NAIROBI, Kenya — A fresh debate has erupted over leadership, education and accountability in Northern Kenya following recent remarks by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on corruption and underdevelopment in the region.
The debate was amplified by Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi, who questioned whether the education levels of elected leaders from Northern Kenya have contributed to weak governance, corruption and stalled development, despite billions of shillings in public funds being channelled to the region over the years.
In a statement, the lawyer challenged residents of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo and Marsabit to interrogate the academic backgrounds of their political leaders, arguing that leadership quality cannot be separated from education.
“What role does the poor level of education of Northern Kenya’s political leaders — from governors and senators to MPs, women representatives and MCAs — play in the governance, corruption and underdevelopment crisis facing the region?” he posed.
He claimed that fewer than one per cent of elected leaders from the region possess what he described as “genuine university degrees,” arguing that leaders who bypass critical stages of formal education may struggle to prioritise education, institutional development and public welfare.
“How can political leaders from Northern Kenya prioritise education for our children and the welfare of the people when they escaped certain levels of societal education?” he asked.
His remarks come in the wake of Gachagua’s sustained onslaught on the leadership of Northern Kenya.
Gachagua has laid bare what he described as entrenched corruption networks in Northern Kenya, accusing local leadership of squandering public resources while citizens continue to grapple with poor infrastructure, weak education systems and limited access to basic services.
Gachagua said the region had received substantial allocations from the national government over the years, yet development outcomes remain disproportionately low, raising questions about how public funds have been managed.
The debate has also drawn criticism, with some leaders and analysts warning against framing the region’s challenges solely through the lens of individual education levels, arguing that historical marginalisation, insecurity, weak institutions and systemic state neglect must also be part of the conversation.
Still, Ahmednasir insists that uncomfortable questions must be asked if Northern Kenya is to break free from what he describes as a cycle of poor leadership choices and chronic underdevelopment.
