Monday January 2, 2017
Aulyhan clan spokesperson Osman Ibrahim and community Sultan Hamud Sheikh address the press at a Garissa hotel on Saturday /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama’s Aulyhan clan has endorsed him for a second term.
Speaking to the press at a Garissa hotel on Saturday, the community’s Sultan Hamud Sheikh said all the nine sub-clans of the larger Aulyhan clan have unanimously agreed to back Jama for the second and final term.
Sheikh was with elders from all the nine sub-clans of Rer Ali, Afgab, Adankheir, Wafata, Hawis, Sonqad, Abakorade, Qasim and Afwah.
“As a community, we have made a binding and final declaration. We decided to fully throw our support behind Jama. This is after months of discussions and deliberations that involved representatives from the nine clans,” Sheikh said.
“We, however, want to make it clear that as a community, we will not field any candidate for senator. We will instead support a candidate from any other community residing in Garissa and willing to make an alliance with us.”
Sheikh said they decided to back Jama because he has done a lot for the people in terms of development. “He has also worked hard to ensure peace prevails,” he said.
Sheikh said the community will discuss candidates who will fill the other seats later.
“We want to appeal to Garissa residents to support Jama and we assure them of total peace and equitable distribution of resources as has been the case,” he said.
Jama will battle it out with Ali Korane, who has already been endorsed by his Abdwak clan, in what is slowly shaping up to be a two-horse race.
Religious leaders, elders and businesspeople from the Samawadhal and Abduwak met at a Nairobi hotel and endorsed Korane last week.