Marsabit governor Mahmoud Ali has distanced himself to allegations of grooming a Borana leader for governorship to divide the community's vote. Photo: Mahmoud Ali X.
Marsabit County Governor Mohamud Ali has distanced himself in conspiracy allegations raised to have a leader from the Borana community to vie for Marsabit gubernatorial seat in the upcoming 2027 elections.
The allegations were raised by a section of elders from the Borana community in Saku Constituency, who organized a meeting on Friday, May 23, with over 100 elders in attendance, at the Borana community forum.
The leaders alleged that Ali is pressing one of the leaders from the community to vie for the seat, in order to divide the community’s votes. However, the remarks which have been refuted by his elders, as a bid to tarnish the governor’s name.
Among those mentioned among them is Naomi Waqo the county women representative, Billow Kerow, Rona Duba among others, that the governor has asked them to vie, according to Roba Qampare an elder from the community. He said the remarks are meant to tarnish the governor’s name.
“There is propaganda among five leaders from the community that the governor has pressurized them to vie for Marsabit gubernatorial seat in 2027. This is false information to spoil the name of the governor,” he said.
They have also denied claims that Governor Mohamud Ali is supporting former first governor of Marsabit , Ambassador Ukur Yattani, to win the gubernatorial seat in the 2027 elections, so that he can be appointed as a Minister in the national government.
“A misleading meeting was held that said governor is planning to field former Minister Ukur Yattani, so that no Borana ascends to governorship, and also his intention is to land a Cabinet Secretary position in the next government. This is pure propaganda with no basis,” he further said.
According to the elders, Governor Mohamud Ali is ready to support any candidate nominated by the Borana community to run for governor, following a meeting of the wider Borana community in Marsabit county.
“Mahmoud had made it clear that he has no powers to choose any person for the gubernatorial race, as he cannot speak on behalf of the community. The community will discuss the preferred candidate to be governor and he will willingly support the choice of elders. It is our call that you stop propagating false propaganda,” he added.
The elders have also said that Governor Mohamud Ali has no intention of running for the senatorial seat in the upcoming 2027 general elections, as explained by elder Guracha Galgallo.
“The governor has said he has no favorite, the romours about him aligning his interest on supporting former governor Ukur Yattani to be the governor, and him senator or, Yattani to be the governor, as he eyes for government ministry job. The governor has said the community to seat down and decide, we call on leaders spreading propaganda to stop,” he further said.
However, the elders have urged the residents of Marsabit county to maintain peace and live in unity. The calls come days after Waqo urged the residents to embrace the leadership of women and give them an opportunity to lead.
