ACRIMONIOUS GARISSA LEADERS BURIED THEIR HATCHETS

BY ADOW JUBAT

The quarreling leaders of Garissa County have on Sunday resolved to end their outstanding differences that have being derailing development in the area and agreed to work together collectively as elected leaders in a bid to prosper the development of the River side County.

After a marathon 10 hours close door meeting characterized by higher tempers and blame games at Nomad hotel, the political leaders emerged out of the meeting boardroom their faces written with fervent smiles. They walk closely side by side calling each other brothers.

And in a brief press conference they made an encouraging announcement that, their difference was buried once and for all.

Small crowd of gatecrashers who managed to sneak into the fortified hotel broke into songs of jubilation and impromptu Somali victory dances. An indication that Mama Gulia and Mzee Hafow were bothered with their leaders co-wives like differences.

However, the youthful MP for Balambala constituency Abdikhadir Aden who open the floodgate that isolated Nathif Jama by the national leaders stormed out of the meeting in huff few minutes before the other leaders came out to make the eargly awaited "white smoke".

And while speaking to Frontier leaks award wining senior reporter in an exclusively interview the man who changed Balambala constituency in two years from a ghost town to mega city accused the Garissa Governor Nathif Jamaa of dishonesty, runaway corruption and acting as lead character in a comedy play he branded as "merchant of Clannism",.

“As a leader I will never allow myself to remain silent, while Garissa County government is abusing procurement laws, unfairly concentrating all county resources to develop areas from one community and all lucrative jobs in the County are going to the North" he said. 

He added "Garissa is headed in leagues of the failed Counties like that of Makueni. Today's meeting is not more than a joke with added players",

Speaking to the press at his magnificent resident in Garissa town the majority leader in the national assembly and the third in national government pecking order Adan Barre Dualle , who was the loudest critic of  Nathif Jamaa administration said the bonding meeting  was fruitful.

He said "As leaders we agreed to work together cordially and end the ”small” wrangles and differences over some issues. The meeting chaired by our elder brother and our county senator Yussuf Hajji will be a turning point for the prosperity of our county",

“Majority of the national leaders had some small differences with county colleagues mainly concerning on how best our County resources should be managed and the working relationship between the national and county leaders. I’m happy to announce to you as Garissa leaders we have resolved to work as brothers and sisters together for the betterment of our County”, he said.

Dualle who has frequently referred Governor Jamaa as a good brother said “A time come when the interest of the people of Garissa comes ahead of other interests. As leaders our pride is to see our people of Garissa County realise the fruits of devolution and these fruits can only be realized when leaders consult frequently and pool together resources under their respective kitties to achieve a meaningful development”,

On his part the visibly happy Governor described the meeting as a historical bonding session noting that he was extremely happy with the outcome of the meeting where the political leadership agreed to amicably work together for the interests of the people.

 “We never had any serious difference as leaders from this county, what most people misinterpreted ignorantly as a fighting between us was just a small healthy exchange of diverging opinion concerning particular areas. When leaders express their opinion on a matter and is quite opposing to others it doesn’t mean we are fighting”, he explained.

Jamaa revealed that another leaders meeting which will incorporate members of the county assembly and other stakeholders will be held in the next 3 weeks in Garissa. 

Ijara MP Ahmed Ibrahim Abass said the Garissa leaders (from national and county) had no time to quarrel like their colleagues in other developed counties adding that the Sunday’s meeting was the fourth consultative leaders meeting frequently held to share views and county development programs.

Other leaders present were Dadaab MP Dahiye and his Lagdera counterpart Mohamed Shidiye. The woman rep Madam Shukran and Fafi MP Barre Shil were absent with a apology it was reported.