Heavyweights lock horns in bid to replace Billow Kerrow

Mandera West MP Mohamud Mohamed (left) of Jubilee Party receives his nomination papers from Mr Maro Ade, returning officer of Mandera County, on May 28, 2017. He is vying for the county's senate post. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Dr Khalif is making his first attempt in elective politics and hopes to turn the tables on his two rivals.
  • Mr Osman believes that being nominated by the powerful council of elders gives him an upper hand.

Three candidates are set to battle it out for the Mandera senatorial seat after the incumbent, Mr Billow Kerrow, obeyed a council of elders decree stopping him from seeking re-election on August 8.

They are: Mandera West MP Mohamud Mohamed of Jubilee, nominated MP Hassan Osman of Economic Freedom Party (EFP), and Dr Abdinasir Mohamed Khalif of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

ELDERS' CALL
Dr Khalif is making his first attempt in elective politics and hopes to turn the tables on his two rivals.

He is a son of Murule Clan Sultan Mohamed Khalif, who, ironically, is one of the two co-chairs of the Council of Elders that has since backed Mr Osman for the seat after barring his rival Mohamed.
On Sunday, Dr Khalif had initially been turned away by the Returning Officer Maro Ade because the details of his two supporters, a proposer and seconder, were not in order.

However, he was later cleared after he returned with fresh supporters.

NEGOTIATED DEMOCRACY
Mr Osman believes that being nominated by the powerful council of elders gives him an upper hand and the much needed support in the race but Mr Mohamed sees that as an age long tradition that has no space in the 21st century.

Mr Osman told the Nation in an interview that it was not his choice to go for the senate seat but the wish of the Garre Council of Elders.

“Basically, I didn’t decide on my own to seek this seat but through negotiated democracy. I was picked as the best to represent my clan as it was our time,” he said.

DICTATORSHIP
Since 2011, the 21 sub-clans of the larger Garre community in Mandera agreed on rotational leadership, where every sub-clan holds on a specific political position for one term then hands it over to the next.

“We have a signed charter that created this opportunity for me and all those opposing it know very well that it can’t fail because it is binding to all of us,” he said.

Mr Mohamed dismissed the elders as dictatorial and mean in their role of uniting the communities.

“They have become more powerful than IEBC, more than any other government organ in this country and we can’t accept to go that way,” he said.

Mr Mohamed said his experience as a parliamentarian places him in a good position to represent the county in the Senate.