[Mandera Governor Ali Roba. He maintains that Jubilee remains the popular party in the county despite recent defections.] standardmedia.co.ke

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Mandera governor Ali Roba has said Jubilee Party remains the party to beat in the county, despite recent defections by some leaders.

He made the remarks after candidates picked by the Garre Council of Elders in a negotiated democracy arrangement defected from the party and formed their own Economic Freedom Party (EFP).

Leaders who ditched Jubilee Party and joined EFP include Senator Billow Kerrow, MPs Mohamed Huka (Mandera South), Fathia Mahbub (Woman Representative), Nominated MP Hassan Osman and Deputy Governor Omar Mohammed.

The EFP party which was launched in March will be used to challenge Governor Roba’s leadership and other JP aspirants in the county including MPs Mohamed Haji (Banisa), Shaban Issack (Lafey), Mohamud Mohamed (Mandera West) and Adan Mohamed Noor (Mandera North).

Roba said Jubilee will win more seats in the county in August.

“Mandera is still very much painted red with the Jubilee Party and I am positive it will scoop more votes in 2017 than it did in 2013,” he said as quoted by the Star.

“The elders’ lineup was afraid of going to the nomination, opting to be given direct nomination. Clearly, they sensed defeat,” he said.

In 2013, 94,433 residents voted for Uhuru Kenyatta while a paltry 4,366 voted for Cord leader Raila Odinga.

Leaders who ditched Jubilee claimed they were not sure if the party will conduct transparent nominations.

Mandera, according to the 2009 population census had a population of 1,025,756.

Out of these, however, only 120,768 registered for the 2013 polls.