The race for Garissa Township parliamentary seat is taking shape, with clans going for their best candidates for the seat.
This follows the resignation of Aden Duale to become Defence Cabinet Secretary.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has scheduled the by-election for Garissa and Kandara constituencies for January 5.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and his Senate counterpart Amason Kingi declared the seats vacant.
On Wednesday, the Awliyahan community council of elders endorsed Nasir Dolal Mohamed as their sole candidate for the seat.
Nasir, who is commonly referred to as ‘Jofle’ by his supporters, is a seasoned politician who has been contesting since 2013, and always coming second to Duale who had held the seat since 2007.
Other aspirants who have shown interest in the seat are Feisal Amin and Mohamed Abikadir Hussein.
Speaking to the press after the ceremony, Nasir thanked the elders for working round the clock to make sure that the family remains united.
“I want to sincerely thank our elders led by our supreme leaders Ugas Sheikh who made sure that the unity of the family remains intact. I also want to thank the community for standing with our elders to ensure that this process is realised,” he said.
Nasir, who expressed confidence of clinching the seat, said that he has the necessary experience and leadership skills to move the constituency forward, describing himself as a true son of the soil who understands the needs of the people.
“We very well know that this constituency is cosmopolitan, which is home to all the tribes of Kenyan. This one alone makes it a unique town which requires unique leadership which I believe I possess," he said.
Nasir, who used the opportunity to announce that he had decamped from ODM to the Mandera Senator Ali Roba-led UDM, said that his leadership will be anchored on three pillars: unity equality and development.
Other aspirants in the race are former Garissa gubernatorial candidate Dekow Barrow, former Fafi MP Abdikarim Osman, former woman representative Mulki Warsame and former assembly majority leader Mohamed Gabow.
They aspirants all come from the Abduwak clan as Duale .
Voters in the cosmopolitan constituency are eagerly waiting to see if the Abduwak clan will endorse one aspirant.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Garissa Township has 54,000 voters.
Recently, the Abduwak sultan Dekow Sambul held a meeting with his council members whose agenda was not clear. Details of the meeting, which Duale attended, are not out yet.
Clans and communities in the pastoral counties remain powerful, with politician yearning for their endorsements. Those who defy them normally face the wrath of the voters.
(edited by Amol Awuor)