Thursday, July 18, 2013 He carved his niche in firebrand politics by criticising former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s every move, and barely four months ago was your typical — but rather loud — backbencher. But today Garissa Township MP Aden Duale is the senior-most legislator in the National Assembly and has a direct line to State House, thanks to his role of Majority Leader. As a result of that simple fact, Duale now enjoys trappings of power equivalent to that of a Cabinet Secretary, complete with enhanced security detail. Both inside and outside Parliament, he is loved and hated in equal measure. His enthusiastic defence of the Jubilee government in the House has endeared him to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, but also rubbed Cord MPs and a section of the public the wrong way as they see him as a latter-day Government hawk. Knowing he is not loved across the board, Duale has attempted to defend himself, saying his duties are to push Government agenda in the House. “Any government agenda brought to the floor of the House so far has sailed through,” he told the Nation. And he has choice epithets for Mr Odinga, whom he says orchestrated his own downfall. “I knew Raila had lost the elections the moment he lost the Ruto-led brigade,” he chimes. Even with the bile flowing, Duale still describes Raila as an astute politician who has been part of history-making in the country. “He has made friends throughout the country,” he says. “He should now use his connections to serve our continent... he should be in the forefront advocating for peace in Somalia, Sudan and even Egypt.” Defending the charge that he is dictatorial — made by some Jubilee MPs — Duale says: “I have 216 Jubilee MPs that I have to ensure speak with one voice, I must be tough for that to be achieved.” A man who does not shy away from ostentation, Duale will do anything to prove he has unfettered access to State House. “I often get calls from the President, just to tell me how grateful he is to me. He always tells me: Mheshimiwa Duale, shikilia hapo kabisa (Hon Duale, be strong on your side). He even calls to wish me a good night. I feel I am indeed part of the government.” Marshalling parliamentary approval of presidential nominees has been his greatest challenge, but the biggest test was that of ensuring the nominee for the post of Solicitor General Njee Muturi sailed through. “I came up with a tactic where I continuously spoke on the floor of the House as I waited for Jubilee members to file in,” he says of his strategy. “As I did that, some MPs started accusing me of being out of order, but I knew what I saw doing. When I got sure Jubilee members were more than Cord’s in the House, I sat down.” The stakes were so high that the President had to call him in the middle of the debate, probably because the nominee, Mr Muturi, is a long-time friend of Uhuru’s. “The tension made me retreat to the back to receive a call from the President, who asked me whether all was well and if the name was going through,” remembers the fiery politician. “I assured him all was well.” Duale says the appointment of 28 departmental committees also proved a mighty challenge for him. “I had to hatch a plan where Jubilee chaired all of (the committees). There were instances where up to four Jubilee members fought over chairmanship of one committee, and I had to ensure not a single one went to Cord,” he says, adding that his connections in ODM have helped him woo members to pass government agenda. So hard has this man fought for the presidency that he now has little time to visit his constituency. “I have told the president to take care of my constituents by putting up roads, electricity and increase security as I defend his agenda in the House,” he wraps it up. http://www.nation.co.ke/Features/DN2/The-rise-and-rise-of-Aden-Duale/-/957860/1918078/-/5mm59o/-/index.html

Cambuulo iyo bun;969151 wrote: ninkaan wuu isku buuqay waraa take it easy with the khat sabca samawaat ayaa maroosa iyaah unuka balaayo aragnay :D

Alpha Blondy;969027 wrote: so sad. this little somali kid was run over by a truck. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2364815/Mohamed-Mohamed-killed-outside-home-recovery-truck-letting-fathers-hand.html prayers and condolences to the family. AUN. So sad. My mum knows his mum. Apparently the dad couldn't talk afterwards, geed taagan buu noqday

Alpha Blondy;969017 wrote: how do you know the xafiis has barbed wire? keep 'em coming. it's only a matter of time. nacala kugu yaal, ma istidhi? :D LOL @nacala kugu yaal KKKKKK

^^^I'm not sure Xaaji Xaaraan would like that last bit

Wallee this Gaaroodi guy is sick.

Cam, war what is your point? Who's got time to read all that?

Xaaji Xunjuf;968928 wrote: You envy the people of Somaliland you belittle their efforts if it wasn't for them there would never be a union to begin with not that the union concerns you. You are still a Kenyan national who tries to meddle into Somali affairs may they be Somalia and Somaliland. Now you have the guts to say that they are rebranding something called Somaliland when Somaliland was much older than your Kenya and Somalia to. You are angry because Cigaal did not safe you from Jomo Kenyatta, well guess again only your self can fight for your freedom that is if your docile communities in kenyas north eastern province want to be free of Kenya. I really dont mind Koonfurians saying this and that about SL waba dad wax naga dhexeyaan oo an jaar nahay, bal kuwan Kenyatiga maxa naga dhexeyaa. Firstly, I stand corrected on the name issue. I was wrong and I'm man enough to admit it. That said, everything else you've said is stuff and nonsense.

Xaaji Xunjuf;968924 wrote: What do you have against woqoyi adigu i believe Kenyans should stay way from Somalia and Somaliland affairs Come again?

I knew you were going there. You're trying to convince us that in 1960 Somaliland and Somalia united to form the Somali Republic which is false. As you know, Waqooyi and Koonfur united in 1960 to form the Somali Republic also called Somalia.As of today, one of the former components of the Union is trying to rebrand itself as something called 'Somaliland' but Somalia as a country still exists in the international sense (the 1960 Union has not been legally nullified). Only if the latter happens (God forbid), will Somalia be reduced to just the Koonfur. Capiche?

I'm serious. Somali Republic was the official name in 1960 but it was still called Somalia, including the Waqooyi. Uurkubaalle ma ihi balse I have a feeling where you're trying to go with this.

Tallaabo;968901 wrote: No they are as different as the United Kingdom and England are- one is an over-arching union of four nations and the other is a nation state in the union. Sxb Somali Republic was the official name of the country as submitted to Qaramada Midoobey in 1960. Somalia was the unofficial everyday name.

^^That's my point.

Tallaabo;968895 wrote: Somalia is not balkanised. It is still intact but the former Somali Republic broke up chaotically. Somali Republic-Somalia, same thing. It's not balkanised, everyone just went back to their tribal homeland.

Whoever thinks the Daraawiish movement was a qabiil movement needs help.

Somalia is not being balkanised. The issue is that two clans can't live with each other unless they solve their differences but Culusow doesn't seem to want to do this. J/land is just a side-effect of this.

You're missing the point that Soomaali ma kala adka.

Xaaji Xunjuf;968867 wrote: ^^ Who ever has the most guns and the most diplomatic influence If that's the case MSBarre AUN would never have fallen.

Marksman;968642 wrote: Good pavement, roads, decent urban planning, trees, parks, food, water and housing for all, health care, education, job creation, etc. Garissa might be a case study for Somalis to look at on how oil money can be spent. I hope it's done wisely and will not disappear in pockets. One well alone is worth 1.6 billion dollars. :cool: Indeed. The Urban planning, roads, trees, parks have all been planned ($2 mill was spent creating an urban plan) but there was finance issues. As for water, most plots/houses have piped clean water (thanks to the Saudis). Now the system just needs an upgrade so the water can run 24/7. The sewage system is currently being built (starting with the downtown areas). Most houses have electricity that's very reliable by African standards and that's very cheap (we only experienced a few blackouts mostly during day time that lasted for around an hour each during a 6 month period). The Kenyan gov is currently paying to connect Garissa to the national grid and a nearby power station. Work should be finished in the next few years IA. Add oil revenues to this and the future looks bright IA. Cam, thanks to the new county system, it's as Apo says. We should get a sizable chunk so if there's corruption it'll be the fault of our leaders. That said, Gsa has NO room for ya'll crazy hordes

Mashallah. Mashallah. I hope Allah makes this the route for prosperity for us Inshallah. Thanks Dhakhtarow.

GAROODI;968592 wrote: From what I read SOMALILAND was pushing for this the past 5 years. It was previously controlled via Nairobi. It's joint committee of three each based in Hargaisa as a temporary arrangement. We get our share and control our airspace. They control their airspace. The movement of politicians was rejected along with everything else and if mugdisho screws up it will still be in SOMALILAND. What sovereign state shares joint control of it airspace with what it sees as a province within Somalia?? To sign this is to admit to being equals. How can you be an equal of another authority and claim jurisdiction of all of Somalia ??? The way I see it in time it Strengthens Somalilands hands because it is more capable as a state then the state that argues to represent them in the international arena this will backfire on Somalia in the long run and benefit SOMALILAND. Sxb not all of us are sick with cuqdad. For some it makes no difference whether it is in Hargeysa or Xamar as long as it's in SOMALI hands.

^^I might steal that. I have 1.5 months left to learn to cook and I still have no clue. It's very hard to find a decent recipe website online.

The Zack;968517 wrote: Somaliland has accepted the federalism indirectly. They are letting Xamar open an aviation office in Hargeisa lol. They have been tricked. One nation, one aviation! War shub dheh. Don't let them work it out just yet Yes JB, Berbera shall control all ports

Tallaabo;968468 wrote: And the Raaskambooni militia in Kismaayo are? They are freedom fighters and Mujaahids. Plans are underway to place a technical captured from Bajaq (Huuraale) on a Taallo in Kismaayo's central roundabout.

Weligayba waan ahaa sxb. Their message is simple and the truth in my eyes.