Mandera Governor Ali Roba has assured President Uhuru Kenyatta of Mandera residents’ support as the country moves closer to holding the August general election.

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Roba said the fact that some leaders in the devolved unit recently abandoned Jubilee Party does not translate to dwindling support for the head of State.

Some elected leaders in Mandera before political parties held nominations left JP and formed the Economic Freedom Party (EFP).

They included Senator Billow Kerrow, MPs Mohamed Huka (Mandera South), Fathia Mahbub (Woman Representative), Nominated MP Hassan Osman and Deputy Governor Omar Mohammed.

EFP was officially launched in March. It will be used to challenge Roba’s leadership and other JP contenders in Mandera including MPs Mohamed Haji (Banisa), Shaban Issack (Lafey), Mohamud Mohamed (Mandera West) and Adan Mohamed Noor (Mandera North).

“Mandera remains in Jubilee and I am confident it will receive more votes in 2017 than it did in 2013,” he said.

Recently, he said the elders’ lineup which includes EFP candidates was afraid of going to the nomination, opting to be given direct nomination after sensing defeat.

In 2013, 94,433 Mandera residents voted for Uhuru while 4,366 voted for Cord leader Raila Odinga. Politicians who ditched JP claimed they were not sure if the party would carry out transparent nominations.