GARISSA, Kenya, Jan 2 – Mandera senator and UDM party leader Ali Roba has called on the electorate in Garissa Township constituency to vote for his party’s candidate in the forthcoming by-election slated for January 5.
Addressing hundreds of party supporters at Garissa primary school play grounds Sunday, Roba said that UDM candidate Nasir Mohamed Dolal was the best suited to succeed former area MP Aden Duale.
The seat fell vacant following the appointment of Duale as the Defence CS.
Roba described Dolal as a visionary, mature and focused leader who would bring desired change in the cosmopolitan constituency.
The former Mandera Governor who was accompanied by a host of leaders affiliated to the party said that as a party they were determined to make sure that they bag the seat to add to their existing numbers in the national assembly.
“I had of rumours that I will not come to drum up support for our candidate, but here I am today flanked by several other leaders. This is a clear testimony of how serious we are about winning this seat. I want to kindly appeal to you the great people of Garissa to accord Dolal the necessary support at the ballot by voting for him,” Roba said.
“As a party we are growing in leaps and bounds. As we speak today, we have two governors, two senators, eight MPs, two speakers and 64 MCAs. In total we have one million votes. That tells you that we are 5th strongest party in Kenya,” he added.
Dolal who is popularly known as ‘Jofle’ by his supporters used the opportunity to hit out at individuals he said were hell-bent on not only ensuring that his name is not on the ballot, but were also confusing his supporters.
“It has not been an easy ride for me since I declared my candidature in this by election. They tried to block my candidature through the UDM party, but my brother senator Roba remained firm and stood with me. I thank God we are here today with a few days remaining to the D- day,” Dolal said.
Dolal who has been contesting for the seat since 2013 and always coming second to Aden Duale urged the electorates to vote for him.
He described himself as the only safe pair of hands that was capable of uniting all communities residing in the cosmopolitan constituency.
The race that has attracted eight candidates is viewed as a two-horse race between Dolal and Mohamed Dekow Barrow of UDA who is being backed by CS Aden Duale.
Duale has enhanced campaigns for Dekow across the constituency by meeting different groups and communities to drum up support for the former gubernatorial candidate looser, describing him as the best to take over from him.
Last week, IEBC commissioner Abdi Guliye urged the electorates to maintain peace before, during and after the polls and allow the electoral body to do its work.
