Mandera Governor Ali Roba has vowed to defend his seat come the general elections as he rubbished the elder’s list of preferred candidates who will vie for various seats.
Elders from the Garee community dropped all leaders including governor Roba in support of rotational leadership that is described as negotiated democracy.
Mr Roba accused the elders of imposing leaders on the people and urged the electorate to reject the elder’s endorsement of certain leaders to vie for elective seats, instead vote for leaders of their choice.
“If you start saying this person has got his share so let us this time round give it to another, then who will be left for the population to choose from? It should not be about an individual.”
“My team has decided to call itself Team Justice. This is because we view the position taken by the 21 members of the Garre Council of Elders as extremely unjustified,” said governor Roba.
The governor also took issue with a section of leaders from the county who formed their own party saying those few individuals have sensed defeat in the nominations.
“Our would-be opponents chickened out for no other reason but because they knew very well they could not beat us in the nominations. They know we have the numbers and will easily win,” he said.
Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow and governor aspirant Hassan Noor formed the Economic Freedom Party with the backing of the Garre Council of Elders.