Paying one million bob in cash to the elders of Mandera County is one of the requirements for all aspirants, vying for the position of governor.
According to the chairman of the council of elders in the jurisdiction, Abdulalahi Haji Abdi, besides the Ksh1M and a detailed CV, all aspirants must submit to the council a cover letter, explaining why they are seeking the position.
It is, however, not clear why the elders have complicated the process with all the seemingly tough demands.
“The money is to help in the process of vetting and scrutinizing all these applicants and nothing else,” Abdi noted in an interview with the press.
Once the aspirants have submitted their applications, they will be vetted and the elders will decide which candidates run for the seat.
After the vetting process is done, the final decision is then left to the people.
“We need the process so that we get the best candidates for the position. This is done to confirm that the candidates have all the qualifications as required by the electoral laws and the Constitution,” Abdi remarked.
While responding to criticism of the process, Abdi said it is their custom. He said they have 21 clans, and they must ensure a leader comes from each.
Additionally, he said this will ensure that no candidate holds the seat for two terms consecutively.
However, the current governor Roba defied the directive when he went for the seat in 2017 and won. The move caused so much acrimony among the elders and the community at large.
However, the elder said they held a reconciliation meeting in 2018, and right now, all of them are in agreement that the regulations will be adhered to.
Governor Roba is expected to soon name his candidate of choice, since he has so much influence in the county's politics.
So far, the elders say they have received four applications, and they are still expecting more in coming days.
They have planned a meeting in October, where they will vet and decide which names shall be on the ballot.
