Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale has spent more than two decades building political power, surviving successive governments and parties to emerge as one of the most influential politicians from North Eastern.

📋 Breaking It Down

Mr Duale has risen from a local politician to Majority Leader of the National Assembly and Cabinet minister, placing him among the most powerful politicians in the country.

But as he seeks to consolidate that influence ahead of the 2027 elections, Mr Duale is discovering that power in Nairobi does not necessarily translate to dominance back home.

From Garissa to Wajir and Mandera, local politicians are increasingly telling the former Garissa Township MP to keep off their political turf, accusing him of meddling in local affairs and attempting to dictate who should lead the region.

📌 What You Need to Know

Defence CS Adan Duale (third left) on November 27, 2022. He endorsed Mr Mohamed Dekow (in cap) to succeed him as the Garissa Township MP.

For a politician accustomed to being at the centre of power, the resistance presents an intriguing question whether  Mr Duale can become the political kingpin of a region whose politics is still heavily shaped by clan loyalties and negotiated power-sharing.

“It is not easy to have a political kingpin in this region. The Somali community is divided along clans, with each having their own political leader. Every clan wants to be associated with one of their own as their leader and not someone from a different clan,” said Ahmed Diriye, a resident of Garissa.

Some political anaylsts believe Mr Duale's style may also be part of the problem.

Mandera based analyst Abdullahi Derrow  describes him as a political “rabble-rouser” outspoken, confrontational and unafraid to take positions that unsettle his opponents.

“To be honest, Duale is a politician who makes everybody uncomfortable. He speaks his mind, politically confronts people nd takes political positions. He has survived governments, parties and political seasons. Those qualities helped him climb,” Mr Derrow said.

📰 Source: Nation Africa