Tana River professionals are plotting to share county posts among the constituencies, which is likely to hurt some key aspirants.
The professionals held closed-door meeting in Tana River on Saturday, including those
from the diaspora, who attended via Skype.
The meeting, led by spokesperson Kenneth Pakia, proposed that the governor's seat should come from Galole constituency, while the senator be from Garsen.
It was also proposed that the deputy governor's slot be left for Bura constituency, while the woman representative be from Garsen.
If the proposals are adopted by the Tana River Council of Elders, former Garsen MP Danson Mungatana, who already declared he will vie for governor, will be locked out of the competition.
This will also apply to the two other candidates seeking the position and come from Garsen.
Former Galole MP Dadho Godhana will then stand a higher chance of clinching the seat.
Speculation is rife that the governor's race will be a two-horse race between Mungatana and Godhana. Incumbent Hussein Dado comes from Bura constituency.
When contacted, Mungatana said the final decision should be made by the elders.
“As things stand now, let’s wait for the elders to decide, they have the final say on this,” he said.
Pakia declined to divulge the details of the meeting, saying the deliberations have to be discussed further with the elders.
A few months ago, the elders vetted all the candidates from the Pokomo community and restrained them from active campaigning until when they will pick one of the candidates to represent the region and face those from other communities.
There are three major communities in the county: Wardei, Orma and Pokomo in Galole, Garsen and Bura constituencies.
In Tana River, three major groups dictate the choice of candidates for political seats – the Council of Elders, women and elders and professionals.
A vetting team picked by the elders voted on April 20 pick a governor candidate from the Pokomo
community. The person chosen has not been named.