UDM nominates Maalim for Mandera speaker

Mandera Senator Ali Roba’s UDM party has nominated former Mandera East MP Omar Mohamed Maalim for speaker of the Mandera assembly.

Roba, who is slowly emerging as the kingmaker in Northeastern politics, broke the news through his Twitter handle on Thursday.

“The United Democratic Movement party and its affiliates have unanimously nominated Maalim to vie for the speaker of Mandera assembly,” the tweet read.

Maalim, who was seeking to defend his seat through the UDM party, was defeated by Hussein Weitan of ODM in the August 9 polls after garnering 9,451 votes against Weitan’s 11,645.

Roba has been leading speaker negotiations, which brought together party officials including Governor Adan Khalif.

Mohamed Aftin who had before the election been promised the seat was among those prevailed upon to step down in favour of Maalim.

The assembly is made up of 30 elected MCAs and 18 nominated bringing the total to 48.

Abdi Ali, a local political analysist says whoever UDM choses will have an upper hand of clinching the seat, since it enjoys majority in the house with 21 and is expected to nominate 14 more.

“In total the party will have about 35 MCAs out of 48, which automatically gives the party an upper hand of controlling the house,” he said.

If he goes ahead to clinch the seat, Maalim who was Roba's deputy during his first term in office will take over from Khalif who is now the governor.

Roba's party, which he formed mid last year, surprised many by winning two governor positions, two senate seats, seven parliamentary seats and 36 ward representative seats across the country.

The party bagged the Mandera governor seat through outgoing Mandera speaker Adan Khalif and Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali, who retained the seat.

In the National Assembly, the party won the Mandera North seat through Bashir Abdullahi, Mandera South (Abdi Wahab Harow), Mandera West (Adan Haji) and Banisa (Kullow Maalim).

It also scooped the Laisamis and Lungalunga parliamentary seats.

The party further clinched the Mandera Woman Representative seat through Umulkheir Kassaim as well as the Wajir Senate seat through Abass Sheikh.

Speaking in Mandera town during his farewell party organised by county officials, Roba thanked the staff and residents for according him the necessary support that enabled him deliver in his ten years at the helm.

He said he was moving to the Senate to put to use his ten years experience as a governor and strengthen devolution.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)