COUNTY POLITICS: Isiolo governor Doyo in tough fight with ex-allies to retain seat
Former Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo. he faces eight counts of abuse of office. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Isiolo is a cosmopolitan county hosting five major communities: Borana, Meru, Turkana, Samburu and Somali.
- Senator Kuti alleges that the devolved unit had done little to uplift lives.
A tough political contest awaits six aspirants who have lined-up to wrest the Isiolo seat from Governor Godana Doyo.
Political temperatures are already high in the region with the aspirants criss-crossing the county every day to woo voters.
Three giants, among them Governor Doyo, Isiolo Senator Mohammed Kuti and Mr Abdul Bahari, the Tana Athi River Development Authority chairman, will battle it out in the party primaries slated for April 21, with each hoping to fly the Jubilee flag.
Others are Mr Adan Kabelo (ODM), Mr Hussein Golicha (Kanu), Deputy Governor Mohammed Guleid (Chama Cha Mashinani) and businessman Anwar Kassam (Maendeleo Chap Chap).
BOUNDARY DISPUTES
Those eyeing the Jubilee Party’s nod to contest the seat have been trying all tricks, including publicly bragging of having close ties with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, to give them a head start in their campaigns.
Isiolo is a cosmopolitan county hosting five major communities: Borana, Meru, Turkana, Samburu and Somali.
Boundary disputes between Isiolo and Meru counties, land wrangles over lack of title deeds, cattle rustling and drought are some of the issues affecting residents.
The region is seen as one of the Jubilee strongholds. It is home to Vision 2030 flagship projects such as the Isiolo Resort City, Isiolo International Airport, Lamu Port Southern Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor and an oil pipeline rolled out by the national government.
Governor Doyo has however pledged to do everything possible to ensure he retains his seat.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Mr Doyo, who received support from Dr Kuti in 2013, is pegging his re-election on the numerous development projects initiated in the last five years.
They include the rehabilitation of roads, improvement of health infrastructure as well as beautifying Isiolo town.
“Despite being among counties with low budgetary share from the national government, my administration has done wonders,” he says.
Senator Kuti, who was a minister in President Mwai Kibaki’s administration and has been in politics for the last 15 years, has however vowed to wage war against his one-time friend and ensure he does not retain his seat.
He alleges that the devolved unit had done little to uplift lives, while lashing out at county officials for misusing public funds.
