By Betty Luke
A month after Isiolo gubernatorial aspirant Hudson Kinyua Shalom was picked by Nairobi Majority Leader Abdi Guyo as his deputy, he has decamped to former Governor Godana Doyo’s camp after falling out with the Matopeni MCA.
While details into what led to their fallout remain scanty, reports point to lack of a clear working formula and political interference among other issues.
Though Mr Guyo, who Governor Mohammed Kuti recently endorsed as his successor, is yet to announce his running mate, sources intimate to a likelihood of picking from the Turkana community with James Lowasa among those being touted to deputize him.
Dr Loasa who had declared he would deputize United Democratic Alliance’s candidate Hussein Tene has in the recent past been conspicuously missing at Tene’s political meetings with reports indicating that he had been convinced to exit the camp.
While announcing a working relationship between Mr Doyo and the Ameru community, Mr Kinyua said time had come for the community to independently chart its political direction and not be directed on how and who to vote for like it happened before.
On asking leaders and residents at the meeting if he should shelve his ambition after the former Governor offered him the County Secretary post, the dozens of attendees responded in affirmative.
“I have on the advice of my people agreed to take the post,” he said.
The working agreement will see the Amerus benefit with County Secretary, County Executive, two chief officers, County Public Service Board member and Municipality Manager posts.
Mr Kinyua said he will tirelessly work to deliver the Ameru votes to Mr Doyo in the August elections and promised to, if Doyo clinches the seat, jealously safeguard county resources and create wealth and job opportunities to deal with poverty.
“We will choose our own political destiny. We have for a long time been led by a blind person,” he noted in what was ostensibly directed to Dr Kuti.
He rubbished off leaders saying the Amerus cannot work with the Boranas, saying the two communities will work as equal partners and that they will soon roll out joint campaigns to popularise Mr Doyo’s bid.
Mr Doyo was in company of his running mate Omar Hassan Mohammed, Borana Council of Elders Chair Abdullahi Gonjobe and Somali Council of Elders Secretary General Hassan Idle and several elders while announcing the pact.
He said the governance and development agreement will be sealed in presence of lawyers.
“It is new dawn for the two communities. The signing of the written agreement will be witnessed by lawyers,” he said.
Mr Gonjobe said it was funny that leaders allied to Governor Mohammed Kuti were accusing the Borana lineup of being selfish while majority of the incumbents and top county seats had been occupied by Sakuye clan.
They include that of the County Secretary, County Public Service Board Chair, Municipality Manager, Senator Fatuma Dullo, Governor Mohammed Kuti, Nominated Senator Abshiro Halakhe and Isiolo South MP Abdi Koropu.
“When he (Doyo) was the Governor, he employed many Amerus because of the long standing relationship between the community and the Boranas. He will ensure fair resource sharing and do better than he did during his tenure,” Mr Gonjobe said.
While promising to fast-track completion of the pending projects if elected, Mr Doyo said it was unfortunate that some of the projects he lobbied for such as the county headquarters were yet to be completed.
“I will prioritize on the market to ensure our traders benefit soonest possible. I also will focus on enhancing the continued coexistence among communities, business security and empowerment for improved livelihoods,” he assured.
Mr Doyo asked Isiolo residents to shun leaders propagating hatred and division and to make informed decisions at the polls by electing development oriented leaders.
