By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
21 December 2025 - A group of civil society organizations has urged local elders to stop selecting leaders on behalf of voters and allow citizens to decide for themselves, amid growing criticism of what has been termed “negotiated democracy.”
Speaking in Garissa town, Muktar Dahir Osman, chairman of the Garissa Human Rights Network, said devolution has not yet been realised in the North Eastern region because elders continue to choose poor leaders.
“It is not possible for elders—who can be compromised—to decide for thousands in a county like Garissa,” he said.
“The benefits of devolution remain unrealized because voters are not given time to assess leaders’ quality.”
In the recent past, political players have been crisscrossing the region seeking endorsements from community elders. Politicians, on the other hand, have been submitting applications to various councils of elders, locally known as ‘Geet,’ to seek their support.
In the Somali-predominant region, elders are culturally respected for their wisdom.
They have been involved in all manner of mediation, including murder, inter-clan conflicts, and marital disputes.
Since the start of devolution, councils of elders from various clans have become powerful in negotiating political coalitions. Some clans take gubernatorial seats, while others take deputy governor or women representative positions. Civil society now claims that elders prevent voters from electing the best, giving them limited options—some of whom, they say, have been tested and proved incompetent.
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“We are asking elders to step back from politics and let politicians present their manifestos and vision so that voters can pick the best,” Muktar said.
“Negotiated democracy has hindered devolution in this region.”
He pointed to the current political shuffle in Garissa, where the sitting governor is seeking a senatorial seat while the current senator eyes the governorship—a swap that raises questions about merit and public choice.
Muktar added that elders should continue mediating social issues, not politics. Even in employment, elders often make recommendations instead of allowing county positions to be filled based on merit and qualifications.
To address this, local civil society plans to launch an initiative aimed at educating citizens against being misled into voting for non-performers. The campaign will encourage voters to choose candidates with a better vision, ensuring that the fruits of devolution are realised.
