National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale is undoubtedly one of the most influential political heads in the North Eastern region.
The staunch supporter of President Uhuru Kenyatta was an important organ in the Jubilee campaigns in the concluded August 8 and October 26 presidential polls, in not only the region but the entire nation.
The vocal Garissa township lawmaker has since announced his backing of Deputy President William Ruto's ambition to succeed Kenyatta in the approaching 2022 general elections, and will surely be entrusted with the responsibility of spearheading Ruto's campaigns in the region.
All eyes will be on him to deliver the area vote into Ruto's basket and to suppress any opposition as a section of the region has remained loyal to the opposition's National Super Alliance (NASA) chief Raila Odinga and his policies.
Further, the Jubilee formation will be banking on the outspoken leader to deliver all the area's elective positions to the party, with both opposition's Orange Democratic Party (ODM) and other smaller formations like the Party of Reforms and Development (PDR) managing to clinch some seats in the previous poll and will, therefore, be expected to overturn the situation.
Being awarded the major house leadership position, Duale will be under pressure to deliver or risk losing relevance to not only the President and his deputy but Kenyans as well and will, therefore, be forced to push extra hard to avoid an underperformance.