Ex-Garissa Governor Korane vows to reinstate 6,000 sacked county workers if re-elected

Former Garissa Governor Ali Bunow Korane has pledged to reinstate 6,000 county employees he says were dismissed after he left office if elected Governor in the 2027 General Election.

Korane, who served as Governor from 2017 to 2022, said his bid to reclaim the seat was driven by an unfinished development agenda and lessons he learnt during his first term.

Speaking during an interview, Korane said his administration would prioritise water, healthcare, infrastructure, education and employment while completing projects initiated during his previous tenure.

“I am in the race again for very many reasons. I have an incomplete agenda, and I want to complete certain things in infrastructure, education, health and water,” he said.

Korane acknowledged that his first administration made mistakes but said the experience had better prepared him for another term.

“I made some mistakes, and I learnt from them. I made some successes, and I will build on them. We will do things differently, taking lessons from what I learnt,” he said.

Employment is expected to be a major plank of his campaign, with Korane promising to restore the jobs of 6,000 county workers he says lost their positions after the 2022 election.

“The 6,000 county employees who were laid off will be reinstated. These are people who were earning a living, supporting their families and contributing to the economy of Garissa. We will give them an opportunity to serve again,” Korane said.

However, he admitted that his first administration relied too heavily on county employment to create opportunities for young people.

“When I look back, I overdid it, giving them jobs at the county,” he said, noting that some workers struggled financially after losing their jobs because they had no alternative sources of income.

Korane said a second administration would combine job restoration with initiatives aimed at helping young people establish businesses and reduce dependence on county employment.

He pledged to establish a youth revolving fund through which groups would access capital to start businesses without conventional collateral requirements.

“We need to give youth money to start businesses without collateral. This money can be given to groups,” he said.

Korane also identified the perennial water shortage in Garissa Town as one of his key priorities, pledging to find a sustainable solution within his first two years in office.

“It has been the single biggest problem in Garissa Town,” he said.

He said the county would first establish the scale of investment required before determining whether it could finance the project independently, adding that he would seek national government support if the cost proved too high.

Korane further promised to change the county's healthcare investment strategy by directing more resources towards Garissa County Referral Hospital and sub-county hospitals.

He said his first administration had invested heavily in dispensaries and smaller health facilities but that more attention was now needed on hospitals capable of providing advanced care.

Korane served as Garissa's second governor between 2017 and 2022 before losing the seat to Nathif Jama Adam, who returned for a second stint after serving as the county's pioneer governor from 2013 to 2017.

Asked to assess the performance of the current county administration, Korane declined, saying it was up to Garissa residents to judge.

He also acknowledged criticism of his own record, saying he was not seeking a return to office on the basis that his first administration had been perfect.

“I have heard many complaints about the current governor, but the people have also complained about me. I hope they give me the opportunity because I believe I am the best placed to give them the leadership they need,” he said.

Korane said his 2027 campaign would centre on completing abandoned projects, correcting mistakes from his first term and using the experience gained during his five years in office to improve service delivery.

“Complete what I started and was abandoned when I left and refocus on serving the people better,” he said.