Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on leaders in Mandera County, accusing them of corruption and neglect as residents grapple with a deepening drought and humanitarian crisis in northern Kenya.
In a statement shared on social media, Gachagua said the situation in North Eastern Kenya had deteriorated to alarming levels, pointing to the death of camels from hunger and thirst as evidence of systemic leadership failure.
He argued that if animals adapted to harsh climates were perishing, the survival of human beings in the region was in grave doubt.
Gachagua framed his criticism around moral and religious accountability, stating that leadership should be exercised as a responsibility to protect human life and dignity, not as an avenue for personal enrichment.
He accused those in authority of abandoning orphans, widows, and the sick, saying vulnerable groups were bearing the cost of greed and mismanagement.
Without naming specific individuals, the former deputy president said corruption had deprived residents of basic services, including food and healthcare, despite significant public resources allocated to devolved units in the region.
He warned that political power and wealth would not shield leaders from accountability, insisting that justice would eventually catch up with those responsible for the suffering.
Gachagua has in recent months repeatedly questioned development outcomes in several counties in Northern Kenya, arguing that chronic underdevelopment persists despite years of devolution and increased budgetary allocations.
His remarks are likely to reignite debate on governance, oversight, and service delivery in arid and semi-arid regions.
Beyond criticism of county leadership, Gachagua called on the national government to urgently declare the ongoing drought a national disaster.
He urged the State to mobilise all available resources to prevent further loss of life, noting that delays would worsen an already dire situation.
He also appealed to the international community and development partners to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to affected communities in Mandera and the wider North Eastern region.
The government has previously acknowledged the impact of prolonged drought across parts of Kenya, particularly in arid counties, but concerns remain over the speed and effectiveness of relief efforts as conditions continue to worsen.