In 2016 the political showdown between Duale and Jama’a on who runs Garissa went notch higher

Aden Duale addressing crowd in Garissa during a unity meeting. PHOTO/ Courtesy

By: Abdinoor Bishar

GARISSA—In Garissa County politics, 2016 was a year full of comics and betrayal as the continuous in-fight between National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and Garissa Governor Nathif Jamaa went notch higher.

The duo don’t seem to agree on anything and each blame the other for the county misdeeds.

And their disagreement was displayed for everyone to see when President Uhuru Kenyatta made his maiden visit to the county. As the president was busy with his schedule, the usual power game between the two politicians started.

Ahead of the president’s address, the leaders converged at a conference hall in the town for the usual local-leaders-meet-the-president address.

However, Governor Nathif was conspicuously missing at the high table despite being the county boss. Section of the locals believe he ought to have been next to the Head of State who was on visit to his county.

A person privy to the local arrangement intimated to Kulan Post that the governor was harassed and mishandled by the presidential security unit and denied a seat besides the president.

Only the CS for energy Charles Keter, Leader of Majority Aden Duale and the President were on the high table.

“It was as if he was a gatecrasher at the event, his status wasn’t recognized and it attracted local politicians like senator Hajji who advocated for him to be at the high table,” the source recounted.

The power game between the two didn’t end there as Governor Nathif was arraigned in court multiple times, the latest being the Red Cross leased ambulances where the governor was put in the dock for illegal leasing.

After the court proceedings Jama was quoted as saying: “A senior politician from my county is behind my woes. He is doing everything to bring me down but I want to tell him I am ready for him.”

Residents in section of the town are now forced to draw water form the river. Photo/ COURTESY

At the height of the water crisis in the town, both Jama’a and Duale blamed each other for the woes. Duale blamed the governor for the county funds mismanagement while Jama’a insisted that the local water company—Gawasco—owed the national agencies in excess of sh 20 million.

To drive his point home, Duale has now partnered with veteran politician and former defense minister Yussuf haji in his bid to oust Jama’a in the 2017 elections.