Borana elders have begun consultations on the community’s political direction ahead of the 2027 General Election, in a move aimed at producing a single gubernatorial candidate to succeed Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali.
The dialogue, held in Moyale town, brought together representatives of the Borana Council of Elders (BCE) and the Baliti Borana Council of Elders (BBCE), alongside delegates from Nairobi, Saku and Moyale.
The meeting focused on forging unity within the Borana community and preparing for negotiations with other communities in Marsabit County, where top elective seats are often shared through a system of negotiated democracy.
Under that arrangement, key positions such as governor, deputy governor, senator and woman representative are typically allocated through inter-community consensus among the county’s ethnic groups.
With Governor Ali, a Borana, set to leave office at the end of his second and final term, the community signalled its determination to retain the governorship.
Elders at the meeting said all Borana aspirants seeking the seat will be required to appear before them and present their record of service, achievements and leadership experience.
They said each aspirant will be given an equal platform and a fair opportunity to make their case before the elders and the community.
The aim, they noted, is to identify a candidate who is not only acceptable to the Borana community but also capable of building alliances and leading the entire county.
The elders announced a tentative date of June 6, 2026, for a major convention to be held at Holale Resort in Moyale, where the Borana community is expected to endorse its preferred gubernatorial candidate.
That nominee will then be presented to other communities in Marsabit as part of wider coalition-building efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.
Governor Mohamud Ali, who attended the gathering, hailed the elders as the foundation of society and praised their longstanding role in maintaining peace and unity across the county.
He credited them with helping resolve border disputes and other conflicts that have troubled Marsabit over the years, saying their guidance has been critical in preserving cohesion among communities.
The governor also called on those seeking to succeed him to conduct themselves with restraint, respect and dignity throughout the succession process.
He said he had full confidence in the institution of elders, describing it as a stabilising force that has repeatedly shielded the community from division and narrow political interests.