Kuti set to take on Doyo as elders clear five for Isiolo governor race
By Hillary.Mageka, January 6, 2022
The Borana Council of Elders (BCE) yesterday endorsed five candidates to contest for various positions in Isiolo County in the 2022 General Election.
In what is now commonly referred to as negotiated democracy; a process of nominating candidates for various political seats among pastoralist communities, former Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo was endorsed for the governor’s position to square it out with incumbent Mohammed Kuti.
Sakuye community elders to seek re-election have already endorsed Kuti.
According to BCE chairman Abdulahi Gonjobe, Doyo beat his close challengers Hussein Tene, Muhamed Duka, Shuriye Mohamed, and Mohamed Huka in the secret ballot conducted by elders after consultations, which took place for four days.
“Elders have chosen our first governor Godana Doyo to be the community’s flagbearer in the 2022 General Elections.
He is a peacemaker and development-oriented,” Gonjobe told journalists at a press conference yesterday.
“We will campaign for him not only as Borana but also all communities living in Isiolo including the Meru, Somali and Turkana,” he said, adding that Doyo is friendly and accepted by all communities.
The meeting attended by representatives from the six major clans of the community also named Isiolo women representative Rehema Jaldesa to defend his seat.
Noor Mohamed Ibrahim was endorsed as the community’s flagbearer for the senatorial seat to face off with incumbent and Senate deputy Majority leader Fatuma Dullo.
Ibrahim beat two other candidates including Dr Mohamed Liban and Abdikadir Ali Guricha.
“As you know, the three positions announced here are county seats, we plead with other communities to support our candidates, we are will reciprocate their support,” Gonjobe advised.
Meanwhile, former Isiolo County Speaker Mohamed Tupi was endorsed to vie for the MP Isiolo South instead of CAS Abdul Bahari while Isiolo North MP Hassan Oda will remain the community’s preferred candidate for the Isiolo North constituency.