Governor Khalif retains three Roba CECs as he names cabinet

Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has retained three CECs who served under former Governor Ali Roba’s administration.

The three who served in the same departments they have been nominated to are Dr Mohamud Adan Mohamed (Health), Mohamed Ali Omar (water) and Nadhifa Ahmed Mohammed (Trade and cooperative development).

Other nominees are Amina Hassan Ahmed (roads, public works and housing), Ibrahim Mohamed Adan (finance and economic planning), Bashir Ibrahim Alio (Education) and Barre Mohamed Shabure (public service, devolved units).

Others are Adan Dagane Hamud (Agriculture, livestock and fisheries), Salah Maalim Alio (lands and urban development) and Sumeya Bishar Musa (social service, youth, sports, culture and Gender Affairs).

He also made two executive appointments by re-appointing Okash Abdullahi Adam (efficiency monitoring unit) and Ahmed Ali Madey (delivery unit).

The governor also nominated Billow Issack Hassan and Adam Somo  to the positions of county secretary and county Attorney respectively.

The nominees who are set for vetting next week following the composition of the vetting committee in the assembly, are likely to have an easy ride since the house is dominated by pro UDM MCAs.

The assembly is made up of 30 elected MCAs and 18 nominated bringing the total to 48 with UDM enjoying the majority.

The party has 35 MCAs out of 48, which automatically gives the governor an upper hand of controlling the house.

Former Mandera East MP Omar Mohamed Maalim was elected speaker of the assembly unopposed.

Speaking during the opening of the Assembly on Tuesday last week, the governor urged the MCAs to fastrack the vetting process of the nominees once he forwards their names so that they can embark on executing their mandate of serving the people.

He called for a mutual and symbiotic relationship between the executive and the assembly in order to deliver as per the expectation of the people of Mandera.

“I want to encourage you to discharge your responsibilities with commitment, diligence and accountability. I have already forwarded the names to the house for vetting so that they can embark on delivering services.” 

He said residents have high expectations from all their elected leaders and anything short of service delivery will backfire on them.

Khalif who has in previous occasions praised former governor Ali Roba for laying a strong foundation, said residents need clean water, functioning ECD centres, working livestock and agricultural extension services, jobs and vibrant economic activities.

The governor said these were within their reach but only if leaders start thinking beyond their individual interests as residents have entrusted them with enormous resources, power and influence.