Upya Movement has lined up rallies in nine counties to consolidate 2.6 million votes in arid and semi-arid lands ahead of 2022 polls.
Upya leaders have said they are drafting a policy and legislative agenda they want captured in the coalition being crafted by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner Raila Odinga.
The movement, led by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani, is finalising an economic blueprint for Asals.
The plan will cover Garissa, Isiolo, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Turkana and Wajir.
More than 60 professionals and prominent personalities from the public service, academia and private sector have been brought on board to develop the plan.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan said Upya leaders want their respective regions to be at the 2022 discussion table.
“We are believers and promoters of the handshake and we do not want to be left behind when regions are engaging in 2022 discussions,” he said.
Keynan, who is the Jubilee joint secretary and Upya Movement patron, further said that the formation has already toured Marsabit and Samburu counties with the view of urging residents to take a common political position.
“We were in Samburu the other day and we are now planning to go to Wajir, Tana River, Isiolo and Lamu, in that sequence. We want to lead our people in one direction,” Keynan said.
He was speaking during a fundraiser in aid of eight Madrassas at Boma Inn hotel on Sunday evening.
The movement is also planning to host the Mt Kenya Foundation- a group of influential businessmen from Uhuru's backyard- in one of the ASAL counties.
“We are seeking to lock our more 2.6 million voters in one basket. Those hoping to benefit from the fragmentation of the pastoralist communities should know it will not happen in 2022 and beyond.”
Eldas said that the pastoralists communities, especially those from the Northern Kenya, lack adequate information on 2022 dynamics.
“We are going to rally them behind the candidate of President Uhuru Kenyatta because we are aligned to him,” he said.
“We want to be part of the discussion of forming the next government because we have unique challenges: historical neglect and underdevelopment, lack of employment opportunities and conducive business environment,” the MP said.
Upya Movement leaders are hoping to make the formation a coalition vehicle by establishing functional governance structures from the national to grassroots levels.
However, a section of leaders, led by governors Ali Roba (Mandera) and Mohamud Ali (Marsabit), has disowned the initiative.
They have faulted its leaders for what they termed “a non-consultative approach to making decisions for the region."
Keynan said the challenges facing ASAL communities have given them the opportunity to craft ways of coming out of misery.
“What we have done is that the issues that require policy interventions will be captured while those that require legislative action will be forwarded to Parliament like the Livestock Market Authority,” he said.
(edited by Amol Awuor)