What is going to woe the people of northern Kenya and their leaders is not the political heavyweights from other regions, but bread and butter issues.
We are people who are in charge of their own affairs and the appointment of a Cabinet Secretary is a right just like it is a right for people who have supported Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidency, not just now but from 2002.
Every time Kenyatta is on the ballot, the people of northern Kenya have been with him. The fact that there is portfolio change from Labour docket to Finance might be an increase in responsibility for CS UKur Yatani, but it is not a super appointment. He is just a Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Treasury.
As leaders from northern region, what is going to influence us is where our interest lies, especially on the issues of insecurity, the education crisis that is happening in the region and the matter of population census where every county in that region will lose more than Sh2 billion if the numbers stand the way they are.
Those are the things that will determine where we go. We don’t owe our loyalty to either of the two – Kenyatta or William Ruto. We have our loyalty to our people and our interest.
We don’t know who will be the next president because so far the only person who has declared he will be on the ballot is Ruto. We will make choices depending on people who will be available and where our interests will be best taken care of.
The BBI we so far know is the one launched at Bomas of Kenya and the region is 100 percent in support. We also know the committee has some unfinished business and they are going back to gather some information. The final product will determine whether Kenyans will support that document or not.
What we see in the rallies are just political heavyweights flexing their muscles. The best way is to wait for the final report and make informed decision.
On the endorsement of Governor Hassan Joho as Muslims spokesperson, I must say he is my friend and he has the capacity to lead Muslims but we have not - as Muslim leaders - met to agree on who is going to be the spokesperson.
The truth of the matter is that it is good for Muslims to come together and have a spokesperson, but we are yet to appoint one.
Wajir West MP spoke to the Star.