When the bar is set too high for perennial alarmists, propagandists, and sycophants, they have no choice but to resort to desperate, malicious tactics—deploying deceit, slander, and outright sabotage—to mislead the public and derail progress. They know they are on the losing end, yet they continue their futile attempts to cling to relevance, even as the county charges forward.
These political failures have made it their mission to oppose every single effort of the county government, hoping—against all logic—that their petty criticism will somehow slow down Mandera’s rapid transformation. But their scheme is doomed.
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A former lawmaker has disgracefully reduced himself to being a mouthpiece for two men who spent decades at the helm of power yet left nothing but misery and underdevelopment. One of them ruled this community for a staggering half-century, yet his legacy is a wasteland of neglect. The other, the most senior cabinet official Mandera ever had, occupied his position for ten consecutive years, yet he left behind nothing—not even a pit latrine. Not in the county, not in his own backyard.
Wasted Years
This same individual now enjoys the privilege of sitting on an executive floor alongside the president, with an office adjacent to the most powerful figure in the nation. He flies in presidential jets, shadows the head of state on foreign and domestic trips, and likely shares moments in the president’s private residence. He has been entrusted with overseeing the coordination of all cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries—essentially holding responsibilities akin to a prime minister in a government that controls 85% of the nation’s taxes. He has direct access to critical ministries, including water, which is central to Mandera’s survival in the face of drought. Yet, despite holding the power to intervene with a single phone call, he has refused to act.
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Instead, together with his cronies, have the audacity to unleash their attack dogs on those who are actually working for the people. They criticize the county’s leadership for being among the people, for listening to their struggles, and for offering direct assistance in both cash and kind. Their hypocrisy is staggering.
He has the wealth, power, and influence to match his peers in giving back to the people. But what he lacks—what he has always lacked—is the heart, the will, and the generosity to serve. His selfish nature is the only reason he remains a historical failure, permanently left behind by his contemporaries in morality, leadership, and basic human decency.
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Sheer arrogance
Despite his catastrophic track record, he had the audacity to seek an elective seat—a bid that Mandera’s electorate crushed with overwhelming rejection. The people knew exactly who he was—a symbol of regression, a man whose only contribution would be continued suffering and stagnation. Worse still, he came packaged with his cousin, a relic of political failure whose 50-year reign delivered nothing but hardship, division, and lost opportunities. This infamous duo, with their combined decades of incompetence, convinced the people that trusting them with leadership again would be an act of collective suicide.
Bitter and humiliated, these failed leaders now sit back and watch as Mandera’s true leaders—those with vision and action—deliver results they could only dream of.
New Dawn
Under the unwavering leadership of the county government, Mandera has not only survived the devastating drought but has emerged stronger. Where others failed, the current administration has triumphed.
Three boreholes have been drilled so far—more are coming. A feat that eight MPs, including myself, failed to accomplish since independence.
Over 300 villages are now receiving water via tankers, ensuring that both people and livestock survive.
Massive food distribution efforts led by the Roba Foundation and the county government saw each needy family receive over 70kg of food before the holy month of Ramadan.
Healthcare has been upgraded, school fees paid, roads rehabilitated, and desilting of water pans undertaken—all while these bitter opposition figures stood idly by.
And yet, despite this glaring contrast in leadership, the shameless failures of the past continue to discredit and undermine those working tirelessly to improve the county. They chose to do nothing for Mandera, and now they attack those who choose to act.
By the grace of Allah, the county leadership has prevailed over both natural challenges and politically engineered obstacles. The governor prayed for Allah’s mercy, and the people joined him. Their prayers were answered.
With ongoing water projects, enhanced infrastructure, and Allah’s blessings upon the people of Mandera, what more could anyone ask for?
Mandera’s leadership will not be deterred. The governor and the senator will continue working hand in hand, reinforcing each other’s efforts, and delivering unprecedented progress—to the utter devastation of their bitter, trailing adversaries.
Mandera is moving forward, and no amount of political sabotage will stop it.
This article was written by Hon. Adan Maalim Barrow, Former Member of Parliament, Mandera West.
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