NAIROBI, Kenya, May 15 – The race for the Garissa gubernatorial seat is already taking shape ahead of the 2027 General Election, with a new opinion poll showing Water Resources Authority CEO Mohammed Shurie emerging as the early front-runner in what is expected to be a highly competitive contest.
The survey, conducted by Microtrack Africa between March 1 and April 28, 2026, indicates that Garissa County is rapidly becoming one of the key political battlegrounds in North Eastern Kenya as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) consolidates its influence in the region.
According to the poll, Shurie commands 40 percent support among respondents, placing him ahead of a crowded field of aspirants seeking to succeed the county’s current leadership.
The survey found that many residents associate Shurie with effective public service delivery, particularly in the water sector, which remains one of the county’s most pressing challenges.
Respondents credited him with improving water access during his tenure as the first CEO of the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company and praised his leadership at the Water Resources Authority, where he currently serves as chief executive.
Many residents interviewed during the survey described him as a humble, approachable, and ethical leader with a clean public record and the ability to address long-standing water shortages, irrigation challenges, and healthcare gaps across the county.
The poll also suggests that a growing number of voters are seeking fresh leadership ahead of the 2027 election, with respondents saying Shurie represents a new generation of leaders capable of steering the county toward development-focused governance.
Former Ambassador to Botswana Mohammed Mukhtar Shidiye emerged second in the poll with 25 percent support.
Shidiye’s campaign message, centered on economic transformation and youth empowerment, appears to be resonating with voters, particularly young people seeking employment opportunities and business support initiatives.
According to the survey, Shidiye has built support around promises to expand vocational training, entrepreneurship programs, and agricultural investment aimed at positioning Garissa as a regional economic hub.
Garissa Senator Abdul Haji ranked third with 20 percent support, with his supporters portraying him as a youthful and visionary leader seeking to build on the political legacy of his late father.
Branded by supporters as “The Digital Governor,” Haji’s campaign focuses on infrastructure development, water access, and improvements in healthcare services.
Former Governor Ali Korane, who is seeking a political comeback, garnered 10 percent support in the survey.
Korane’s campaign slogan, “Kumi Baada ya Break,” seeks to position him as an experienced leader capable of reviving stalled development projects while strengthening religious and infrastructure programs across the county.
Former Principal Secretary Abdi Dubat received 3 percent support in the poll.
Dubat, an audit and tax expert, has campaigned on promises to combine policy expertise with grassroots leadership, while criticizing previous administrations for failing to fully utilize resources allocated to Garissa under devolution.
Former Ijara MP and former Speaker of the Garissa County Assembly Ahmed Ibrahim Abass, popularly known as Bishar Ijara, received 2 percent support.
His campaign has focused on youth empowerment, education sponsorships, and equitable bursary distribution.
The survey paints a picture of an increasingly competitive political contest driven by key voter concerns, including water access, healthcare, infrastructure development, youth unemployment, and demands for accountable leadership.
Garissa County comprises six constituencies, Balambala, Dadaab, Fafi, Garissa Township, Ijara, and Lagdera, and remains heavily influenced by clan dynamics, which continue to shape political alignments across much of North Eastern Kenya.
