Youthful leaders have grand plans for NEP

By BONFACE ONGERI


As next year's General Election draws nearer by the day, North Eastern Province politics, which for over four decades had been dominated by clanism, is set for major transformation following increased participation by elitist youthful leaders.

In the past, ethnic homogeneity has been the cause of bitter albeit simmering clan competition right from the constituency level to the national level, instead of engendering a common political front, as one would expect.
This time round, however, all indications are that political Old Guard in the region are set for a bruising battle with the young turks come next year’s poll, following an intense political interest by the youth in the various elective positions created under the new Constitution.

The trend was first set in the 2007 General Election when seven out of the 11 elected MPs in the region were youthful, among them the chairman of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee, Mandera Central’s Abdikadir Mohammed.

Youthful leaders in the region claim the Somali community had for a long time tethered its fate and aspirations on clan-based politics, poor leadership and social apathy, which had made the region lag behind in development.

Succession politics
"We have stagnated with politics of succession as the rest of the country made progress in politics, education and infrastructure. We have been spectators as the rest of the country progressed and this can change through youthful leadership," said Ahmednadhir Omar Sheikh, who has declared interest in the Garissa governor’s seat.
Mr Omar explained that political leaders in the region have for a long time been viewed as ‘demigods’.

"For so long the youth have been disenfranchised. Since Independence, we have laboured under corrupt and clan-based politics. We have underperformed in education, agriculture and business and we want to put a stop to all these through active participation in leadership," added Omar.

The Mayor of Garissa, Mohamed Gabow Kharbat, says youth in the region were now taking an active role in politics like has never been witnessed before.
"We have the determination and commitment. Young people have discovered that the power lies with people and have come out strongly to take active roles in leadership," says the youthful mayor, who is aged 28.

In the region, youthful leaders elected into political positions are being viewed as a yardstick to determine whether they can deliver better than the older generation of leaders. At a recent workshop for the province’s councillors, youthful councillors said they joined civic politics after realising there was need to inject youthful and literate leadership in the running of the local authorities.

"Initially we thought it as demeaning to vie for the positions and dismissed the seats as reserved for the illiterate in the society, but this has changed," Khalif Omar Bullow, the Kulaley Ward Councillor says.
The youth, however, still face numerous challenges ranging from lack of financial resources to wrestle leadership from the Old Guard.

Some residents say certain youth elected into leadership roles have failed to meet expectations.
"They had the opportunity to prove to the skeptics that they were up to the challenge but some have been a big disappointment and embarrassment to the youth fraternity," Khalif Abdi Farah, the coordinator of Northern Forum for Democracy said.

Questionable wealth
Khalif explains the difference between the old guard and the youth was that the elderly leaders were easily accessible and selfless, but the youth were selfish and poor managers.
"Some of the youthful leaders are already under probe for misuse of funds while others have accumulated questionable wealth and are living beyond their paltry pay," Khalif added. 

Northern Development Minister Mohamed Elmi said while the youth are welcome to assume leadership positions, the definition of who qualifies to be called a youth matters.
"The Constitution has defined youth and those contesting in that category need to meet the requirement and expectations of the people.

Mr Elmi and Ijara MP Yusuf Haji are the only two ministers from the region, but both of them are viewed to belong to the old guard.
ODM-Kenya Nominated MP Mohammed Affey says more youth should be encouraged to take up leadership positions. "The future belongs to them especially professionals. They have energy and vigour, which could be lacking in some of the old guard," says Affey, who became Wajir South MP at 27.