Former Garissa governor Korane launches comeback bid

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The Garissa County governorship race is steadily gaining momentum ahead of the 2027 General Election, with former governor Ali Korane officially launching his comeback bid through a meet-the-people tour across Garissa town.

Korane, who recently joined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and was issued with a life membership certificate ,held rallies in his traditional strongholds within the county headquarters, drawing large crowds and briefly bringing major streets to a standstill.

Supporters waved campaign portraits, chanted slogans and sang songs in his praise as his convoy snaked through town, turning Garissa into a spectacle of colour and political excitement.

A key highlight of Korane’s address was the long-standing issue of sacked county employees. He claimed that some of the employees were unfairly dismissed.

Their dismissal sparked widespread unrest, with affected workers suing the county government, alleging illegal and abrupt termination.

The protests escalated, at times spilling into the county assembly and resulting in vandalism of county offices. The matter remains before the courts.

“All those who were sacked will be returned to their jobs, all of them, without considering where they come from in the county,” Korane told supporters.

He further pledged to roll out direct cash support programmes targeting women and youth, stressing that the funds would not be loans and would not require repayment.

Expressing confidence in his renewed bid, Korane claimed his popularity had grown beyond his traditional support base.

“Unlike past elections, I now have strong grassroots support. Even in places like Dadaab and Lagdera, where I never used to get votes, the support is there,” he said.

Korane is expected to face stiff competition from several aspirants who have already declared interest in the seat, including former Ijara MP Ibrahim Abaas, former Lagdera MP Mohamed Shidiye and current Garissa Senator Abdul Haji.

He urged residents to register in large numbers as voters, noting that a high voter turnout would be critical in shaping the county’s future.

At the same time, Korane called on residents to support President William Ruto’s administration, saying it had delivered more development to the northeastern region than previous regimes.

Garissa County’s politics are often shaped by clan dynamics, with the region largely made up of the Abduwaq, Awliyahan and Samawadhal clans.

Korane hails from the Abduwaq clan, while Abaas and Haji are from the Samawadhal clan. Shidiye comes from the Awliyahan clan.

In July, the Abduwaq council of elders endorsed Korane as its sole flagbearer, effectively sidelining other sub-clans such as Dubat and Shurie.

As the campaign season gathers pace, the Garissa governorship contest is shaping up as a critical test of clan unity, negotiated democracy and political endurance.