The National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale’s has said he will on Saturday announce if he would shift his political base to Balambala constituency or remain in Garissa Township.
He was endorsed by his Abuduwak clan for both constituencies.
Abuduwak is dominant in Balambala and commands about 70 per cent of the Garissa Township votes. It is the biggest clan in Garissa county,
followed by the Aulian. Governor Nathif Jama and former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim are Aulians. Maalim has announced he would vie for Garissa Township MP on a Cord ticket.
Speaking to the Star yesterday, Duale said he will make the announcement during a rally at Balambala and another in Garissa town.
“I will make the announcement after consultations. But for me, my heart is in Garissa Township because it is cosmopolitan. Even though my clan controls 70 per cent of the votes, it is the face of Jubilee and I want to teach Maalim and Raila Odinga [Cord leader] a political lesson,” he said.
On Sunday, women from the Abuduwak community said they will support Duale to defend his seat.
The 1,000 women from all the seven sub-clans gathered at Sultan Dekhow Maalim Sambul Palace.
Led by Mariam Hussein, the spokesperson of the Abuduwak women in Garissa, they said they unanimously resolved to back Duale for a third term. Mariam said the women will not supporti any other candidate from the community.
“After doing a lot of soul searching and consultations amongst ourselves, we decided to back Duale, reason being
he has done a lot for this constituency in terms of development. Only that he cannot bring the heaven down,” she said.
"Duale has educated many children whose parents could not raise school fees. We now have a lot of graduates and doctors from the community, thanks to his fairness in distribution of bursaries.”
Mariam said as women and the largest voting bloc of the community, they are optimistic the community’s council of elders will endorse Duale this month. OMaendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation chairperson Garissa branch Zahara Shurie said women, who form 60 per cent of the voting bloc, will woo more men to register as voters.