Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has weighed in on the ongoing debate over leadership in Northern Kenya, focusing on the region’s educational and governance challenges.
His remarks come in the wake of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s recent criticisms of what he described as inefficiency and corruption among leaders from the region.
Through his post on X, Ahmednasir highlighted what he described as a “hidden factor” contributing to Northern Kenya’s persistent underdevelopment: the low educational attainment of its elected leaders.
“Now that H.E Rigathi Gachagua has lifted the opaque veil enveloping Northern Kenya and shredded it into smithereens, let us interrogate another important secret,” Ahmednasir wrote.
He questioned the role of poorly educated leaders—from governors to MCAs—in shaping governance and development outcomes.
Ahmednasir claimed that less than 1% of elected officials from counties such as Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, and Marsabit hold genuine university degrees.
He challenged residents of the region to verify this statistic themselves, noting that leaders with limited education may struggle to prioritize schooling, welfare, and broader development initiatives for their communities.
The commentary aligns with Gachagua’s prior statements highlighting mismanagement and corruption in the region, suggesting a link between leadership capacity and service delivery.
Ahmednasir’s remarks have sparked debate online, with some defending Northern leaders, citing systemic marginalization and historical underinvestment, while others argue that improving education among politicians is critical to reversing decades of slow development.
Ahmednasir’s post has therefore reopened questions about the intersection of education, leadership, and development, drawing renewed attention to the challenges facing Northern Kenya.