- On Thursday, more than 40 leaders announced the formation of a grassroots political movement to galvanise the region behind the handshake partners.
Image: WILFRED NYANGARESI
A spirited bid has been mounted to solidify Northern Kenya behind President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM boss Raila Odinga, and lock out Deputy President William Ruto.
On Thursday, more than 40 leaders announced the formation of a grassroots political movement to galvanise the region behind the handshake partners.
The meeting comes barely four days after Raila met and rallied Eastleigh Business Community whose members are mainly drawn from Northeastern region.
The leaders comprised top government officials including Treasury CS Ukur Yatani, three Chief Administrative Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, three governors, two senators and more than 20 MPs.
Yatani led the team in announcing the formation of Upya Movement to champion the political aspirations of the region and rally residents behind Uhuru and Raila.
“For all the people here today, we support our President Uhuru Kenyatta and the political direction that he is going to give to us, we support him, and we support his alliance,” Yatani said.
They addressed a press conference at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi after a two-hour closed-door meeting that resolved to form a political movement.
Legislators present included senators Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo) and Abdul Haji (Garissa).
Others were MPs Adan Keynan (Eldas), Fatuma Gedi (Wajir), Rashid Kassim (Wajir East), Abdi Omar (Mbalambala), Abdul Sheik (Mandera North), Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), Ibrahim Ahmed (Wajir North), Garane Mohamed (Ladgera) and Adan Haji (Mandera South).
Governors Ali Korane (Garissa), Mohamed Kuti (Isiolo) and Ahmed Muktar (Wajir) were also present.
Former Deputy National Assembly Speaker and Lagdera MP Farah Maalim was present.
The leaders were drawn from ASAL areas that include Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Isiolo, Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Tana River and Lamu counties.
Yatani and Raila have had close political ties in ODM.
In 2013, Yatani was elected the first Marsabit governor on Raila’s ODM party ticket. He however ditched the party and joined the President’s Jubilee in 2017.
Sources within the President’s circles have indicated Uhuru has settled on his handshake partner as his preferred successor after he fell out with his deputy William Ruto.
The Star established that the team aims to cut the DP’s traditional networks in the expansive Northern Kenya counties.
“We want to cut any attempts by Ruto and his UDA party to recoup the grassroots networks he used to enjoy with URP. URP was very popular with pastoralists. We don’t want him to reconnect the networks,” an MP said.
However, in a quick rejoinder, Garissa Township MP Aden Duale, in a statement signed on behalf of Pastoralists Parliamentary Group, downplayed the formation of the new movement to shape the political terrain of the region.
"The government should not divert attention from the ravaging drought, insecurity and marginalisation facing our people. Our brother Ukur Yatani must deliver to his people and not play politics,” Duale said.
Senator Dullo said Yatani is the movement's leader who will sit on the negotiation table on behalf of the region.
However, it emerged that the leaders were divided on who should lead the team with a section pushing for Keynan to take charge.
Some leaders opined that Keynan hails from a popular and politically influential clan in the region.
He is also seen as a senior politician who leads Jubilee parliamentary group. He’s one of the longest-serving MPs from the region.
However, those supporting Yatani, said to be mainly technocrats, argue that the CS holds a senior Cabinet position and is one of the President’s confidants.
The leaders said the movement, which will be grassroots-oriented, will pull the region to the negotiating table where political and development deals are agreed.
“We have agreed today, that 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.
Keynan, who is Jubilee's Parliamentary secretary, said the movement will persuade the region to support Uhuru, Raila and the One Kenya Alliance.
“We want to shed off the 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.
They said the movement will be the primary vehicle through which ASAL areas will 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 the opportunity to articulate their views in order to formulate strategies aimed at narrowing ASAL area’s development gap,” Garissa Senator Abdul Haji said.
Haji read out a statement by the leaders during the press briefing.
He 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 table.
“We acknowledge that while times and political realities may have changed, the interests of the people living in ASAL areas are and will always remain central and paramount to the Upya Movement,” the senator said.
Edited by P.O