Garissa Senate seat yet to draw hopefuls

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Garissa senator Yussuf Haji.

No candidate has so far declared interest in the Garissa Senate seat, less than a year to the polls. Yusuf Haji is the incumbent.

Several candidates have declared their interests in governor, woman representative, MP and MCA seats.

It is widely believed that Haji, a two-term MP for Ijara constituency and a veteran politician, will defend the seat.

Contacted by the Star on Saturday, he said "I will tell the residents of the Garissa whether I will vie at the right time".

“I would not wish to comment on the subject now. But I will do so when the right time comes. I will call you journalists and inform you of my next move,” Haji said.

Political analysts and observers say the seat might not have attracted candidates because it is perceived to be Haji’s.

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“Defeating Haji is one huge task that nobody can do at the moment. As long as he vies, he will easily win it, thanks to the respect he commands across all communities living in Garissa,” a source said.

“That explains why Farah Maalim, who was defeated in 2013 by Haji, has decided to shift base to vie for Garissa Township MP after realising he might still lose to Haji again.”

Haji comes from the Abdalla clan, who live in Garissa south. It is the third largest clan in the county after the Abduwaks and the Aulians.

The MP and MCA seats in all the constituencies and wards are the most crowded.

Garissa has six constituencies and 30 wards.
In each of the wards, more than five candidates have declared interest in the seats.

The sub-clans play an important role during elections as residents always vote along clan lines.

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