BY Suleiman Sabdow

Two weeks after leaders from Northern Kenya announced a new political formation for Arid and Semi-Arid counties under the leadership of National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani, a section of political leaders from the region led by Mandera governor Ali Ibrahim Roba have come out guns blazing to water down the UPYA which they said does not reflect the face of Northern Kenya.

Speaking in a fund drive Meant to marshal funds for mothers in Moyale Town the leaders unveiled the United Democratic Party (UDM) which they said will bring together all leaders from Northern Kenya in a bid to front the agendas and interest of the pastoralists communities and asked those who want to make inroads in the region to engage the party.

Mandera governor Ali Roba who is the chairman of the party said that the region does not have any movement to champion its interests and lobbied the other leaders to join the party and abandon the UPYA movement which he said is going nowhere.

Governor Roba said that they can not be forced to embrace and join another party or movement and called on North leaders to speak in one voice.

” You cannot coerce anyone to loyalty; it has never worked across the globe.” said governor Roba.

The Mandera county boss also outlined that the United Democratic Movement (UDM) will advocate for the rights of the nomads and said that his party will reflect on issues facing the marginalized communities, especially from Northern Kenya.

” For sure my party of tomorrow will be a party I have a stake in and that the party will be a one that will have a voice and representation for northern Kenya,” said Roba.

Roba vehemently lambasted the Jubilee party officials for not taking into consideration the plights and issues of the members of the party and urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and reinvigorate energy into the once much-hyped outfit which has now disintegrated.

” There is nothing more frustrating than to feel insignificant within your own party and that is what Jubilee is today and none of the leaders within the Jubilee feel they have any relevance or significance for that matter,” said Roba.

Governor Ali Roba together with Gov Mohamud of Marsabit at Somare primary school in Moyaole Marsabit county during a funds drives for Somare Women Group.

Marsabit Governor Mohamud Mohamed promised to take the UDM party to a greater height and vowed to discharge effectively his assigned duties in the party so as to capture the minds of remaining Northern Kenya and ultimately bring them onboard into one political outfit.

MPs Wario Qalicha Gufu (Moyale), Kullow Hassan (Banissa) Rehema Jaldesa (Isiolo Women Rep) Marsabit Senator Godana Hargura, and his Mandera counterpart Mahmoud Mohamed attended the fundraiser.

Jaldesa said they are waiting for Roba to show them the political direction after consultations.

This barely comes a day after the Ukur Yattani led brigade held a press conference in Sawela lodge in Naivasha to publicly declare the UPYA movement and announced that the legal registration for the new movement will be officially kick-started very soon and exhorted other leaders from the region to join them.

Yatani has insisted that leaders from ASAL must put aside their differences and work together to unite the region against conflict, drought, economic marginalization, and political divisions.

He said ASAL leaders should learn from past mistakes and “chart a brave and brighter future for the region which remains Kenya’s most promising”.

“We note with concern that despite ASAL areas constituting a vast landmass with a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and culturally diverse population, has suffered from political and socio-economic marginalization over the years without a unified voice, and only being regarded as a ‘swing vote’ region,” he said.

Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani at a Naivasha hotel after a meeting that brought together leaders from Arid and Semi-Arid Lands on 18/9/2021

Yatani spoke in Naivasha where leaders from Garissa, Isiolo, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Turkana, and Wajir had converged to further reflect together on the future of ASAL