Tana River gubernatorial aspirant Danson Mungatana on Tuesday named the former County Health Executive Hassan Bare Kuno as his running mate.
Mungatana made the announcement at a hotel in Hola town during a meeting with a handful of his supporters from both the Pokomo and Wardei communities, contrary to his earlier assertion that he would name his deputy at a huge public rally.
The aspirant declared that his camp would run a campaign of inclusivity with all communities living in the area being enjoined to form the next government.
He said his administration would ensure the County’s financial resources would be utilized to benefit every resident.
“We will put resources into livestock keeping, fisheries and agriculture, as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to boost the economy of our people and improve their living standards,” said Mungatana.
He criticised the incumbent governor Hussein Dado for allegedly running an incompetent and corrupt government and vowed to wrestle the seat from him.
The announcement came after Kuno was named by IEBC as the candidate whose name had been submitted by the Kenya Patriotic Party to be Mungatana’s running mate.
The gubernatorial spirant had earlier chosen Dugale Khalif to be his running mate and it is not clear what informed his decision to name the former member of the Hussein Dado-led County executive committee.
Both Kuno and Khalif are from the Wardei community while Mungatana is a Pokomo. In 2013, the Wardei joined hands with the Orma to form the first county government.
Members of the Wardei community have taken very strategic positions in the campaigns to gain power through the ballot with a view to ensuring they do not miss out in the next county administration.
Among key figures in the community lined up for senior positions in the next county government include County Assembly Speaker Dr. Nuh Nasir who is contesting for the governorship position on a Wiper Party ticket.
The others are Kuno and deputy governor Jire Siyat Mohamed, who was retained by Dado as his running mate on a Jubilee Party ticket.
Others in the gubernatorial race are former County Finance Executive Ismail Jillo Algi, former County Transition coordinator Anania Karhayu Deye and former assistant minister Dhadho Gaddae Godhana.
