Opposition supporters in Garissa Township are at cross-roads— tone between supporting former Parliament Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim (Wiper) or Nassir Dolal (ODM) for MP.
There has been mounting pressure for Dolal to step down and support Maalim’s bid since the two are vying for the MP seat sponsored by parties affiliated to the opposition NASA coalition.
Political analysts say unless either Maalim or Dolal steps down, Duale could actually be at an advantage because the two leaders’ going to the polls could divide the opposition votes.
Dolal is categorical that only Raila can advise him to step down for Maalim. He recently said the fact that Maalim’s and his names appearance at the ballot paper does not guarantee Duale’s victory because Garissa Township residents are tired of his leadership.
Duale for the last five years, he argues has spen much of his time in Nairobi defending the Jubilee administration at the expense of constituency development.
“It does not matter what formula we shall use,” Dolal said adding that the opposition’s resolve is to have a new MP in Garissa Township after August.
Both Maalim and Dolal are burning the midnight oil crafting plans on how to beat Duale and end his reign in the cosmopolitan constituency.
The two are riding on support from non-Somali speaking communities residing in Garissa who mainly include the Kamba, Luhya and Kisii.
The challenge that lies before NASA in fielding one candidate for the Garissa Township MP seat, however, is that Al Ghurair the company that was contracted to print ballot papers has begun work implying both Maalim and Dolal’s names will be in the ballot paper.