[MP Abdulaziz. He will not be defending his parliamentary seat in August after dropping out of the race.] (youtube.com)Mandera East MP Abdulaziz Farah has withdrawn his bid for re-election, accusing an elders’ council of frustrating his political goals.
Farah said an agreement signed by the Garre Council of Elders was unfriendly to his re-election attempt, adding endorsing specific candidates as directed by the council of elders was undemocratic.
He spoke in Mandera town when he donated two school buses, four motorcycles and one Land Cruiser. Farah was to defend his seat on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party ticket.
“The negotiated democracy pact caused a lot of mix-up and confusion among the people,” he said. “Almost every candidate feels shortchanged by the elders.”
Clan politics plays an instrumental role in ensuring ones’ victory during elections in North Eastern counties of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Marsabit.
The arrangement involves elders from various clans endorsing candidates for elective positions and usually, candidates who get the blessing of majority elders’ councils usually increase their chances of winning.
Farah said he will remain keen to ensure clan politics does not divide Mandera County residents.
Jubilee, the party through which he intended to ride on in defending his seat has been making inroads in the volatile and arid region.
Deputy President William Ruto two weeks ago was in Mandera town to drum up support for Jubilee aspirants in the county and Uhuru’s re-election.