By Betty Luke
Karayu clan elders have thrown their weight behind former EACC boss Halakhe Waqo to battle it out with Governor Mohammed Kuti in the 2022 general elections.
The resolution was announced after daylong negotiations between tens of elders at Mulata where differences arose and at one time a splinter group walked out before they were convinced back.
The elders said they had resolved to support Mr Waqo and that the process to seek support from other Borana community clans will commence immediately.
“We have agreed that we (Karayu) want the Governor’s post and have after consulting widely, resolved to support Mr Waqo as our preferred candidate,” said elder Mohammud Sheikh.
Mr Hassan Shano said Isiolo residents had suffered under the current leadership and that Mr Waqo would ensure equitable distribution of resources and improved livelihoods.
“He (Waqo) while as EACC boss showed that he can lead and we have a lot of trust in him as the man to salvage our county,” said Mr Shano.
Karayu clan Vice-Chairperson Hussein Abduba said they will reach out to other communities to support Mr Waqo before presenting him to the Borana Council of Elders during the planned September 17 meeting.
He said they will only seek the Governor’s seat and will join alliances willing to support their candidate while they support other communities for other positions.
“We will before the coming meeting reach out to other communities for support of Mr Waqo to dethrone the incumbent Governor Kuti,” said Mr Abduba.
Asking why BCE Chair Abdullahi Gonjobe who hails from Karayu clan skipped the event, Mr Abduba said he had individual right to vote for or against any candidate but could not impose any aspirant without wide consultations with elders from all the Borana community clans.
Previous elders meeting in Kinna resolved to support a candidate from Warjida clan that former Governor Godana Doyo comes from, resolutions that the Karayu elders dismissed as ‘agreement by a few people’.
