Duale’s support for his blood relative is a double-edged sword which could work both ways for him politically. First,he wants a relative to inherit the seat and on the other hand, he knows even if Dekow wins, he will be easy to unseat in the 2027 elections, if he were to contest again
During the last general elections, the greatest critic of the so-called ‘politics of dynasty, who led the Kenya Kwanza brigade in attacking the then president Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga against politics of dynast Aden Duale has now perfected the dynasty politics by publicly declaring support for his brother-in-law in the forthcoming Garissa Township parliamentary by-election.
The seat fell vacant after Mr Duale was appointed by President William Ruto to the position of Cabinet Secretary for Defence. Last week Duale declared support for Mohamed Barrow Dekow ahead of the January 5th by-election. Pundits say Duale’s support is a double-edged sword which could work both ways for him politically. First, Duale wants his blood relative to inherit the seat and on the other hand, he knows even if Dekow wins, he will be easy to unseat in the 2027 elections, if he were to contest again.
Sources say it is Duale who convinced elders and professionals that Dekow should join UDA and fly the UDA ticket. Politically speaking, Garissa Township is a UDA zone and that makes Dekow the front-runner in the contest. Sources say Duale has been holding consultative meetings with elders, religious leaders, opinion leaders and professionals from his Abduwak clan hence the endorsement of his brother-in-law.
Other aspirants who have declared interest in the seat include former Fafi MP Abdikarim Osman, and Mr Mulki Warsane who lost in the race for Woman Rep. Nasir Dolal Mohamed alias Jofle and Mohamed Gabow. During the meeting held at a Garissa hotel, the CS is said to have urged the elders and professionals to support one of their own in the forthcoming mini-poll.
Political gurus in Garissa, however, view Duale’s endorsement as a major boost for Dekow, whose main rival in the race is Nasir Dolal Mohamed alias Jofle. Jofle enjoys support from his Awliyahan clan.
Mohammed, who is seeking to contest for the seat on a United Democratic Movement (UDM) party, has contested against Duale since 2013, finishing second. Duale retained his seat in the August polls after securing a total of 9,905 against Jofle’s 5,509 votes.
Clan politics and negotiated democracy are popular in Northern Kenya. It remains to be seen which clan will clinch the seat in the forthcoming mini-poll.
