Youthful Udgoon wins Garissa woman representative seat

Jubilee Party’s Udgoon Siyad is the new Garissa Woman Representative after defeating five other candidates in the race.

According to official results released by the IEBC county returning officer Abdiwahab Hussein on Saturday, Udgoon garnered 26,546 votes followed by Wipers’ Shukran Gure who came second with 19,191 votes.

UDA’s Mulki Warsame got 13,944, Katra Salat (UPIA) had 12,903, Asha Dekow (NAP-K) got 11,618, Amina Abdullahi (PNU) had 9,603 and Honey Hussein (DC) had 1,163 votes.

There was however a major delay in releasing the results after some candidates questioned the process forcing the County returning officer to order verification as captured on the forms 34A.

Police were forced to eject some agents from the tallying hall to calm the situation as teams from Shukran Gure’s side who came second clashed with Udgoon’s team.

Tear gas canisters were lobbed outside the Garissa University to disperse rowdy supporters from different sides who were reading foul play in the whole issue.

“I want to finish this job well and take some rest. I don’t want to be taken to court, and because the law gives us a leeway to call for a recount, that is what we are going to do so that everyone may be satisfied,” Hussein said.

Finally, after a long night of recount, a winner was declared to the satisfaction of both sides.

Udgoon,37, who comes from the Abduwaq clan promised to work for all residents of Garissa, promising to prioritize issues of women, people living with disabilities and the youth.

“First and foremost, I want to sincerely thank the great people of Garissa who come out in their numbers to elect the new crop of leaders. On my part, I want to assure you all that I will strive to serve Garissa residents equally whether you voted for me or not,” she said.

The youthful MP-elect who was picked by the Awduwaq council of elders to run for the seat said the majority of women, especially in rural areas, have no source of income and are among the poorest, noting that going forward that is an issue she wants to address.