Turkana community in Isiolo says eyeing governor’s seat

Former Isiolo North MP Joseph Samal and Dr James Lowasa, who had shown interest in the seat in the 2022 elections, have put aside their political difference and resolved to work together for the good of the Turkana community living in the county.

The two leaders, both of whom are from the same (Turkana) community, have in the last four years been reading from different scripts, threatening the community’s quest to clinch the seat in the coming elections.

Elders from the community have in the last four years engaged the two in efforts to have one withdraw his ambition and support the other to avoid a vote split, but the leaders had been reluctant.

The community was also divided on whom between Mr Samal and Dr Lowasa should be supported, with one faction saying the former was the most suitable one due to the experience he gained while serving as the MP between 2013 and 2017 while the other group said the seat needed fresh blood, thus favouring Dr Lowasa.

But a taskforce to mediate between the two leaders, reportedly formed four months ago, managed to break the deadlock following intense negotiations, reviving the community’s hopes putting up a strong challenge for the seat.

In a communication made by the taskforce’s secretary-general, Mr Agostino Loreng, the community announced an end to the differences between the two leaders and maintained that they would now speak in one voice.

MP and governor seats

Mr Loreng said their focus in the forthcoming elections will be on the MP and governor seats, which they tasked Mr Samal and Dr Lowasa respectively to pursue.

“We have come together and the differences we have had since 2017 are over. We have agreed that we will seek Isiolo North MP’s seat and that of the governor,” he said on behalf of the community.

During the meeting attended by the two leaders in Ngaremara on Saturday, the community said in the event their more than 10,000 votes are not enough to propel Dr Loasa to governorship, then he will seek deputise a gubernatorial hopeful from any of the other communities willing to work with the Turkanas.

Dr Lowasa said he resolved to shelve his quest for the MP’s seat to ensure the community stays united and appealed to his supporters and other communities to support Mr Samal.

“The resolutions made here are for the entire community. We are united and our votes will not be divided. We have agreed that I will vie for governorship but if need be, I may also deputise a gubernatorial aspirant. Mr Samal is the community’s only candidate for Isiolo North MP’s seat,” he said.

Promise to electorate

Mr Samal said the endorsement was clear indication of the confidence that his community has in him and promised not to let the electorate down if elected to the office.

“Like I tirelessly worked for you, I will not let you down. I will work for all the communities like I did between 2013 and 2017,” Mr Samal said.

Former Ngaremara MCA Peter Losu drummed up support for Mr Samal, saying his development track record was still visible five years after he left office.

“The work he (Samal) did is still visible. We should give him another chance to take our constituency to the next level,” Mr Losu said, while asking other communities to support the former MP’s bid.

Others who attended the meeting were Ngaremara MCA Ekwam Teru, Isiolo County Water Executive Josephine Eregai and conservationist Josephine Ekiru among other community leaders.

With a Turkana ‘block’ voting pattern, Mr Samal remains the main challenger to incumbent MP Hassan Odha, considering that the Borana community has fronted five aspirants and the Ameru two, which will see their votes split to the advantage of the Turkanas who have just one candidate.

Others who have expressed interest in the Isiolo North seat are Mwenda Thuranira (Mambo Fresh), Abdi Godana, Ali Dida, Mohammed Abdullahi (Medize), Nominated Senator Abshiro Halakhe, Lucy Mworia and Abdilatif Boru.

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