By Abdimalik Hajir
Garissa Gubernatorial aspirant yesterday declared that if elected he will not give out handouts but will put effort to ensure devolution works for the people.
Speaking in Garissa town after he was endorsed, Abdiqani Dubat Fidhow said by giving out handouts meant that he will be using haram (forbidden) funds meant for development of the county.
“I promise that if elected I won’t give out handouts but I can give sadaqa out of my salary, today I don’t want to tell you lies please don’t ask me for money because funds will be used for its intended purpose,” he told the crowd amidst cheers.
He said that Garissa was headquarters of former provincial administrations with better amenities before devolution terming it unfortunate that it has lagged behind despite billions of monies 13years of devolution.
He said as a professional auditor he felt really bad that this country gets sh10 billion annually but people do not have basics such as water, so unemployment amongst youths, this county needs change,” he said.
He refuted claims that he is stepping down for another candidate noting that he is a man on a mission and doesn’t have luxury to come back or surrender.
“My mission is to work for the people of this county and bring the change needed, business people have run into debt after doing work with the county government, not that their money has not come but it was misappropriated,” he said.
He described himself as a person with high integrity who will not ‘touch haram money’ whose beneficiaries including innocent mothers are struggling daily.
Fidhow was Principal Secretary for the state department of East African Community under the Ministry of EAC, ASALs and Regional Development. Before he was deployed to Arusha as Consul General.
He was also the Managing Partner at Umuro Wario and Associates, a prominent audit, tax, and business consulting firm based in Nairobi.
The former PS took swipe with current and former county administrators saying they have abdicated their duties alleging that they are used to disappearing to Nairobi after elections losing touch with common people’s challenges.
Recently Garissa has witnessed heightened political temperatures with gubernatorial seats attracting new entrants and political heavy weight.
Fidhow who was first endorsed by Abduwak clan elders took issue with former governor Ali Korane who was equally said to have been endorsed for the seat noting that they were first to take an application and were given green light by the elders.
Other candidates who have declared their interest includes former Garissa County assembly speaker Ahmed Ibrahim Abass who was also Ijara Member of Parliament between 2013 to 2017.
Former Lagdera Mp Mohamed Shidiye has also been campaigning in the race to succeed Governor Nathif Jama, Shidiye was also Kenya-Botswana ambassador.
Like Northeastern Counties, elders play a vital role in deciding voting blocks as a result council of elders formed by different clans have been endorsing candidates for various seats.
