Kenyan pastoralist communities to unveil new party

Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow

NAIROBI: Leaders from pastoralist communities are this week expected to unveil the name of their party.

A 21-member executive committee met last Tuesday and formed a smaller working group that would fine-tune the issues of name, colours, symbols and the constitution of the party that seeks to bring together communities from over 14 counties.

A month ago, during the Pastoralist Leadership Summit in Isiolo County, over 70 leaders from Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Samburu, Tana River, Lamu, Kajiado and Narok counties resolved to come up with their own political vehicle ahead of the 2017 elections.

The executive chairman of the committee, Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow, said they were finalising details of the party’s constitution, name, symbol and colours and they will make communication this week.

“We are almost there, we are just closing in on the issues here and there. We are also building consensus with other leaders and stakeholders as well so that we ensure that the process is all inclusive,” said Mr Kerrow.

He said the executive committee had deliberated on many of the issues and agreed that a smaller group would conclude the details before the 21 members endorsed it.

Kerrow said that it had taken time to give details because they were still building consensus with stakeholders.