Ex-governor Dado returns, launches bid to unseat Godhana

Business came to a standstill in Hola town on Saturday as Tana residents welcomed back former Governor Hussein Dado.

Dado had been away for over six months due to a hip joint injury. He had to undergo specialised treatment in India to enable him to walk again.

Residents received the Interior CAS from Kasarani area in a convoy of cars and boda boda while being escorted by two police vehicles.

They marched in a procession to Hola town attracting hundreds of supporters and curious onlookers.

His supporters carried placards marked 'Dado Tano fresh 2022', 'Wainame wainuke hawamuwezi Dado', 'Tunateseka njoo utuokoe' as they braved the rains and marched all the way to Laza in the central business district.

They sang and danced in praise of the leader, urging  him to prepare to resume office as they were suffering since he left.

Addressing residents, Dado criticised the current regime led by Rtd. Major Dadho Gaddae Godhana for failing to properly utilise the Sh8 billion allocated to the county by the National government.

Dado who was the first Governor of Tana River, said during his tenure,  the county would receive Sh3 billion and he ensured development was being felt by all, questioning where the current regime was taking the money.

"This is where I began my development of the county, I built a tarmac road, put street lights, built hospital and freshwater, that time we were getting Sh3 billion, where is the current Sh8 billion allocation going to?" he posed.

The CAS said he would be in the race for the top county seat in 2022.

He said while he was away, there were rumours that he was dead while others said he had become physically challenged and could not walk again.

"Because of the many rumours I decided today to make an impromptu visit to come and meet my people and begin my political campaign in Laza," he said.

Dado dismissed claims by the current regime that they have been paying debts left behind by his regime saying the money could have been paid in one year.

He said out of the Sh3 billion, his administration was spending Sh1 billion on salaries and expenditures while the rest Sh2 billion was used for development.

The former governor said he is the only governor who left behind Sh900 million in the account which could not be used as the county assembly members did not sit and plan for it due to campaigns for their reelection.

Dado said he did not criticise the current leadership for the last four years because he was giving them a chance to deliver but they have failed.

"I do not want to be a leader for Orma, Warden, Pokomo, Waliluana, Mnyoyaya, upcountry people, Mijikenda or Giriama, mine is leadership that will unite all people," he said.

The CAS said he was happy for the current governor who has ensured there is peace during his tenure and urged him to maintain that pace.

Dado urged residents not to engage in violence for political reasons and instead ask such politicians inciting them to front their children for the same.

"My colleague has tried during his time there has been no ethnic violence, that is a tick we are giving him, if someone does good he deserves to be praised," he said.

The former governor said he intends to empower the poor by ensuring they get tenders to uplift their standards of living.

Currently, he said, he is unable to walk properly because he has not walked for the last 10 weeks but assured residents that he would be able to walk again by mid next month.

The former county boss also led the residents in prayers for rain to end the drought that has affected thousands of people in the county.

-Edited by SKanyara