For some time now, Garissa has been considered as the 'hotbed' for regional politics in the expansive North Eastern region.
On matters Garissa politics, one cannot claim to be in the know if Farah Maalim and the Garissa Township MP Aden Duale are not brought in as key players.
The duo has been rivalling each other for close to a decade now. However, it is emerging as though Duale is proving to be too hot for Maalim to contend.
Considering the build-up to the 2017 legislative politics, the duo was so popular that nobody could accurately predict who would be declared the overall winner. As fate would have, Duale emerged the winner. Failing to concede defeat, Maalim headed to the High court to challenge the incumbent's win but lost it. Unsatisfied, Maalim again hinted on appealing the High Court's but later discarded the idea citing personal reasons.
In light of the above, questions now abound as to whether Duale's popularity was becoming too unbearable for him.
Even as a section of politicians from the region who lost in the previous election silently engage in 2022 politics, Maalim has remained silent leaving locals guessing if he would be in the ballot come 2022. Instead, he has remained focused on his new role at the Ebru TV as a political commentator cum host.
Even on serious issues affecting the region, Maalim has been taking low profile raising more speculation. However, it is just but a matter of time before the real significance of his silence outs.
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