Abdi Dubat, the Consul-General in Arusha and aspirant for Garissa governorship, speaks after his endorsement./HANDOUT
Leaders from Northeastern should use resources properly to uplift the lives of residents, Kenya’s Ambassador to Tanzania Abdi Dubat has said.
Receiving the endorsement of his Authanaq clan to run for governor in Garissa yesterday, he said the
region has received a lot of resources from the national government and development partners.
“Since Independence, the people of Northeastern have been lamenting marginalisation. We got devolution and we have been
receiving a lot of money and we are still crying of marginalisation,” Dubat
said.
“We are the ones marginalising ourselves because we should
have strategies to work for the people with the resources we receive. I am
calling on all the people in the region to choose leaders who will make a
change.”
Garissa is currently led by Nathif Adam, who is serving his final term.
Garissa internal audit director Zeinab Duntow challenged the youth with no ID cards to apply and prepare themselves to acquire a voter's card that they will use to elect leaders of their choice.
“To the elders, youth and women of our great community, your role starts now,” the Fafi MP aspirant said.
Dubat said the endorsement of Sultan Dekow Sambul reflects the trust of a respected family and the wider community in his leadership and vision.
"I
accept it with humility, guided by our shared values of unity, service and
justice,” he said.
“Today is not just a personal milestone, it is a defining
moment for the Authaq community.”
He thanked fellow aspirants from his clan for accepting the elders' verdict, calling on them to join him in
his quest to restore hope for the people of Garissa.
“Our young people are jobless here. We have no access to
clean water in this town. Our roads are very bad, there's low voltage electricity and
the town is filled with garbage,” he said.
"I want to assure the people of Garissa County that if I become governor in 2027, we will not have these problems."
Dubat will now face candidates from other clans in the county running for the same position.
“Devolution marked a significant step toward inclusivity, giving counties the autonomy and means to shape their own destinies,” he said.
“However, the implementation in some areas, especially in our county, has fallen short of expectations."
He said there was poor governance, mismanagement of funds and lack of accountability.
This has left the county grappling with underdevelopment, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to basic services, he said.
