto come from the Tuff sub-clan of Garre community.
Abdinoor, a holder of masters’ degree in social science development administration can garner 55 percent of the 121,000 registered votes because he comes from the majority Quranyowa sub-clan of the Garre clan, compared to his two rivals Roba and Chitto from the Tuff sub-clan.
Besides the numerical number of his sub-clan, the former Arid Lands Resource Management Programme Coordinator also has a head start because of his wife’s clan connection.
She comes from the Degodia clan who make-up 20,000 of the total votes. Combined with her husband’s sub-clan numbers factor, this equation could turn out to be a major boost for Raila Odinga’s party ODM.
Key candidate
In the ODM line-up is another significant candidate, Dr Abdinasir Mohamed Khalif, who is contesting to be Mandera Senator. He comes from the Sharmarke sub-clan of the Murule clan who make up 20 per cent of the county’s total votes. At a relatively youthful age of 29, the pharmacist has an advantage in that he is related to influential businessman Mohamud Khalif, who is highly respected across the board in Mandera.
Dr Khalif who holds Masters’ degree in Business Administration previously worked with the Ministry of Medical Services for five years at Kajiado and Maralal district hospitals. He will face off with former Mandera Central MP Billow Kerrow (URP), who was endorsed by the elders, Hussein Mohamed Abdirahaman (TNA) and Ahmed Ibrahim Haji (UDF) who will be backed by Hassan Issack Hache who is contesting for Mandera East seat on UDF.
Another prime catch for Raila’s and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s CORD is holder of a Head of State commendation for her peace initiatives, Amina Hassan, who is seeking to become the Mandera county women’s representative.
Amina, a former teacher, belongs to the Degodia clan, but has the special benefit of being married to a husband who hails from the Quranyowa sub-clan who make the largest votes of the county. Besides her husband’s boost, Amina’s mother comes from the Murule clan and is likely to get additional support from her uncles. She will face off Ubah Abdi Ibrahim (TNA) and elders choice, Fathia Haji Mahbub (URP).
CORD group also welcomed Harun Issack Hassan, a medical practitioner who has worked with NGOs into their ranks. He will battle it out with outgoing Mandera West MP, Assistant Minister Mohammed Maalim Mohamoud who ditched ODM for URP.
His entry complicates the voting arithmetic for Mohamoud, because they belong to the same sub-clan and face a daunting contest from the much- touted front runner, Aden Haji Yussuf who is vying on a TNA ticket. Omar Haji Jama, alias Binda, is seeking the Mandera East seat and his Majerten clan, who are a minority, make up about 10 percent of the constituency votes.
ODM Mandera Co-ordinator, Yussuf ‘Nusu Kilo’ Maalim said he is enthusiastic and confident that his presidential candidate, Raila, is likely to get about 80 percent of the votes to be cast in Mandera County.
He said although CORD might lose some parliamentary seats, the local professionals, women and youth are ready to give their presidential votes to Raila because he is the only candidate whom they can trust to address their needs as opposed to the other coalition candidates.
Nusu Kilo says the locals, devout Muslims, believe that Raila’s government will best protect the interests of the community, particularly the Kadhis’ Courts, which is already enshrined in the country’s Constitution.
“They fear that the other coalitions may manipulate the Kadhis’ Courts, which are very close their hearts. It is a matter of life and death when you talk of Islamic rules and the significant attachment it has on ordinary believers,” says the ODM official.
New laws
He said the Jubilee presidential candidate, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto openly opposed the final draft of the Constitution, although at a later stage Uhuru backed down.
He recalled that Ruto was the Marshall of those who voted a big ‘No’ during the 2005 referendum in total variance with the majority of Kenyans who overwhelmingly voted ‘Yes’.
Besides campaigning for the new Constitution, Abdinoor says Raila also helped created Ministry of State for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands and immediately appointed one of their own, Mohamed Elmi, as the minister.
Abdinoor said he will work to ensure food security for the residents, adding that honesty, integrity and transparency will define his leadership. He has 25 years experience in public service in the field of agriculture, fisheries and livestock development. He hails from the large Quranyowa sub-clan.
Having worked in North Eastern Province as a development officer and a consultant, he has pledged to unite all the communities in the county, noting that food security and proper infrastructure would be a priority to spur the county’s economy.
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