Mandera governorship race heats up as 3 relatives declare interest
The race to succeed Mandera Governor Ali Roba as the county boss has heat up with five aspirants declaring their intention to vie for the position.
Mandera County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Khalif launched his bid Sunday, a day after Former East African Community Cabinet Secretary Aden Mohamed, received endorsement to battle for the seat.
It is at the Bomas of Kenya where Mandera Governor Ali Roba led representatives from a section of Garre Community, drawn from the Quranyow clan to endorse the candidature of Mandera County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Khalif.
Khalif who is vying for the seat under Roba's United Democratic Movement party is among five aspirants who have declared their interest in the seat to replace Roba who is eyeing the Senate seat.
"We have taken a decision to endorse the candidate of the Asare family and specifically my brother Mohamed Adan Khalif .," Ali Roba, the Governor Mandera county said.
Khalif launched his bid a day after the former East African Community Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohammed officially launched his gubernatorial bid at Sir Ali Muslim club which was attended by political leaders and community elders .
"I will not let you down, I'm going to serve the people of Mandera with the conviction and the experience that I have,"Mohameed Khalif said.
The battle for the seat is drawn along clans after attempt at negotiated democracy failed.
Four aspirants among them the current county Speaker Mohammed aden Khalif, Senator Mohamoud Maalim, Feisal Abass and Former Education CAS Hassan Noor hail from the Quranyow clan while Former Cabinet Secretary Aden Mohamed hails from Roba's Tuuf clan which has occupied the position for the last ten years ...
"Me nakubaliana nayo kabisa, negotiated democracy iendelee na tungependa iendelee," Rashid Hasan, a resident of Mandera County told Citizen TV.
While Abdirashid, also a resident, said: "When people get selected into the position they are holding today based on the clan line up and saying you're elected into that position because you're from clan A and clan B that has it's own disadvantages because you cannot put a leader on toes asking them why havent you done this for us because they are enjoying that protection from wazees,"
The other issue at play is the fact that three aspirants are related; Aden Mohamed and Senator Mohamed Maalim are cousins, while Feisal Abass is a brother-in-law to the former cabinet secretary.
All the five aspirants have declared their support for the Azimio la Umoja Movement ..
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