North Eastern region will have a say on who will carry the day in August polls, with voting patterns from the last election indicating both Jubilee and Nasa have an equal chance of garnering maximum votes.
In Garissa and Wajir in particluar, the contest between Raila and Uhuru will be pivotal if 2013 votes will be anything to go by.
In 2013, Raila garnered 44,724 votes, while Uhuru’s 41,672 in Garissa. In Wajir, Odinga got 49,712 against Uhuru’s 38,927.
The region, which has been affected in recent months with drought and terrorism activities, is considered marginalized by most leaders in the opposition’s camp.
Clan and sub-tribe politics will play an important role in deciding where the vote will be cast, with the four counties; Marsabit, Mandera, Garissa and Wajir having a relatively huge voting bloc.
Jubilee Party will have outspoken Majority Leader Aden Duale as their point man in the region, and will be assisted by other key members including Eldas MP Adan Kaynan, who moved from ODM to Jubilee a few months ago.
Nasa on the other hand will county on former Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, Woman Representative Fatuma Mohamed, and Balambala MP Abdikaddir Aden to drive home the votes.
Nasa has tried to appeal to the pastoralist community, saying they will roll out an elaborate initiative that will help turn around the fortunes of the locals.
In the plan, the opposition alliance promises to establish Pastoralist Livestock Production and Marketing Marshall Plan (PALIPMAP) that will cover 29 counties if they take power.