With 2022 elections around the corner, politicians are galvanizing their people to back a candidate who would effectively have their interests at heart when at the helm after President Uhuru retires next year.
On Thursday, more than 20Mps from Northern Kenya announced the formation of Upya Movement as a vehicle to champion political interests of the region in 2022. In the 2013 and 2017 elections, the counties of Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, and Isiolo largely voted for Uhuru Kenyatta and his Jubilee Party.
The legislators were accompanied by top government officials led by Treasury CS Ukur Yatani, three Chief Administrative Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, three governors, and two senators.
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“For all the people here today, we support our President Uhuru Kenyatta and the political direction that he is going to give to us, we support him, and we support his alliance,” CS Ukur Yatani said at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi after a two-hour closed-door meeting that resolved to form their new movement.
Sources within the corridors of power reveal President Uhuru Kenyatta is playing a major role in ensuring the Northern Kenya block votes for Raila to the last man.
Leaders present at the meeting were Governors Ali Korane (Garissa), Mohamed Kuti (Isiolo), Ahmed Muktar (Wajir), Senators Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo) and Abdul Haji (Garissa).
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Others were MPs Adan Keynan (Eldas), Fatuma Gedi (Wajir), Rashid Kassim (Wajir East), Abdi Omar (Mbalambala), Abdul Sheik (Mandera North), Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), Ibrahim Ahmed (Wajir North), Garane Mohamed (Ladgera), Adan Haji (Mandera South) and former Deputy National Assembly Speaker and Lagdera MP Farah Maalim.
