A section of leaders from Northeastern and other ASAL areas, leaning towards President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga have announced the formation of a new movement to champion the region’s political interests.
Led by Treasury CS Ukur Yatani and Eldas MP Adan Keynan, the leaders said the Upya Movement will unite the region behind one political voice.
They said the movement, which will be grassroots-oriented, will salvage the region from the political menu and propel it to the negotiating table where political and development matters are negotiated.
“We have agreed that today, we are going to take ourselves seriously for the benefit of our people, speak in one voice and ensure that we are not left out in the ongoing discussions,” Yatani said.
The CS, who the group declared as the leader of the movement, said the region will no longer be passive participants in the country’s political agenda but will be critical participants in the ongoing current political discourse.
Keynan said Northern Kenya will soon shed off the 'flower girl' tag in the political arena, adding the region has been a spectator.
“We want to shed off that tag of being flower girls and sit on the negotiating table. The direction we are asking our people and the direction we are taking is to be part of the initiative by Uhuru, Raila and One Kenya Alliance,” he said.
The more than 40 leaders addressed a press conference in Nairobi. They include CSs, CASs, PSs, governors, senators, woman reps, MPs and former elected leaders.
They said the movement will be the primary vehicle through which ASAL areas engage in national political negotiations.
“Upya Movement will be a grassroots-oriented and participatory movement which listens to the region’s residents and affords them opportunity to articulate their views in order to formulate strategies aimed at narrowing ASAL area’s development gap,” they said in a statement read by Garissa senator Abdul Haji.
Haji said the movement will provide ASAL areas with a unified and powerful voice at the national level and assure the region of a seat at the national negotiating table.
Edited by CM
