INDOMITABLE LION FROM URAN- HON HALKANO KONSO ALI
By DIBA KOSI BILINGA
Who is this Halkano Konso Ali the most spoken about MCA in the entire Marsabit County and even beyond? Though a bit difficult, let me try to glue some pieces of information in an attempt to define him from the existing records about his personality as spanned around for the last four decades.
To start us off, Hon Halkano was polyonymous by different people based on the divergent lanes through which they perceived him over different seasons and for different reasons, and thus given numerous titles, including:-Simba wa Uran, Buuthe Bomiftu, Abba Elle, Abba Hithitho, Abboot obbu, Mjumbe Looni, Gurach Borana, Bulcha Dugha, Hutuba Gossa and finally Jalata Sabbo Gonna.
The above were different names he was baptized with by others, but he preferred to refer to himself as Gurach Konso Ali – a name that resonated very well with his natural pigment and dark skin complexion.
His native name, Halkano, is a borana name given to a baby born at night. Maybe it may be a justifiable reason for his dark outlook engulfing his entire well-built physique, further compounded by gentleman face which often scares cowards from addressing him on trivial subjects. Away from this, many agree with the fact that he is a gentle and perfect definition of a leader whose heart more often beats for his community - an innate trait which has enthralled many people.
They say an apple does not fall far from the tree. True to this old adage, Hon Halkano Konso Ali germinated from a well known seed and parentage of the famous Konso Ali Duba of obbu region. His father is well known for bravery and wits among his peers and community. He was among the most respected and loved elders of his generation.
To date, his name is referenced in several borana fork tales and again notably mentioned in cultural songs revolving around his prowess at herding, range management, hunting and defending his community from external aggression when need comes calling.
One of those cultural lyrics often sung by age groups to recognize the attributes of bravery and boldness among themselves goes like (Gurach Ali Garsai worra iyana woyyo ) referencing one of the scenes in which Hon Halkano Konso Dad threw down his spear, went empty handed for one of the aggressor's leader, wrestled, suffocated and squeezed life out of him thus successfully repulsing the enemy which came to raid borana herds. Another one goes like (do’wwa goth buqellee Konsole Ali Duba, korommi jirman dowwe galge mathoye duba.) loosely referring to a scene in which his late dad fronted and brought down bare handedly a furious male elephant that caused havoc and became a nightmare to the area.
Hon Halkano Konso was born about four and half decades ago as the last born in a polygamous family which had now branched and lived across Obbu, Saku and extended up to Waso land. His journey of quest for knowledge began at Golole Primary School, after which he crossed over to Moyale Boys for his o’ level education. Today, Mheshimiwa holds a Master of Art in Procurement and Contract Management from Jomo Kenya University of Science and Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in finance and accounting from Kenya Methodist University. He is married to a beautiful Dambitu Lady from Sericho in line with customary dictation and now blessed with 3 children, 2 boys and a daughter.
He has vast work experience spanning over 17 years in both public and private entities. He began his career as an accountant for Firestone Company and later crossed to the banking industry where he served as procurement officer at Kenya Commercial Bank. He later joined Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA) for 7 years, after which he switched to Tana River County and devotedly served as a Director of Procurement upon the arrival of the devolution following promulgation of the 2010 Kenya Constitution.
Due to undying ambition he harbored, he later quit service to venture into the private construction business as a registered contractor where he enjoyed flexibility and freedom to regularly touch base with his ward constituents. This move was deliberate in that it brought him closer to his aspiration to venture into active politics, where he contested against the incumbent Hon Qalich Huka and two other candidates and easily won with a resounding victory against several hurdles including clan restrictions posed, in pretense of aspirants balancing for various positions.
This firm and decisive legislator was first elected on jubilee party tickets in 2017. He served as Majority Leader and County Assembly Public Service Board member as well as Chair of the mortgage and loans committee in the Second County Assembly of Marsabit.
In his first term, Hon halkano Konso worked hard to improve access to water, health facilities, youth employment and road networks within his ward with devotion and, above all, opening up range lands for his local livestock herders far and wide, thus becoming peoples darling - a turn of events which brought him into constant collusion with other leaders who are not happy about his growing fame and popularity.
Nonetheless, he executed his mandate as Majority Leader in the assembly with the precision of an eagle, balancing the delicate act of representing, defending the executive agendas at the same time safeguarding the image of the county assembly whenever the push comes to shove.
It was under his tutelage that the county assembly formulated and passed several Bills and Acts, the notable one being the landmark Education Fund Act which was currently transforming the lives of the thousands of bright but needy high school students from all corners of our great Marsabit County. The life-changing Youth Fund Act that subsequently paved the way for a youth internship program with the aim of providing a soft landing for graduates from colleges and universities across the 20 wards was another applauded initiative seen through by Hon Halkano as house leader of the majority side.
The Urban Areas and Cities Act of (2019) that gave birth to the Marsabit Municipality, which is currently changing the face of Marsabit town, while Moyale town's elevation to municipality status too also in the pipeline, is another notable milestone, the second assembly realized under his leadership. These are just but few among the many bills and acts passed and enacted not to forget the free vocational training Act (2017), Gender Act (2021) and Climates Change Funds Act (2020) among others, before they fell out with the county boss, who even attempted to dethrone him of his majority leadership position severally but in vain including collection of signature from the Uran ward electorates that also back fired.
These differences clouded and melted into an untenable political battle that later spilled over into the 2022 campaign and election, forcing the two to go parallel ways up until the ballot despite coming from the same ward and the same dominant Karayyu clan of Sabbo Moiety.
It was for the above reason that Hon halkano Konso later left the Jubilee and joined the UDA Party of the then Deputy President Dr. William Samoe Ruto and fronted a spirited campaign for his party and aspirants together with like-minded leaders including Hon Col (Rtd) Dido Ali Raso (Saku MP), Commissioner Kello Harsama currently serving as Agriculture PS for Crop Production, Hon Mohamed Chute (current Senator) and Hon Canon Naomi Wako (current woman representative).
Though the team was headed by Upper Eastern UDA Coordinator Hon Col. Dido Ali Raso and other top brigades, Hon Halkano Konso played a pivotal role as one of the most visible and reliable engine in pushing the president’s bottom up Manifesto and a daring figure that campaigned against Governor Mohamud Ali's re-election bids across the length and the breadth of the expansive Marsabit county.
He acted as a solidifying engine and driving force for the UDA brigades and became a vocal leader who vehemently campaigned for all of the UDA aspirants, tirelessly criss crossed the vast Marsabit county and even penetrated deeper into southern Ethiopia to vouch for as many votes as possible for his party and aspirants since some cross section of Borana community do freely move along and across the border in their guest for greener pasture and water for their livestock depending with seasons.
In fact, it is on record that while in Ethiopia, they were arrested on very flimsy ground because of some petty politics and incitement from other leaders in the opposing AZIMIO Party. Even while his colleagues’ leaders were later released, Hon Halkano Konso was detained for a long time because of the emotive speech and appeal he made in pulling the electorate toward UDA political ideologies using his charming eloquence in his native dialect.
First forward, Hon Halkano Konso Defended and clinched his Uran Ward Seat by an unimaginable margin and resounding victory against all odds, including the flood gate of money poured onto Uran residents by his senior brother (the Governor) so as to lure them against voting back their darling MCA.
Beside his own seat, he again managed to deliver both Senatorial and Women Representative and some hordes of MCAs for his UDA Party and, above all, because of his efforts and collective efforts of other top UDA Brigades from the region headed by no nonsense Saku Legislator Col. (Rtd) Dido Ali Raso, they again managed to delivered victory for their Presidential candidates H.E Dr. William Samoe Ruto both in Marsabit and Isiolo County against several hurdles planted in their way by the then national government, top operatives fueled further by the county resources that were poured with impunity all over so as to block Deputy President from ascending to the throne.
Election outcomes & the figures don’t lie
Cumulatively, H.E Dr. William Ruto scooped 58,782 votes translating into (51.16%) of the total vote cast in Marsabit county against his close challenger Rt Hon Raila Odinga of AZIMIO Party who garnered 55,675 votes equivalent to (48.45%). For instance, Saku constituency which is home turf to the troop leader Hon Col. ( Rtd) Dido Ali Raso, H. E President William. Ruto won with a landslide by garnering 13,198 votes (62.76%) against Hon Raila Odinga who garnered 7,759 votes (36.89%).
In Moyale constituency, which is home to Hon Halkano Konso’s Uran Ward, H.E President William Samoe Ruto scooped 23,768 (53.36%) of the total vote cast against his close competitor Rt Hon Raila Odinga who polled 20,595 (46.23%). At Laisamis constituency too, H.E President Ruto garnered 18,776 votes (81.51%) while Raila Odinga pulled only 4,161 (18.06%). The troop again delivered Isiolo County for H.E Dr. Wiliam Samoe Ruto to a tune of 32,302 votes (54.77%) against Raila Odinga who garnered 26,449 votes (44.85%) through the majic spell played by Col.(Rtd) Dido Ali Raso – upper eastern Kenya Kwanza campaign coordinator.
It is because of the vision, firmness and efforts of these gallant sons that today both Marsabit and Isiolo County are part of the ruling Kenya Kwanza Government. It is because of their selfless sacrifice that the communities in these regions are today harvesting political dividends in the form of several appointments to plum positions in this government, including the position of the Permanent Secretaries, Chief Administrative Secretaries, Parastatal heads and other appointments to several board members.
That is why the work of the troops is still applauded far and wide, including a week ago by our brother and Able Isiolo County Governor H.E Guyo Kayole, who called them out, paraded and acknowledged them in front of the President and his Deputy as true foot-soldiers of UDA Party in the auspicious occasion of inter-denominational prayer event held at Isiolo. Our very own Hon Halkano Konso Ali MCA of Uran Ward too rightly received special recognition for his effort that added to the winning of Kenya Kwanza Government, to the chagrin of many.
These achievements notwithstanding, it baffles many right-thinking people today to see the same Halkano Konso being fought by some clique of individuals who are not worth his salt – the same Halkano Konso who was ridiculed, threatened, arrested and literally laid his life on line for his community under the previous regime and exactly extended the same to see most of these leaders into their current offices.
Many pundits look at Hon Halkano as a self-made leader, while some disagree and see him as a product of the circumstances, akin to a person who was given a lemon in order to be taught a bitter lesson but ended up making lemonade contrary to expectations.
However, after all is said and done, Hon Halkano Konso today is a common household name and a towering figure amongst his peers and a very visible leader in his community. In conclusion, this is my honest opinion which I have pieced together as my part-time hobby, so whichever way it will be perceived or translated is none of my business.
NB: To demystify the feeling of bias which anyone may harbor toward me for giving out this honest view, let me table some of the digital footprints which normally don’t lie revolving around Hon Halkano Konso campaign trails for UDA Candidates and Party while making inroads into every corner of this great County – The Cradle of Mankind - Marsabit County Majority leader
- Halkano konso speech at Damaqa joint Rally Moyale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF0tsL2BVcA
- Hon.Halkano Konso Ali aka Gurach Borana roaring in Golole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx5pAYBVAj4
- Hon Halkano konso speech at obbu usipigie Kura muhamud Ali but vote for our UDA candidates Commissioner Kello Harsama.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIajDu8wes0
- HALKANO KONSO'S SPEECH IN SOLOLO MAKUTANO
https://www.youtube.com/watchapp=desktop&v=Tyo6XFwHdbo
- Hon.Halkano Konso's Press Statement after they were released from Ethiopia
https://www.youtube.com/watchapp=desktop&v=FvfS_xb-_j8
- GOVERNOR MOHAMMOD ALI ROASTING SCENE/HALKANO KONSO SOLOLO/MEGA RALLY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYyg9lYztaY
Mr. Bilinga is an Information Scientist, Peace & Security Advocate and a Teacher by profession. He is currently a Youth Mentor at YALI, East Africa – a signature project of the former USA President Barack Obama.