Two Northeastern leaders have called dismissed clan political endorsements as a sham and biased.
Fafi parliamentary aspirant Salah Yakub and nominated Senator Falhada Iman claim the process is flawed and has killed the hope of democracy.
The leaders spoke to the Star in phone interviews on Thursday.
Yakub said the entire exercise is a sham and has a pre-determined outcome.
“One would expect a free, fair and transparent process devoid of manipulation. However, those picked are always known,” he said.
Iman said no woman has been considered save for the woman rep seat, which is obvious.
“I stand to be corrected but from where I sit negotiated democracy has killed the hope of true democracy and good leadership in Northern Kenya.
"Endorsing someone from a single clan to be a senator, National Assembly member or even MCA only serves to create more divisions and discord,” Iman said.
The legislator said there is a high chance of that leader voicing his clan's concerns more than the others once elected.
She added that proposing a single proponent for an election has never worked towards envisioning development and growth in any region as the subject is not under constant pressure to deliver for everyone.
Iman said the best thing to do was to let aspirants go to the electorates, sell their manifesto and let people choose the best person whom they want them to lead.
Clans and communities in the pastoral counties have been holding meetings and making endorsements for aspirants they think are best suited to carry the community’s flag in the 2022 general election.
While there are those who support the process saying it unites communities and strengthens cohesion, critics say negotiated democracy is a sanitised system of impunity with no foundational democratic ethos or ideological framework.
Last week, the Awdhaq council of elders endorsed Garissa Governor Ali Korane as its sole candidate for the Garissa governorship in 2022 election.
