Boost for Dekow as rival backs his Garissa MP bid

Garissa Township MP aspirant Mohamed Barrow Dekow’s chances of wining the seat got a major boost after his opponent Abdirizack Sirat dropped his bid to back him.

Sirat who was contesting on a Wiper ticket comes from the Sawamdahal clan stepped down after negotiations with clan elders.

In terms of vote basket dynamics, Samawadhal is the third largest clan after the two dominant Abduwak and the Auliyahan clans respectively. 

Ahmed Duale an elder from the Sawamdahal clan said they have decided not to filed any candidate and support Dekow.

“We are gathered here to publicly announce that as a community we weighed all the candidates and we have decided to support Dekow,” Duale said.

“In him we see a very mature and sober politicians who is not only capable of picking from where Aden Duale left but uniting all communities residing in this constituency."

Garissa Deputy governor Abdi Dagane who also hails from the community said the township is a cosmopolitan constituency hence they need a leaders who can rise above clan politics.

“As a community we will rally all our members to vote for Dekow to the last man. Even as we do this we are calling on all aspirants and residents to maintain peace during the campaign period,” he said.

Dekow thanked the community and promised to carry out an issue based campaign devoid of incitement and name calling.

Dekow, who contested for the Garissa governorship seat in the August polls on an a UDA ticket emerged third.

The Garissa Township seat was left vacant after former MP Aden Duale  was appointed the Defence Cabinet Secretary.

Last week, Dekow’s bid  got a major boost following the endorsement by Duale.

The powerful Awdhaq community, politicians, professionals and community members also endorsed Dekow.