Former Garissa governor Ali Bunow Korane during an interview with The Star/HANDOUTFormer Garissa governor Ali Bunow Korane has said he is seeking to return to office in 2027 to complete an agenda he believes was left unfinished during his first term.
Korane, who served as Garissa governor from 2017 to 2022, said his experience in office had taught him important lessons that he intends to apply if voters give him another opportunity.
Speaking during an interview with The Star, Korane said his priorities would include infrastructure, education, health and water.
“I am in the race again for very many reasons. I have an incomplete agenda, and I want to complete certain things in infrastructure, education, health and water,” he said.
Korane acknowledged that his first administration had both successes and shortcomings, saying he intends to build on the achievements while correcting the mistakes he made.
“I made some mistakes, and I learnt from them. I made some successes, and I will build on them,” he said.
He said his five years as governor had given him experience that would allow him to approach a second term differently, with greater focus on completing projects that were started during his tenure but abandoned after he left office.
“We will do things differently, taking lessons from what I learnt,” Korane said.
He added: “Complete what I started and was abandoned when I left and refocus on serving the people better.”
Korane served as Garissa’s second governor from August 2017 to August 2022. He was succeeded by Nathif Jama Adam, who served as the pioneer governor from 2013 to 2017 before returning to office after winning the 2022 election.
Asked whether he believed the current administration had performed well, Korane said the decision should ultimately be left to Garissa residents.
“It is up to the people of Garissa to judge,” he said.
Korane acknowledged that residents had also raised complaints about his own administration, arguing that he was seeking another mandate because he believed he was best placed to address the county’s challenges.
“I have heard many complaints about the current governor, but the people have also complained about me. I hope they give me the opportunity because I believe I am the best placed to give them the leadership they need.”
Water supply in Garissa Town is one of the key issues Korane says he would prioritise if elected.
“It has been the single biggest problem in Garissa Town,” he said.
“It is regrettable that the problem has been there all along and nothing concrete has been done to address it.”
Korane pledged to tackle the crisis within his first two years in office. He said if the solution required major investment beyond the county’s capacity, he would seek support from the national government.
“If we determine that it is one which will require huge investments, then I will bring in the national government,” he said.
Korane also said he had discussed the matter with President William Ruto and expressed confidence that the Head of State would support the project if re-elected.
“I have spoken to President William Ruto about it, and he will help if he also gets re-elected,” he said.
On healthcare, Korane said his administration would channel more resources to the Garissa County Referral Hospital and sub-county hospitals.
He acknowledged that during his first term, significant resources went towards dispensaries and other smaller health facilities but said a greater focus on referral and sub-county hospitals would improve healthcare delivery.
Former Garissa Governor Ali Korane when he was endorsed by clan elders for his bid for the 2027 gubernatorial election.Korane also identified youth employment as another major priority, saying he had learnt an important lesson from his previous administration.
He said his government employed many young people in county offices but did not do enough to help them develop alternative sources of income.
“When I look back, I overdid it, giving them jobs at the county,” he said.
According to Korane, some of those employees struggled after leaving county employment because they had not been supported to establish businesses or other income-generating activities.
“When I left office, they lost their jobs, and they did not have any other sources of income. They went through depression, families broke up, could not continue paying mortgages and many other problems,” he said.
If elected, he said he would place greater emphasis on entrepreneurship and establish a revolving fund targeting young people.
“We need to give youth money to start businesses without collateral. This money can be given to groups,” Korane said.
He said the success of the programme would be measured by the number of businesses that survive.
“If 60 per cent of these businesses survive, then we will have achieved something,” he said.
Korane is expected to face a competitive race for the Garissa governorship, with several prominent politicians having already expressed interest.
Those expected to contest include former Ijara MP Ibrahim Abaas, former Lagdera MP Mohamed Shidiye and current Garissa Senator Abdul Haji.
Garissa politics are also heavily influenced by clan dynamics, with the Abduwaq, Awliyahan and Samawadhal clans among the major groupings in the county.
Korane comes from the Abduwaq clan, while Abaas and Haji are from the Samawadhal clan and Shidiye from the Awliyahan clan.
In July, elders from the Abduwaq clan endorsed Korane as their preferred candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial contest.
But Korane said the endorsement was only a starting point and that he would seek support beyond his clan.
“My clan will form my basis, but I want votes from all polling stations,” he said.
His return to the race also follows his defection from Jubilee to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), where he was welcomed by senior party officials, including Secretary-General Hassan Omar, Deputy Party Leader Issa Timamy and Chairperson Cecile Mbarire.
