A section of residents of Banisa constituency in Mandera County have endorsed Issack Malela Ali, a former Jubilee candidate, to contest the upcoming parliamentary by-election.
The backing is setting up a high-stakes race against United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Ahmed “Bare” Maalim Hassan.
His closest rival, the candidate for the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Mohammed Aden, has withdrawn from the race.
Aden abandoned the Former President Rigathi Gachagua-led DCP party and has since endorsed the UDA candidate, a brother of the late MP Kullow Maalim Hassan.
The Banisa seat has been vacant since March 2023 following the death of MP Kullow Maalim Hassan.
The by-election, scheduled for 27 November, is one of 24 pending mini-polls across the country that analysts say will serve as an early test of political alignments ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general election.
At a gathering on Thursday, attended by elders, women and youth, Malela Ali was nominated as the candidate to represent Banisa under the People’s Liberation Party (PLP).
Rahoy Muktar, a local elder and keynote speaker at the endorsement event, said leaders from two factions of the Degodia and Garre clans in the constituency have supported him.
He said the delicate clan balancing has often shaped electoral outcomes in northern Kenya.
Muktar commended Malela as a homegrown leader with a track record of advocacy in the face of corruption and clan tensions.
“Malela was born and bred in Malkamari Ward. He understands the needs and challenges facing the people of Banisa; he is the best fit for the parliamentary seat,” said Muktar.
Issakh Jirrow, speaking on behalf of Youth leaders, framed his candidacy as a chance to move beyond traditional clan-based politics.
“It is time for fresh ideas, youthful energy, and people-centred leadership,” the youth leader told the crowd.
Accepting the endorsement, Malela described his candidacy as a “generational call to action”.
“This is not just my journey; it is our journey. Together, we can build a stronger, united Banisa where opportunities are shared and every voice matters. True development can only thrive on the foundation of stability and unity,” he said.
Malela says he is a governance expert with over a decade of experience in public policy, institutional reform and accountability systems.
He told Radio Generation that he “has previously advised governments, NGOs and development partners on strengthening governance structures and promoting inclusive decision-making.”
He will face off against Ahmed Maalim Hassan, known locally as ‘Bare’, the younger brother of the late MP and the UDA flagbearer.
Olad Mahat, a local political analyst, said his candidacy will be viewed by stakeholders as an attempt to consolidate continuity of family and party influence in the constituency.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set candidate nominations for early October.
The formal kicking off of the contest is expected to test the balance between clan dynamics, party influence and demands for youthful reformist leadership in Mandera County.