Political realignments in Garissa as clans intensify unity meetings

Abdullahi Gabane speaking at the meeting. Photo Stephen Astariko.

Water Resource Authority CEO Moulid Shurie, speaking at the meeting. Photo Stephen Astariko.

Warsame, Garissa County woman representative aspirant emphasized Photo Stephen Astariko

Political realignments in Garissa County have started to take shape as local clans intensify unity meetings to consolidate votes ahead of the 2027 general election.

In Northeastern, politics is deeply rooted in clan and subclan affiliations, with communities traditionally rallying behind candidates chosen through the popular negotiated democracy system.

Under this model, elders, religious figures, and political leaders hold a series of consultations to identify suitable aspirants who then become the clan’s official flag bearers for elective seats.

The approach, widely practiced across the region, is seen as a mechanism for minimising political conflict and ensuring fair clan representation.

On Saturday, leaders from the Rer Gulled community, one of the seven subclans that form the Abduwaq clan, convened a major consultative meeting where they issued a strong call for unity.

In attendance were religious leaders, community members, and politicians.

Water Resource Authority CEO Moulid Shurie said there is a need to remain united and speak with one voice at all times.

Shurie, a governor aspirant, assured residents that the community would provide clear political direction in the coming months.

Abdullahi Gabane urged the community to remain united and avoid pulling in different directions.

Gabane, who contested for the Garissa parliamentary seat in 2022, emerging second to Health CS Aden Duale, hinted that structured consultations are already underway to determine which candidates and national coalitions the clan will back in 2027.

“As a community we will come together and run a very successful and strategic campaign on a selected position or a seat that we are going to announce very soon. So I'm telling the people here that in terms of the party and which government we are going to support, we will let you know,” he said.

“Currently, we are not in any party. We don't know the formulations that will come up, but we are in agreement that we are going to support the ruling party in the next general election.”

Gabane urged community members to enlist themselves as voters to boost their numbers, saying their chances of clinching any seat will be pegged on how they register as voters.

“Let us do voter registrations properly so that we can turn up and vote for the government that we are going to agree on and to ensure we are going to deliver the seats that we will go for. So in essence, let's be peaceful, let's be respectful, let's unite and let's forge our position in one direction,” he said.

Mulki Warsame, a Garissa Woman Representative aspirant said there is a need for the community to remain cohesive to ensure their political influence is not diluted.

“We will speak with one voice. Our unity will be key to securing all the seats. Any internal divisions could weaken our bargaining power in county and national politics,” she said.

As the political season gradually gains momentum, similar clan-based mobilisation efforts are expected across Garissa and other counties, setting the stage for a competitive and strategically negotiated run-up to the next general election.