Last week, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stirred debate by stating that some regions have not seen significant development since the 2013 devolution due to fund misuse. His remarks targeted the North Eastern region, where poor infrastructure persists despite substantial allocations. Local leaders have been accused of sleeping on the job while resources are squandered.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's remarks last week ignited controversy when he claimed that certain parts of Kenya, particularly the North Eastern region, have not witnessed substantial progress since the 2013 devolution system was introduced. This stemmed from grievances that students from other areas attend national schools on Mount Kenya without benefiting locals, prompting Gachagua to urge Northern leaders to wisely utilize their allocations so that other regions can also gain.
While the issue carries political undertones, it holds some validity. Since 2013, counties in the area have received vast sums: Mandera Sh111.8 billion, Wajir Sh94.1 billion, Garissa Sh80.4 billion, and Marsabit Sh76.83 billion. Even in the 2025/26 fiscal year, Mandera got Sh12.2 billion, Wajir Sh10.3 billion, Garissa Sh8.7 billion, and Marsabit Sh7.9 billion.
Despite this, the North Eastern region still grapples with high poverty rates over a decade after devolution. The revenue-sharing formula prioritizes land area over population, granting these counties larger shares. In January 2019, then-Mandera Governor Ali Roba (now Senator) led protests against a proposed new formula that would cut their annual allocation by Sh10 billion.
The Office of the Auditor General's reports highlight fund mismanagement and corruption in the region. Leaders, especially governors, must commit to delivering projects in water, infrastructure, education, livestock, and health to demonstrate devolution's value. Rather than funds vanishing into salaries or unproductive uses, even modest improvements in citizens' lives would be preferable.