The race to Aden Duale's seat in Garissa

Several constituencies are likely to face bare knuckle and hard fought contests in 2017. Garissa township constituency is likely to be among them.

Incumbent MP and Jubilee key point man, honorable Aden Duale faces perhaps one of the tightest races as a slew of candidates from his Abdwak clan seek to unseat him.

Among them are former Garissa mayor and deputy ambassador to Pakistan, Siyat Osman and Amani national congress deputy leader and former captain, Abdi Yare.

Former deputy speaker and firebrand politician, Farah Maalim is also in the race seeking to bag the coveted township constituency after having lost the 2013 elections when he vied for the senatorial position and lost to Garissa Senator, honourable Yussuf Haji.

So far the town has seen the early signs of spirited campaigning with each of the contestants making forays into different areas of the town seeking early bird endorsements among the youth and the elders.

A lot of development has been seen under the stewardship of honorable Dualle, he being the third in command and having the eyes and ears of the status quo.

The town has also seen a rash of extra judicial killings and disappearances blamed unofficially on the state. Former speaker Farah is seen in some quarters as an activist and pro-reform foot soldier and therefore better placed to take issues such as the extra judicial killings head on.

Amani national congress deputy leader, Captain Abdi Yare holds a pricey position in Musalia Mudavadi's party and as things stand now with Mudavadi being touted as a likely compromise opposition presidential candidates, the former captain could sway the township vote.

Former mayor Siyat Osman wants a fresh break with the past and is promising to address bread and butter issues facing the township residents.

Honorable Dualle is a vociferous vote mobiliser and an adept political calculator and may praise away support from the other contestants.

Three of the contestants, honorable Dualle, captain Abdi Yare and former mayor Siyat Osman come from the Abdwak clan while Farah Maalim comes from the Auliyahan clan.

Deliberations along the lines of "negotiated democracy" are being planned by the Abdwak clan to settle on a single candidate to take on the former speaker, Farah Maalim in a constituency which has largely had representation from the Abdwak clan.

The ruling Jubilee party will be throwing in a lot of money and largesse into this epic battle for Garissa township, you can bet on that, while serial political schemer and former prime minister, Raila Odinga has his eyes trained on the constituency.

Get set, this is one to watch among many other gargantuan election battles across the country.