Mandera Governor Ali Roba has said nothing would move Mandera County away from the Jubilee Party as it still dominates in the county.
Governor Roba who expressed confidence that Jubilee Party will still dominate in the August general election said the people of Mandera have not been swayed by the recent defections of some of the leaders.
A section of the county leaders abandoned Jubilee Party and formed a new party called the Economic Freedom Party (EFP).
The elders launched the party after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party declined to give direct nominations to the aspirants selected by the Council of Elders under the negotiated democracy arrangement.
Governor Roba however said the leaders who left Jubilee Party sensed defeat in the nominations adding that the merging of 13 affiliate parties to form the Jubilee Party has made it stronger and will prevent the splitting of votes.
“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. The elders’ line-up was afraid of going for the nomination, opting to be given direct nominations. Clearly they sensed defeat,” as quoted by the Star.
[Some of the leaders who have joined EFP are Senator Billow Kerrow, MPs Mohamed Huka (Mandera South), Fathia Mahbub (woman representative), nominated MP Hassan Osman and Deputy Governor Omar Mohammed.]