By Betty Luke
The Ameru community has endorsed Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo to seek reelection as the contest gains pace.
Already Isiolo Speaker Hussein Roba and Nuh Mohammed Ibrahim have expressed interest to unseat Ms Dullo who is also the Senate Deputy Majority Leader.
At a recent community meeting, a section of the Amerus promised to support Ms Dullo’s bid due to her past development track record.
They cited her strict oversight on the county government and lobbying for various infrastructural projects from the State as among the reasons they would elect her back.
Mary Kagwiria Njagi from Burat ward said they would have been evicted from their land had the Senator not intervened when they were nearly two years ordered out by the government.
The lawmaker assisted the affected residents file a case in court and procured a lawyer for them.
Isiolo’s Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders Chair Geoffrey Nabea said they had confidence in Ms Dullo’s leadership and that she deserved a second term.
“We all have seen what she has done and she remains the right person for the seat,” he said while warning residents against electing Governor and Senator in same lineup saying it would affect oversight.
At a recent meeting, the community appealed for water projects, title deeds in Wabera and Bulapesa wards and employment opportunities.
Mr Julius Mwirigi, the former Matatu Chair, said land disputes prevented them from developing the properties and asked Senator Dullo to relieve them of the legal fees they have been incurring.
“As we support you, we also want to know what we will get from your leadership. It’s all about give and take,” Luke Mithika said.
Youths at the event also asked the legislator to tell them what she had done for young people.
Ms Dullo said despite lacking development funds, she had lobbied for tarmacking of nearly 10 roads in the county, had several teachers employed and hundreds connected to the national grid.
“Kambi ya Juu residents are the latest to benefit from electricity program. I am not the first Senator to be elected. It is not easy to fulfil all the people’s needs but I have done what I was able to,” she said while appealing for a reelection.
She said she had also pushed for reinstatement of dozens of workers who were illegally suspended from Ewaso Nyiro Development Authority.
“I have come to ask for your support (votes),” she noted while exuding confidence that she will trounce Nuh Mohammed Ibrahim and Isiolo Speaker Hussein Roba who are seeking to unseat her.
The Senator revisited the August 2019 legal notice saying she opposed it for allocating community land without involving the residents.
The schedule, which was amended by the Ministry of Land in 2020, exempted military installations, Isiolo Township, Lapsset corridor, holding grounds and national reserves from the adjudication exercise.
“I have never opposed titling but allocation of land without adequate public participation,” she said while promising to present the residents’ land grievances to President Uhuru Kenyatta during his expected visit.
