Garissa governor race heats up as Korane, Senator Haji flex muscles
North Eastern
By
Daniel Kariuki
| Sep 17, 2026
A competitive race is expected in Garissa County as the list of political figures eyeing the Garissa governorship in the 2027 elections continues to grow.
Former Garissa Governor Ali Bunow Korane has officially declared his re-election bid, this time under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA Party.
Korane says his decision is aimed at strengthening the Kenya Kwanza agenda in the county as he seeks to reclaim the gubernatorial seat in 2027 and that he is seeking to complete an agenda he believes was left unfinished during his first term.
Korane is expected to face a competitive race for the Garissa governorship, with several prominent politicians having already expressed interest.
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Those expected to contest include former Ijara MP Ibrahim Abaas, former Lagdera MP Mohamed Shidiye and current Garissa Senator Abdul Haji.
Garissa politics are also heavily influenced by clan dynamics, with the Abduwaq, Awliyahan and Samawadhal clans among the major groupings in the county.
Korane comes from the Abduwaq clan, while Abaas and Haji are from the Samawadhal clan and Shidiye from the Awliyahan clan.
In July, elders from the Abduwaq clan endorsed Korane as their preferred candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial contest.
But Korane said the endorsement was only a starting point and that he would seek support beyond his clan.
The former governor has pledged to reinstate 6,000 county employees he says were dismissed after he left office if elected Governor in the 2027 General Election.
“The 6,000 county employees who were laid off will be reinstated. These are people who were earning a living, supporting their families and contributing to the economy of Garissa. We will allow them to serve again,” Korane said.
Speaking during an interview, Korane said his administration would prioritise water, healthcare, infrastructure, education and employment while completing projects initiated during his previous tenure.
“I am in the race again for many reasons. I have an incomplete agenda, and I want to complete certain things in infrastructure, education, health and water,” he said.
Korane acknowledged that his first administration had both successes and shortcomings, saying he intends to build on the achievements while correcting the mistakes he made.
“I made some mistakes, and I learnt from them. I made some successes, and I will build on them,” he said.
Korane served as Garissa’s second governor from August 2017 to August 2022. He was succeeded by Nathif Jama Adam, who served as the pioneer governor from 2013 to 2017 before returning to office after winning the 2022 election.
Asked whether he believed the current administration had performed well, Korane said the decision should ultimately be left to Garissa residents.
“It is up to the people of Garissa to judge,” he said.
Korane also identified the perennial water shortage in Garissa Town as one of his key priorities, pledging to find a sustainable solution within his first two years in office.
“It has been the single biggest problem in Garissa Town,” he said.
He said the county would first establish the scale of investment required before determining whether it could finance the project independently, adding that he would seek national government support if the cost proved too high.
He said the county would first establish the scale of investment required before determining whether it could finance the project independently, adding that he would seek national government support if the cost proved too high.
Korane pledged to tackle the crisis within his first two years in office. He said if the solution required major investment beyond the county’s capacity, he would seek support from the national government.
“If we determine that it will require huge investments, then I will bring in the national government,” he said.
Korane also said he had discussed the matter with President William Ruto and expressed confidence that the Head of State would support the project if re-elected.
“I have spoken to President William Ruto about it, and he will help if he also gets re-elected,” he said.