Gachagua to Northern Kenya leaders: Develop your own schools
By Aloys Michael, January 9, 2026In a fresh political broadside, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has scoffed at Northern Kenya leaders, accusing them of squandering vast devolved resources without building lasting public institutions.
At a Nyeri press briefing on Friday, January 9, 2026, Gachagua dismissed calls for affirmative action, saying a decade of devolution weakens claims that some counties still deserve preferential treatment in elite school admissions.
“Devolution has been in place since 2013, and leaders from those regions have not developed institutions at the same pace, yet they want their children to benefit from facilities established by other counties,” he said.
“They have the opportunity to develop institutions of the highest standards possible in Kenya, not just for the children of those areas, but for the children of Kenya,” he said, adding that comparable counties in Western, Rift Valley and Mt Kenya regions had used smaller amounts to establish “beautiful institutions.”
Gachagua noted that during his tenure as deputy president, he observed limited development in Northern Kenya despite sustained transfers of public funds such as the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
“I travelled as deputy president to those areas, and I did not see new institutions corresponding to the level of funding received,” he claimed.
“I was surprised that some leaders from Northern Kenya did not reside or work there. Anytime I visited some counties, they requested space on my aircraft. I would travel with them both ways.”
Zoning and funds utilisation
He said the country needed a structured debate on whether affirmative action and zoning for national school placement should continue.
“Devolution was meant to bring equity. Equitable allocation of CDF funds was intended to bring equity. Thirteen years later, does any county still require affirmative action? We need to discuss this,” he said.
“For how long are we going to have affirmative action?”
The remarks follow Gachagua’s recent comments questioning the National Placement Service policy that gives special consideration to learners from historically marginalised regions in accessing national and extra-county schools.
Gachagua also questioned why students from other regions secure places in national schools within Mt Kenya, while local learners are sent to lower-tier institutions.
His remarks drew sharp criticism from Northern Kenya leaders, including MPs led by Farah Maalim and several governors, who said affirmative action remains necessary due to persistent marginalisation, insecurity, teacher shortages and cultural barriers to education.
They urged that any review of placement policies be handled through formal institutions rather than political rhetoric.