Issues and personalities to watch: North Eastern

Traditionally, North Eastern province votes on the government side-even when the government is not doing anything to improve the welfare of its residents. In the coming elections, opposition will have an uphill task turning the tide against the government since for the first time, the government can actually point out tangible things it has done to improve the welfare of NEP residents.

But the opposition could make much political capital if it showed the residents a black and white plan of how insecurity in the province can be tackled.

In fact, while the government might have won the hearts of the residents with capital development projects which include bore hole drilling, expanding and increasing education and health facilities and building roads, insecurity stands out as a cancer in the region. Several people have lost their lives in skirmishes in clan wars while the gunfire in the neighbouring Somalia filters into the province more often than not.