By Malik Hassan
Former Majority Leader of the National Assembly Aden Duale has for the first time come out to denounce and delegitimise the negotiated democracy of elders of his Abdwuak clan in Garissa, which I also belong to.
However, Duale’s criticism of the process is majorly coming from political insecurity rather than sincerity.
His problem with the elders follows the recent election re-endorsement decision of the Abdwuak clan Sultanate for the incumbent Garissa Governor Ali Bunow Korane, who is his top and open political rival locally.
The Korane factor plus the subsequent nod from the Abdwuak elders is not sweet music for Duale’s ears because he had a tenderfoot frontman in the clan nomination process who has fumingly lost to the governor.
Equally, Duale has not been comfortable with how Korane has been amassing influence to an extent of chairing the BBI Northeastern chapter in recent times while at the same time managing to foil the legislator’s political mischiefs in a way that severely tests Duale’s self-styled and self-appointed political kingmaker role in the county.
Another issue of discomfort for Duale regarding the negotiated democracy process of elders, which hasn’t concluded yet making verdicts on the other seats, is the possibility of being reminded by the Abdwuak clan Sultanate that 15 years is too long a tenure for MP to remain in office given the old precedent set by his pioneer predecessor.
The late Abdi Aress Mohamed took his three successive terms in Parliament after which he honourably exited the political stage.
If at all the negotiated democracy of the Abdwuak clan was as bad as Duale is maliciously attempting to make it appear, then he should first explain the contradiction of why he had allowed his entire political career thus far to be midwifed by it in the throneroom of Sultan
Dekow Maalim Muhumed Sanbul whom he seems to bibulously violate, underestimate and disrespect today out of an imperial hubris which is only a poisoned chalice in the long run.
It is a complete sign of bad faith and dishonesty for one to willingly submit their candidature application to elders, out of a foreconceived trust and confidence in their abilities and wisdom, for the process of filtering and selecting the community’s flag bearers only to reject the outcome if it doesn’t suit or promote their vested interests.
This treachery amounts to disrespect and disloyalty to the traditional authority and its organizational culture and administrative apparatus, with the possible risk of enflaming social division and dissection.
Duale and his acolytes must remember that a time comes when the community is more important than the individual and elders should not be victimized for announcing what they have determined to be in the best political interest of the community.
Naturally, we all have a day that is for us and another that is against us and that is the beauty of life and fate which ensures that fortunes and victory come in turns.
The good days should be appreciated with humility and we must also take the bad days in our stride.
The article was first published on the Star Newspaper.
The writer is a governance analyst in Garissa
