Garissa Governor Ali Bunow Korane is serving his first term in office and is expected to defend the seat in the much awaited 2022 general election.
Korane is, however, likely to encounter high competition from veteran politicians who are said to be eyeing the seat.
Governor Korane’s term continues to experience hurdles as he battles a case in court that is challenging his academic papers.
A petitioner moved to court seeking to have the governor step side on allegations he used fake papers to contest in the 2017 elections.
Korane has however rubbished the claims insisting that his academic papers are genuine.
Here are four politicians likely to vie for Garissa governor in 2022.
1. Farah Maalim
The former National Assembly deputy speaker is likely to declare interest in the seat.
He vied for the Garissa Township parliamentary seat in 2017 but lost to Aden Duale.
Maalim who currently hosts the ‘Speakers Gallery’, a political show on a local TV station is among veteran politicians in Garissa.
Though he has not hinted on vying for the seat, chances are that he will be on the ballot.
2. Aden Duale
The National Assembly Leader of Majority is among veteran politicians in Garissa and the larger North Eastern region.
Duale is serving his second term as Garissa MP and a section of residents and leaders are said to be pushing him to vie for governor in 2022.
The MP is also a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto.
Daule has been quoted saying that the North Eastern region will remain united under the Jubilee party ahead of the 2022 polls.
3. Nathif Jama
The former governor is likely to vie for the county's top seat in 2022.
A close ally of Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Jama lost re-elation to Ali Korane in the 2017 general election.
4. Sophia Abdi Noor
The Ijara MP is serving her first term in office.
She became the first woman from North Eastern region to be elected as MP in the 2017 general election.
A human rights defender and crusader, Abdi’s political influence in North Eastern continues to rise and she is likely to bank on it to contest for the governor seat in 2022.
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