The chair of the Somali Council of Elders Mohamed Ismael has urged North Eastern community leaders to allow the citizens to pick their favourite political representatives without manipulation or any form of coercion.
In an article penned down on a local daily, Mohammed questioned the role of elders in local Garissa, saying their activities undermine democracy that has been constitutionally provided to the electorate.
"As much as negotiated democracy may be interpreted as a feasible alternative under our current constitution, what these amorphous and monopolistic settlements by some community elders are doing may be likened to dictatorship," he said.
The chair further expressed concerns that the elders may be taking advantage of their purported high esteem in localities to force their preferred candidates to the electorate.
He says there should be a clear framework of negotiation and impartial anointment where all members of the public have an equal chance to scrutinize the personality and development records of each of the aspirants to determine their suitability and eligibility for the various elective posts ahead of the 2017 General Election.
"What the local elders are doing is just but an affront to democratic principles and values as openness, transparency and citizen participation," he added.