Governor Korane gets clan backing to defend his seat

The Awdhaq council of elders on Monday endorsed Garissa Governor Ali Korane as its sole candidate for the Garissa governorship in 2022 election.

Korane’s endorsement ends the long wait and anxiety of aspirants who had presented their applications to the council.

In Northeastern, clans play an integral role in endorsing aspirants, who in most cases end up winning.

The Awdhaq council of elders that is headed by Sultan Dekhow Sambul  is made up of seven sub-clans, namely Rer Harun, Rer Musa, Rer Gulleid, Aden Gerry, Rer Yahya, Rer Kassim and Rer Mahat.

Sultan Dekhow Sambul made the announcement at the council’s Garissa shrine after a closed door meeting with clan elders from the seven sub clans.

He said the council will meet the other aspirants who were not picked to explain the reasons why they were not considered.

“As the community’s Sultan I want to categorically state that the process was transparent, free and fair.

"Any other interested aspirant from our clan will have to shelve his or her ambitions," Dekhow said.

He added: “Korane now becomes the first among equals because all the other aspirants were good and could have as well been picked. We now start the journey of uniting our community with eyes fixed on getting the seat.”

The sultan said other communities residing in Garissa were free to contest for the seat, saying that Garissa belonged to all and it is the right of every individual to seek election.

Dekhow who later presented Korane to supporters and clan members said they will now embark on picking candidates for other seats promising to ensure that there was clan balance.

The governor who later held roadside rallies within Garissa town welcomed the trust the elders had bestowed on him, saying "the journey to recapture the seat has just started."

“I accept this endorsement with only one obligation; that is to continue providing good leadership to our community and to the people of Garissa.

"I can now go looking for votes from other communities knowing well that I have those from my community under lock and key,” Korane said.

He urged his opponents to join him and ensure that the community remains united and retains the seat.

“The community’s unity is paramount, let them take the elders decision in good faith and look at the bigger picture-that of unity,” Korane said.

The endorsement comes as a setback to his fellow clansmen – Dekhow Maalim and educationist Habat Sheikh– who were said to be eyeing the seat.

Others in the race are Nathif Jama and Mohamed Shidiye.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)