North Eastern Kenya, unlike majority of the rest of the nation, remains politically unpredictable.
The region has from time immemorial given mixed signals when it comes to matters political affiliation, and can hardly be fully associated with one side of the political divide.
Similarly, unlike the Rift Valley, Nyanza or Central regions which boast of powerful and influential political kingpins, North Eastern is yet to identify one, with the region resorting to scattering its votes to both the government and opposition sides in presidential elections, the most popular one being the concluded controversial August 8 race for Statehouse.
However, with the 2022 presidential race already taking shape, Garissa township Member of Parliament Aden Duale is likely to have a big say in the Somali people's political direction.
Armed with popularity and strong ties with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, the National Assembly Majority Leader has perfectly placed himself as the community head and will undoubtedly have an influence on the region's voting pattern in the election.
Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) Deputy Party Leader and former Lagdera lawmaker Farah Maalim has also offered himself for the position and is popular for his regular emphasis on good leadership and the need for healthy politics.
Despite losing to Duale in the previous poll, the vocal former National Assembly Deputy Speaker also stands out among his colleagues from the region and will surely give Duale a hard task in the poll as they are unlikely to be on the same side.