Economic analyst Ephraim Njega has renewed the debate on Northern Kenya’s underdevelopment, arguing that decades of historical neglect—not devolution failures alone—are at the core of the region’s persistent socio-economic challenges.
In a statement shared on social media, Njega said Kenya’s development model has long prioritised the northern transport corridor linking Mombasa, Nairobi, and Malaba, leaving vast parts of the country economically marginalised.
He noted that the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor was designed to correct this imbalance but has suffered from slow and inconsistent implementation.
Njega argued that structural change is required, including relocating Kenya’s administrative capital to a geographically central area such as Isiolo.
He said placing the seat of government in the north could trigger a mindset shift and stimulate investment in regions that have remained on the periphery of national planning.
He warned that concentrating national investment in a small portion of the country exposes Kenya to serious economic risks.
According to Njega, disruption along the northern corridor would have severe consequences for the national economy, underscoring the need for diversification.
The analyst also highlighted insecurity and underinvestment in large-scale infrastructure—particularly irrigation—as key obstacles to development in Northern Kenya.
He cited the discovery of the Turkana aquifer in 2013, questioning why challenges such as salinity were not addressed through desalination to support agriculture and food security.
While acknowledging corruption and misuse of devolved funds by some local leaders, Njega said this should not be used to justify delayed national investment.
He criticised what he described as uncritical loyalty by regional leaders to successive governments, arguing that it has weakened their ability to demand equitable development.
Njega concluded that devolved funds alone cannot compensate for decades of neglect, calling for sustained, large-scale national investment to unlock Northern Kenya’s economic potential and integrate it fully into Kenya’s development agenda.