The Somali community living in Isiolo county now demand top county posts in this year’s election decrying marginalization by their counterparts.

Speaking in Isiolo town, the community leaders stated that they want to be considered for a deputy governor’s slot as clan politics take shape in the region.

While endorsing businessman Abdihakim Hassan as their front runner for the position, the community claimed they have been escorting their Samburu, Borana and Turkana counterparts to secure top post in the devolved units for a decade .

Led by former council of elders chairman Adan Ibrahim and Harti Chairman Mohamed Sheikh Issadin, the group said they will only support a governor candidate who will be ready to pick a Somali for a deputy seat.

“Today we have endorsed one of our own whom we feel is able and equal to the task for the deputy governor’s office. We will support a county boss candidate who will pick Abdihakim as his running mate,” Ibrahim said.

The demands came as governor Mohamend Kuti, who comes from Sakuye clan, is expected to battle it out with former boss Godana Doyo and three other aspirants eyeing the Isiolo gubernatorial seat.

Azimio La Umoja Organising secretary in Isiolo County Asha Ahmend Osman also claimed that for the last two terms, the Somali community have been denied county job appointments and positions despite supporting Kuti in 2017.

“This time we are not ready to be sidelined politically again in the share of the county cake and we are not going to vote blindly we will only vote for a governor who will be ready to sit down with us and have a MOU that will benefit our clan ,” Asha added.

Speaking at the presser, Abdihakim vowed to deliver to the residents of Isolo if considered for the post. He however added that the Borana clan, through their council of elders, have been holding a series of meetings aimed at uniting aspirants from two major clans ‘Karayu’ and ‘Warjida’